Is French Immersion for your Child?
In addition to the programming offered at your neighbourhood school a number of our schools offer French Immersion to support your child as he or she moves through the school system.
- French Immersion is a proven way of acquiring excellent language skills in French
- French Immersion is specifically designed for parents who do not speak French, but wish their children to speak both official languages
- French Immersion begins in Grade 1 and in Senior Kindergarten at some schools until full day kindergarten is fully implemented in 2014.
New Single-Track French Immersion School (current Bellmoore site)
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board will be opening a French Immersion only (single-track) school at the current Bellmoore site (2121 Provincial Route 56, Binbrook) in September 2012. The confirmed bell times for this school are:
- Start time - 8:50 a.m.
- Dismissal time - 3:10 p.m.
The opening of a single-track French Immersion school at this location means that if your child is in Senior Kindergarten at one of the following schools and you are considering French Immersion, your child will attend the school at the current Bellmoore site.
- New Bellmoore
- Gatestone
- Mount Albion
- Bell Stone
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- Billy Green
- Janet Lee
- Tapleytown
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Please continue to check this site regularly for updates on transportation and Before and After School Care at this new single-track French Immersion school.
To learn more about French Immersion at HWDSB and the program at the new single-track school, please review the PowerPoint presentation below.
View our presentation.
French Immersion: Is it for my child? - Top
If you are considering the French Immersion program for your child, you should be aware of the following:
French Immersion
- is a proven way of acquiring excellent language skills in French
- is specifically designed for parents who do not speak French, but wish their children to speak both official languages
- begins in Senior Kindergarten and all SK students in the new city of Hamilton are eligible
If you are interested in enrolling your Senior Kindergarten child in French Immersion please contact your nearest French Immersion school in September. (See the listing of Immersion schools on our website.).
Keeping up French Language Skills During the Summer. Here are some suggestions for helping your child maintain and improve French language skills during the summer holidays.
- Computer programs: Check local bookstores and computer outlets for French language software. Some have an audio component so students can hear French spoken.
- Television: There are a number of programs in French for children or the whole family might like to watch.
- Radio: Listen to the news or music in French on Radio Canada or listen to C'est la vie! on CBC Radio One. Host Bernard St-Laurent offers fascinating insights into life in French speaking Canada.
- Internet resources/sites: A Google search can provide numerous sites for French songs, poetry, stories, games, etc. Students who have email can correspond with school friends or relatives, in French or in a combination of French and English. (Please note that parents should monitor Internet activity of their children.)
- Movies: If you have a DVD player you can watch films and also change the language of the film to French to enjoy all or part of a movie in French.
- Shopping: Check the labels on food and merchandise for the description or ingredients in French.
- Vacation: How about keeping an ongoing journal in French of trips and family outings during the summer? The journal can include pictures, photos with captions, words, maps etc. and can be real or imaginary.
The French Immersion Advisory Committee - Top
FIAC is advisory in nature with a focus on FI program in elementary and secondary as well as Ministry and community supports that enhance the learning experience for our students. Meetings are as follows: November 23rd, January 25th, March 21st , May 23rd, all meetings are held at the Education Centre in Room 1.
Resources and information for parents, with students in French Immersion, are available through Canadian Parents for French Hamilton chapter.
French Immersion Locations and Catchment Areas - Top
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A.M. Cunningham Elementary - Map - Top
100 Wexford Avenue South,
Hamilton
(905) 544-7771
K to Grade 5
For students living west of Cochrane/Strathearne and east of Wentworth (lower city).
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Bellmoore Elementary - Map - Top
2121 Provincial Route 56
Binbrook
(905) 692-5435
1 to Grade 6
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Dalewood Elementary - Map - Top
1150 Main Street West
Hamilton
(905) 528-8631
Grade 6 to 8
For students living west of Highway 403 to the City Limits (Dundas and Flamborough).
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Dundana Elementary - Map - Top
23 Dundana Avenue
Dundas,
(905) 628-2622
Grade 1 to 5
For students living in Dundas and West Flamborough (SK to Grade 4 for 10/11).
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Earl Kitchener Elementary - Map - Top
300 Dundurn Street South
Hamilton
(905) 528-0223
K to Grade 5
For students living east of Highway 403 and west of Wentworth Street (lower city).
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Fessenden Elementary - Map - Top
168 Huron Avenue
Ancaster
(905) 648-4115
Grade 1 to 4
For students living in Ancaster (SK to Grade 2 for 10/11.
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George R. Allan Elementary - Map - Top
900 King Street West
Hamilton
(905) 522-0601
K to Grade 5
For students living west of Highway 403 to the City Limits (including Dundas and West & East Flamboroug students in Grade 5).
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Glen Brae Elmentary - Map -Top
50 Secord Drive
Hamilton
(905) 560-6732
Grade 6 to 8
For students living east of Wentworth to the City Limits (lower Stoney Creek).
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Glen Echo Elementary - Map - Top
140 Glen Echo Drive
Hamilton
(905) 560-6630
K to Grade 5
For students living east of Cochrane/Strathearne to the City Limits (lower Stoney Creek).
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Guy Brown Elementary - Map - Top
55 Braeheid Avenue
Waterdown
(905) 689-8254
K to Grade 6
For students living in East Flamborough (SK to Grade 3 for 10/11).
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Lawfield Elementary - Map - Top
45 Berko Avenue
Hamilton
(905) 387-0062
JK to Grade 8
For students living on the east mountain, including Upper Stoney Creek and Glanbrook (SK to Grade 4 for 10/11).
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Norwood Park Elementary - Map - Top
165 Terrace Drive
(905) 575-9808
K to Grade 8
For students living in the Upper City West of Upper Wentworth (including Ancaster for students in Grades 3-8).
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Ryerson Elementary - Map - Top
222 Robinson Street
Hamilton
(905) 528-7975
Grade 6 to 8
For students living east of Highway 403 and west of Wentworth Street (lower city)
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Sir William Osler - Map - Top
330 Governor's Road
Dundas
L9H 0A3
Grade 6
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Westdale Secondary - Map - Top
700 Main Street West
Hamilton
(905) 522-1387
Grade 9 to 12
For all students in the Hamilton-Wentworth area
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Documents - Top
How To Documents - Top
Need more Information? - Top
For further information on French Immersion, please call the French Consultant at 905.527.5092 voice mailbox. 2242.
