French Immersion

The Program

  • French Immersion is a program designed to offer students opportunities to acquire a high level of proficiency in French while maintaining and developing English language skills.

  • French is the only language of instruction from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2.

  • Immersion students begin English instruction in Grade 3 and study in both languages until high school graduation.

  • The French Immersion and English programs follow the same expectations in the Ontario Curriculum ( www.edu.gov.on.ca).

  • The difference between the two programs is the language of instruction.

  • A certificate of French Immersion studies is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

Learning French promotes:  

  • a deeper understanding of various languages and cultures;

  • enhanced creativity and problem solving ability;

  • a facility for learning other languages;

  • career opportunities in areas such as business, diplomacy, research, teaching, travel, translation, government, the Canadian Armed Forces;

  • enriched travel experiences in Canada and abroad.

girl crafting

If students hear it, they can say it. If students can say it, they can read it. And if students can read it, they can write it.

– The Ontario Curriculum: French As A Second Language (2013)  

Admission

Effective September 1, 2017, Junior Kindergarten is the only entry point for new French Immersion students into the FI program in the Upper Grand District School Board. Additionally, each UGDSB school that offers FI at the JK level has a cap on the number of students admitted to FI. Entry into FI from other jurisdictions is possible, but not guaranteed, if your child has previous FI experience. Parents and guardians must check with their home school for more detail. For more information on the UGDSB’s French Immersion Application and Selection Process, visit our French Immersion Application Process page.

Junior Kindergarten French Immersion Registration

The entry point for French Immersion in the UGDB is in Junior Kindergarten.  Junior Kindergarten French Immersion pre-registration opens at the beginning of January and closes at the end of January. During the January registration window, parents are to pre-register their child at the school assigned for French Immersion, based on their home address. Selection of students for French Immersion will follow the process outlined on the board’s website: FI Registration and Selection Process

If there is no space available at the designated home school for French Immersion, the student will be placed on a waitlist at their designated French Immersion homeschool.

Waitlisted students will then be offered the option of registering at an alternate French Immersion school where space is available. Transportation will not be provided to the alternate school.

French Immersion pre-registrations received after the January window will be considered late registrations and students may still register at their designated French Immersion school if there is space available. If their designated French Immersion school is at capacity the student will be added to the bottom of the waitlist and placed in their Regular Track home school.

Students leaving a French Immersion program to attend a Regular Track program will be required to return to their designated regular track school (where the French Immersion program they are leaving is not their designated regular track school).

Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8

French Immersion students moving from one area of the board to another or moving from a French Immersion program out of board into the UGDSB are considered ‘in area’ and are added to their designated French Immersion school class.

Application

French Immersion Kindergarten application coincides with the regular English Kindergarten registration.

For more information on the UGDSB’s French Immersion Application and Selection Process, visit the board’s website.

DELF

DELF scholaire is a diploma issued by the French Ministry of National Education in recognition of French-language studies. These diplomas are recognized around the world. Click here for moreinformation about the DELF program.

More Information