Sustainable bilingualism in Saskatchewan

What is sustainable bilingualism? Simply put, it’s retaining the capacity to function in two languages over a lifetime. But how does one achieve this in Saskatchewan, where English is everywhere?

You will often hear the expression ”It takes a whole village to raise a child.” That also means that it takes a whole community to instil language and culture in that child, right from an early age. Consequently, in a minority context, a close collaboration between school, family, and community becomes key.

The Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF), the ONLY French first-language education system in Saskatchewan, takes this concept to heart for both pre-school and school-aged children.

In Saskatchewan, education is mandatory starting at grade one. However, research confirms that a child’s experience before age 6 has a direct impact on learning and academic success.

It is with this in mind that the CÉF developed a variety of programs and services so that little ones have positive educational experiences in French. These are offered in Francophone early childhood centres located around the province.

A place for little ones to learn and play

Pre-kindergarten program:

Play and Explore

This part-time program is offered for children aged 3 and 4 years old. Through play-based learning, children familiarize themselves with school, socialize with other children and discover the fun of learning through games, and this, all in French.

Full-time kindergarten program

This program is offered five days a week to children aged 5 years old. Children are introduced to reading, writing and mathematics. Despite being an optional program, the majority of parents choose to send their children to kindergarten to help prepare them for a smooth transition to grade one in a French first-language school.

Living your language and culture in school

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The CÉF carries out a special triple mandate (academic, cultural and community) to prepare its students to be proud Francophones and accomplished citizens.

Academic success is paramount to the CÉF, whose first mandate is to ensure that all students reach their full potential by benefiting from a quality Francophone education. All subjects are taught in French except for English Language Arts classes, which are the same as those taught in the English schools across the province.

Thanks to its cultural mandate, students live, play and learn in a 100% Francophone environment. Students discover their cultural identity through Francophone sociocultural activities (clubs, sports teams, entertainment, etc.). Provincial activities give students the opportunity to build friendships with other Francophone youth from across the province. In Fransaskois schools, living one’s culture is a way of life!

To carry out its community mandate, the CÉF works with Francophone community organizations to offer students and their families a variety of programs in French. These partnerships enrich students’ academic journey and broaden the Francophone space.

Students live their Francophone culture every day in Fransaskois schools. At the end of high school, students have a superior level of bilingualism. This opens doors to postsecondary studies, a career or a profession in their language of choice.

For more information on early childhood programs or the school curriculum, contact École Monseigneur de Laval at 306-584-7558 (elementary) or 306- 775-1970 (secondary school).

Une école de choix Pourquoi choisir l’école fransaskoise pour votre enfant?

L’école fransaskoise offre à votre enfant un milieu d’apprentissage :

• accueillant, sain et sécuritaire où l’on vit l’entraide, le respect et le civisme;

• où l’approche personnalisée lui permet de développer son plein potentiel;

• 100% francophone qui soutient le développement de la langue française et de la culture francophone;

• qui vise un bilinguisme de haut niveau et

durable, un avantage pour son avenir et ses perspectives d’emploi;

• qui laisse place à la curiosité en développant ses habiletés sur les plans

physique, affectif, social et langagier;

• à l’image du Canada, ouvert sur le monde et qui valorise la diversité;

• qui offre des programmes sportifs et socioculturels pour enrichir son expérience scolaire et permettre son épanouissement global;

• qui l’aidera à comprendre le monde dans

lequel il vit et à agir en tant que citoyen responsable, engagé et accompli;

• qui reconnait l’importance de la relation école-famille-communauté pour appuyer sa réussite scolaire. Pour plus d’information, contactez l’École Monseigneur de Laval au 306-584-7558 (Pavillon élémentaire) ou au 306-775-1970 (Pavillon secondaire des Quatre-Vents).