Trustees mull more French for West Kelowna schools

Central Okanagan School District staff are recommending the creation of a middleentry French immersion program at either Hudson Road Elementary or Rose Valley Elementary on the Westside.

The local school board has supported the expansion of the French immersion program on the Westside to include a Grade 6 lateentry program at Glenrosa Middle School, as well as a Grade 4 middle-entry program at one of the elementary schools, beginning in September 2019.

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.

In May, the district’s planning and facilities committee recommended the board open a Grade 4 middle-entry French immersion program at Rose Valley Elementary.

In June, staff recommended the board open a Grade 4 middle-entry French immersion program at Rose Valley Elementary in 2019 and that students in the French program at Rose Valley transition to Glenrosa Middle for Grade 6.

The board referred the report back to the planning and facilities committee for further consultation.

A survey was created and sent to all Westside families with children enrolled in Grade 2 for the 2017-2018 school year.

In total, 85 of the potential 405 families completed the online survey.

The majority of respondents, 46 per cent, supported a Grade 4 French immersion program at Glenrosa Elementary, followed by George Pringle and Rose Valley elementary schools, which tied at 45 per cent.

Shannon Lake Elementary had 42 per cent of people’s support for a Grade 4 entry program, and Hudson Road Elementary had 36 per cent support.

Schools with projected space for the program on the Westside are Glenrosa Elementary, George Pringle Elementary, Shannon Lake Elementary, Hudson Road Elementary and Rose Valley Elementary.

Staff listed pros and cons for each school, indicating their preference is to have the Grade 4 entry program at either Hudson Road or Rose Valley.

“Staff feel that a school in the northeast neighbourhood of schools would best meet the board-approved criteria of accessibility, sustainability, inclusivity and flexibility,” said superintendent Kevin Kaardal.

If the program is to remain at one section per grade, Hudson Road Elementary best meets the criteria, said Kaardal.

However, if the program is allowed to grow beyond one section per grade, then Rose Valley Elementary is the better choice, as it has room for portables to accommodate the expansion, he said.

With the addition of Grade 4 and Grade 6 entry into French immersion on the Westside, there will eventually be enough students to make up a cohort for a secondary school French immersion program on the Westside, said Kaardal.

“I’m excited that we have the interest in the program and that currently we’re able to plan for and accommodate growth and attract French immersion teachers,” he said.

The board will consider the staff recommendation and debate the issues at tonight’s board meeting.