French Immersion Coming to Mary Hopkins

January 24, 2017

Dear Flambourgh/Waterdown Families:

Thank you for your input during our recent French Immersion Flamborough/Waterdown consultation in December. Your voice was important as we consulted on the expansion of the French Immersion program in the Flamborough community. The results of the consultation are available at https://bit.ly/2j6M84q.

On Monday, January 23, Trustees voted to establish a French Immersion program at Mary Hopkins beginning in September 2017. The details of the new program are outlined below:

* Begins with students in grades 1 to 3 in September 2017 for students living within the Balaclava, Flamborough Centre and Mary Hopkins English boundary

* Expands to grade 5 by September 2019

* Extends to Flambourgh Centre for grades 6-8 in September 2020

* Installation of portables at Mary Hopkins by September 2017

Grades 1 to 3 students currently living in the Mary Hopkins boundary and attending French Immersion will be given the option of staying at Guy Brown and will continue to receive transportation. Students also entering grade 1 living within the Mary Hopkins boundary may register at Guy Brown if they have a sibling currently enrolled in French Immersion at the school. Please note that transportation will not be provided but students may be granted courtesy transportation if there is available space on the bus.

We know there are questions about the opening of the new program at Mary Hopkins. A transition committee will begin meeting monthly between February and June 2017. A French Immersion information night will be taking place on Tuesday, January 31 at Dundana at 7:00 p.m. for parents interested in placing their child in the new program. We will also be holding a French Immersion information night at Mary Hopkins at a later date.

We remain committed to the Mary Hopkins facility and will continue to ensure the building remains a safe quality teaching and learning environment.

Sincerely,

Jamie Nunn

Superintendent of Student Achievement