Rose Valley recommended for French immersion
Superintendent of schools says school best able to accommodate expansion of program in West Kelowna
Rose Valley Elementary is the preferred school for a middle-entry French immersion program on the Westside.
The Central Okanagan school board has supported the expansion of the French immersion program on the Westside to include a Grade 6 late-entry program at Glenrosa Middle School, as well as a Grade 4 middle-entry program at one of the elementary schools, beginning in September 2019.
In a memo to the planning and facilities committee, superintendent Kevin Kaardal said he supported Rose Valley Elementary as the choice for the Grade 4 program.
Currently, French immersion is offered on the Westside only at George Pringle Elementary, starting in kindergarten or Grade 1.
After completing Grade 6, students at George Pringle must travel to Kelowna if they want to continue with French immersion.
Earlier this year, staff suggested a Grade 4 French immersion program be added to Hudson Road Elementary or Rose Valley Elementary, pending public consultations.
More than 990 Central Okanagan residents completed an online survey about French immersion on the Westside. A total of 196 were West Kelowna residents.
The majority of families said they were interested in a French program at Rose Valley Elementary, followed closely by Hudson Road.
“The evidence supports that the most sustainable option would be implementing the middle immersion Grade 4 program at Rose Valley Elementary School,” said Kaardal. “The Rose Valley site can sustain growth in the program better than other schools, because it can accommodate more portables than any other site.”
Rose Valley has no existing classrooms available, but eight portables could be added to the site.
Hudson Road Elementary currently has two classrooms available, but only three portables can be added to the site.
“The challenge at Hudson Road Elementary would be space if the program grew beyond one division of Grade 4 and 5,” said Kaardal.
The planning and facilities committee voted to support the recommendation for a French immersion program at Rose Valley Elementary, which will go before the school board on June 13.