French Immersion and Extended French

If your child will be starting grade 1 or grade ​7 in September 2020, one of the choices you will make is whether you want to consider grade 1 French Immersion (FI) or grade 7 Extended French.

The Peel board offers three French as a Second Language (FSL) programs - French Immersion, Core French and Extended French. Each of the programs differ in intensity but share a common purpose - to develop students' communication skills in the French language.

Important dates for FI/EF applications (2020-21 school year)

Information Night	Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 at 7 p.m.​
Applications open	Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.
Applications close	Friday, Jan. 31, 2020
Application update Schools will advise parents/guardians if their child is accepted for grade 1 FI or grade 7 EF, or placed on the school's waitlist.	Friday, March 6, 2020
Waitlist placements If space is available, placements from waitlists would be considered between these dates.	March to June 19, 2020
Deadline​​ to apply for waitlist	​June 12, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Understanding French Programs

Core French

All students in grades 4 to 8 study French as a Second Language for 200 minutes per week. Students in Core French develop a basic usable command of French. In high school, students need one core French language credit to earn their diploma.

French Immersion

Beginning in grade 1, French Immersion provides students with an opportunity to learn in the French language. From grades 1 to 8, FI students spend 50 per cent of their daily instruction learning in French and the other half learning in English. Students work towards achieving French proficiency while continuing to develop English language skills.

From grades 9 to 12, students are required to complete 10 credits in French, including the sequence of four courses in FI and a minimum of six courses in other subjects taught in French. Upon completion, students in FI receive a Certificate of French Immersion Studies at graduation.

Extended French

The Extended French program is another way for students to pursue learning opportunities in French. This program starts in grade 7 and provides another FI opportunity for students. Students spend half of their school day studying language arts, social studies and science in French. In high school, students take four credits in Extended French and three credits in other subjects taught in French. Upon completion, students in EF receive a Certificate of Extended French Studies at graduation.

​FI/EF Application Process

Interested in enrolling your child for grade 1 French Immersion or grade 7 Extended French for the upcoming school year? View the important application dates listed above. 

Enrolment process

It is important to note that applicants are not offered space on a first come, first serve basis. A computerized random selection process will randomly assign a rank to each application that is received by the deadline and will determine which students will be offered spaces in the grade 1 FI or grade 7 EF programs. Once students have been assigned to all available spaces, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.

​Please note that if you have an older sibling currently enrolled in French Immersion, there are no guarantees for younger siblings to be accepted into grade 1 French Immersion. 

At this time, the grade 1 FI enrolment cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolling in grade 1.

Students must apply to and, if accepted, attend the French Immersion/Extended French school based on their home address. Flexible boundaries are NOT available for grade 1 FI.

Find the nearest FI school to you: Find Your French Immersion/Extended French School tool

Follow these steps if you missed the deadline for grade 1 FI or grade 7 EF:

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 to Friday, June 12, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.	Families who missed the application deadline may apply for grade 1 FI or grade 7 EF until June 12, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants will be placed on the school's waitlist and will not be a part of the random selection process.
Friday Mar. 6, 2020 to Friday, June 19, 2020	If space is available, placements from waitlists would be considered between these dates.

Waitlist process (French Immersion only)

Students will be placed on a waitlist for grade 1 FI in the following order:

1. Students who applied by the deadline, but were not selected during the random selection process and are placed in rank order
2. Students who missed the application deadline.
3. Students who moved to the Peel board, but were not part of an existing, publicly funded FI program and missed the application deadline.

Busing

Busing eligibility for FI/EF is in accordance with Board Policy 39 - Transportation.

Parents can visit Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) one week prior to the start of the school year and enter their address to determine if their child is eligible for busing, and to find out the bus stop and route information.

Support your child with French

You don't have to speak French to help your child with French

Your involvement and support for your child's education is one of the most important factors in your child's success. Learning a second language requires a high level of concentration and effort; however, parents do not need to know French in order to support their child in French Immersion.

There are a number of ways you can help support your child:

• talk to your child every day about school
• read with your child every day in English, French or your first language
• support homework routines as outlined by the teacher
• listen to music by French artists and watch French programs or favourite movies in French
• find ways to expose your child to French or to use French outside of school time (e.g., French summer camps, activities sponsored by Canadian Parents for French)
• borrow French resources and materials from the public library

How you can get more information

• Attend an information night held for parents at FI/EF schools in Peel
• Connect with families who have children in the French immersion program. 
• Visit the Canadian Parents for French website.
• Ask your school about the FI school nearest to you.
• Call 905-890-1010 (or 1-800-668-1146) ext. 2519 to speak to the board's French as a Second Language Instructional Coordinator.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​