French immersion kindergarten to proceed at Oliver School this fall

Parents pushing the public school board to launch a French immersion program in central Edmonton are getting their wish, as classes are set to begin this fall at Oliver School.

Edmonton Public Schools confirmed Monday that an immersion program will begin for kindergarten students in September at the school at 10227 118 St.

The plan is then to expand the program by one grade each year until it reaches Grade 6.

The first attempt to drum up support for a French program at Oliver fell short in 2016 when fewer than 10 families responded to a call for pre-enrolment.

The district said at the time it needed at least 25 children to make the initiative viable.

A second attempt conducted over the last several months prompted 16 families to sign up. This time, the district decided it was enough.

While 16 isn’t an ideal number, the true level of interest is undoubtedly higher, Ward D school trustee Trisha Estabrooks said.

Some parents intent on French immersion were likely hesitant to sign up at Oliver because there was no guarantee the program would launch, she said. District rules prevent pre-enrolment at more than one school.

“Once word gets out that this program is viable and successful, I know enrolment will go up in years to come,” Estabrooks said.

Other specialty programs to be introduced this fall include French immersion at Crawford Plains school in Mill Woods and the Cogito program, for students willing to work at a high level, at Horse Hill School in the city’s northeast.