French Immersion and Extended French

If your child will be starting grade 1 or grade 7 in September 2021, 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.

Please note that weekly system maintenance updates take place every Sunday between 12 to 6 a.m. You may experience technical difficulties with the application links during this time. How to apply for FI/EF Resource Guide for Families

Important dates for FI/EF applications

Please note that although information nights are cancelled for FI/EF programs, families are encouraged to view the guides for each program and review the Frequently Asked Questions section:

Guide for Grade 1 French Immersion
Guide for Grade 7 Extended French
How to apply for FI/EF Resource Guide for Families

Applications open	Nov. 30, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.
Applications close	Jan. 29, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
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.	By March 5, 2021
Waitlist placements If space is available, placements from waitlists would be considered between these dates.	March 22 - June 14, 2021
Deadline to apply for waitlist	June 11, 2021

Guide for Grade 1 French Immersion

Guide for Grade 7 Extended French

French
Programs FI/EF Application
Process

(Enrolment
process
and waitlist)

Busing
Information Support
your child
with French

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Waitlist process (French Immersion only)

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

Students who applied by the deadline, but were not selected during the random selection process and are placed in rank order
Students who missed the application deadline.
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.
borrow French resources and materials from the public library.
show your child that French exists outside the classroom and take every opportunity to find ways to expose your child to French or to use French outside of school time.
listen to music by French artists and watch French programs or favourite movies in French.

if your child is going to watch a favourite video, switch it to the French version. This works especially well with animated movies. If your child is like most children, they like to watch the same favourite movie over and over again. What better way to reinforce the French they’re learning.
watch French children’s shows on TFO, for example. The best choices are shows made originally in French, such as Caillou or Carmen Campagne.
visit the public library or the online Peel Board Central Library and take advantage of the French resources available there for free. French books, magazines and books on CD are great resources for your child. French games and software are available to extend your child’s use of French. Explore online resources.
for older children, consider a French summer camp or exchange programs. If you’re planning a family vacation, consider a destination where your child can experience French culture and language.
contact Canadian Parents for French.

How you can get more information

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.