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l 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, March 21,1984 Section Two First F rench Immersion Students Enter High School This Year Monsieur Jean Marchand, grade five and six teacher at the Ontario Street Public School is par ticipating in a role-playing exercise with his french immersion class. by Peter Parrott This year, French immersion immersion programs in Bowmanville Bowmanville reach a milestone. That's because 1984 is the year in which the first French immersion students complete grade eight and enter high school, where some French immersion courses will also be offered. And with approximately 300 students currently enrolled enrolled in immersion programs programs in the western area of the Northumberland and Newcastle School Board, it would appear that the program program is gaining in popularity and general acceptance. Usually, parents consider enrolling a child in French immersion because they feel that there are cultural and practical advantages to gaining a second language. Doug Hately, co-president co-president of the Parents' Association Association for Immersion French, notes that there are advantages in the job market market for students who are fluent in French as well as English. But he adds that the immersion immersion program tends to make students better in their overall language skills: "I just feel it helps to make kids more tolerant of other cultures," he said. One of the fears expressed expressed by parents who might enroll their child in the immersion immersion program is that a child's English skills will suffer by the intensive exposure exposure to another language. Past research has proven that this is not the case and Mr. Hately notes that the grade eight students in the local immersion program have demonstrated that English English skills need not suffer if a student enters French immersion. "People shouldn't forget that English is usually a child's mother tongue and it's not something that is going to suffer because a child took French," he said. Stan Green, principal of Ontario Street School, where French immersion is offered for kindergarten to grade six,confirms the parents' parents' high opinion of the program. He encourages any parents who may enter a kindergarten student in the immersion program to contact the school in order to gain more information. "I want people to make a wise decision. They have to weigh the pros and cons of the whole thing," he said. Mr. Green estimates that there are 200 immersion students from kindergarten to grade six at Ontario Street Public School. The school also has the regular, non-immersion program for grades K to 6. He notes that Ontario Street is not a French language language school. "We're an immersion immersion school for students whose first language is English," English," he said. Immersion students speak French in the classrooms classrooms and school announcements announcements in English are limited to certain times of the day so that pupils can keep a French language environment. environment. However, most of the conversation you'll hear in the schoolyard at recess recess and lunch hour is in English. Mr. Green explains that students who enter kindergarten kindergarten are instructed only in French and, like all Northumbcrland-Ncwcas- tle students, they attend kindergarten fora halfday, In Grade One, the students students receive a full day of instruction in French only. But in grade two, an hour of English is introduced daily. The amount of English in the classroom grows gradually gradually until by Grade Six there is 40 per cent English instruction instruction and 60 per cent French, Grade seven and eight students have a 50-50 split, with half of their instruction instruction in English and half in French. Next year, in Bow- French Immersion instruction begins in kinder- immersion program at Ontario Street Public garten with all conversation and directions in School are shown here. From left are Jamie Doug- French. Three of the kindergarten students in the las, Angie Peck, and Becky Judd Mandi Hancock, a grade two student, reads for her teacher, Charlotte Wilson. manville High School, there will be French language instruction instruction in three subjects. Mr. Green reports that studies have found no difference difference in the English skills of grade six immersion students students and grade six students students from the regular program. program. Of course, students' abilities to pick up a language language vary from person to person. Some find learning a language easy; for others, it's more difficult. Ëldad U.C.W. Eldad United Church Women hosted the World Day of Prayer at Eldad Church on March 2, 1984 at 2:00 p.m. Women from the congregations congregations of i. Hampton, Zion, Enniskillen and Tyrone were in attendance. Greetings were brought to the gathering by Rev. F. Paul Erb, minister of Eldad United Church. The theme of the day was Living Water from Christ, Our Hope. A goblet of clear, sparkling sparkling water, placed on the Communion Table, enhanced by the sun's brilliant rays and the green cloth on which it rested, was a suitable symbol of the service theme. Spring flowers, suitably placed, brought warmth to an otherwise otherwise wintry day. Ladies representing all the congregations, assisted by Joyce Taylor in the presentation presentation of the printed service. Special music was provided by a ladies choir from Eldad, with Mrs. Faye Vice presiding at the organ. Mrs. (Alec) Marjorie Ferries from St. Stephens United Church, Oshawa, brought a very inspirational message during the service. Eldad United Church Women held their March meeting at the home of Mrs. Jean Taylor with a pleasing attendance. Our president, Mrs. Joyce Taylor, sounded the gavel and the meeting was called to order. The gavel which had been presented to the U.C.W. by the late Mr. Elgin Taylor in memory of his wife Mrs. Mel i ta Taylor was being officially used for the first time. Mrs. Dorothy Snowden read the minutes of the previous meeting and gave a treasurer's treasurer's report. The president voiced thank you's to all who had assisted with events held since our last meeting. Committees were formed to plan for other events, one of these being the serving of lunch following a Masonic Service to be held in Eldad United Church at 7:30 p.m., April 29, 1984. Discussion followed regarding regarding projects, at home and away, that we may undertake or assist with. A motion was made to provide a layette for the use of Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville. Our worship in keeping with our study was presented by Mrs. Dorothy Snowden. Jesus Christ - The Life of the World, the study theme was capably introduced by Mrs. Faye Vice. She had woven Hymns into her presentation and the story about them and the singing of these hymns emphasized to us just how much Jesus is the Light of Our World, A verse read by our president president closed the meeting and lunch was served and a social time was enjoyed. (Mrs.) Donna Johnston It. It. No. 1 Enniskillen, Out, LOB 1110 One concern of parents is that French immersion is only for excellent students who are most skilled academically. Mr. Green notes, however, that there is a wide variety of skills among French immersion immersion students. "Today we have a real cross section of kids at all ability levels," he said. The Ontario Street principal principal adds that there are no special education courses in French, so students who are known to have learning disabilities may be best served in the regular curriculum. curriculum. In general, Mr. Green finds that French immersion immersion has worked exceedingly exceedingly well. Staff, students, and parents from both branches of the curriculum are working together and the community is supportive. supportive. "They certainly seem to be accepting the program extremely well," he said. For Mr. Green, that's important. important. He feels that education education is a joint effort between between school staff, students, students, and the community at large. All members must work together if education is to succeed. "I like to see people have their children go into the program becuse it's a good opportunity to learn a second second language and another culture," he said. The Parents' Association for French Immersion will be holding a special meeting meeting on Monday, March 26, at Ontario St. Public School in order to introduce French immersion to parents who may be interested in enrolling enrolling their children. That meeting, which gets underway at '7i3d p.m., will include a presentation by a language consultant for the Scarborough Board of Education. Education. The public is welcome welcome to attend. PROVIDENCE-SHAW'S President Margaret Killeen welcomed 29 ladies to Maranatha Church Hall on March 8th. The six guests included two ladies from Marnwood Nursing Home. She began with an Irish greeting and a conundrum, a riddle that was guessed by Betty Ball. The roll call was to name litter found on the side of the road and the answers provided provided quite a variety. The minutes of the February meeting were read and approved. approved. We enjoyed singing a few songs with an Irish flavour. Marilyn Dow, Resolutions Convenor, gave the second reading of the resolutions, with the President requesting us to keep watching the newspapers newspapers for material pertinent to these issues. The correspondence was an application for a delegate to attend Waterloo Conference on May 1, 2, and 3. Marilyn Dow is preparing to be our representative. We are reminded reminded that all reports are to be completed and returned to Betty L. Locke by April 1. Joan Tax, Convenor of Citizenship and World Affairs, introduced the program on Pollution. The motto "Take the World as you find it and leave it Better" was presented by Barbara Wood. With the use of newspaper articles and research, Joan, Dorothy Crago, Gertrude Hendrikx, Betty L. Locke and Barbara Wood elaborated on acid rain, carbon monoxide poisoning, nuclear wastes, urea formaldehyde, formaldehyde, pesticides, food additives, additives, noise and pornography, all forms of pollution. One of our guests suggested a way to fight this giant is to make use of the Recycling Depot at the Goodyear Plant on Saturdays. A successful silent auction was held to raise funds for future needs. Lunch was served ' Bingo and Cards Held at Pontypool Hall PONTYPOOLNEWS On Sunday, March 4, the service in Pontypool United Church was led by members of the Confirmation Class, who have been receiving instruction instruction since last fall from Reverend John Lindsay. These young ladies were Paula McReelis and Debbie Porteous from Bethany and Melissa Dunford and Denise Brown from Pontypool. We are encouraged by the gradual increase in attendance attendance at our regular ten o'clock services, and are especially pleased to see more young parents accompanying their children. There is a great and pressing need for help in teaching the four Sunday School classes. It would be nice to have enough people so that the ones who do this work could alternate Sundays, and have a chance to enjoy the worship service with the rest of us. We really do have an excellent system in .place to accommodate the whole family. The children are upstairs upstairs during the first part, and then go to classes after hearing the minister tell a children's story. A large group of enthusiastic youngsters attend quite faithfully, and their presence is an inspiration inspiration to us all. Please contact Rev. John Lindsay (277-2204) or Mrs. Dorothy Turner (277-2174) and offer your assistance. It will be much appreciated. The Keenagers Meeting on Thursday, March 1 was well attended with 10 tables of euchre being played. Everyone Everyone is welcome. High scorer for the evening was Yvonne Fallis at 86, with the following people receiving these scores - Margaret Wright 82, Renee Robinson 75, Dorothy Dewar 71, George Van Dam 71, Ken MacKenzie 71 and Cathy MacKenzie 70. Best wishes for a speedy recovery are extended to Ralph Porter. We hope he will soon recuperate from injuries suffered in a fall this past week. We are thankful that the effects of this unfortunate accident are no worse. Sympathy of the community is expressed to Jim and Norine Propp and family at the sudden passing of Jim's mother, whose home was in Regina. Their vacation in Florida was cut short as they returned home and then flew from Toronto to attend the funeral. Cliff and Yvonne Fallis have joined the snowbirds of our community who visit Florida at this time of year. Their stay in the sunny south is brief this time - just getting a taste of the life of leisure! We are pleased to know that our invalids are improving. Gerald Fisk was discharged from St. Joseph's Hospital on Saturday, and Harold Wilson, Alvin Olan, Bill Verkruisen, and Bill Strong are also at home. The ladies who have been hospital patients recently recently are also progressing well. We hope that as the good weather approaches, everyone everyone who has been ill these past months will "perk up" and feel a great deal better. The Lenten and Communion Service this past Wednesday was sparsely attended. Rev. Lindsay is planning other mid week services leading up to Easter. More information later. The Pathfinders were pleased with the proceeds of their Tupperware Party held last Monday evening, which will help with travel expenses of the girls who will go to Switzerland this summer. The Bingo in the Community Hall on March 6, was again a pleasant and profitable (for some players) evening. These events are held on alternate Tuesdays - opposite weeks to the card parties scheduled for Thursdays. Come and join your friends. Bowling in Ladies League was cancelled on Monday, March 5 because of road conditions, so there are no bowling scores to report. Patrick G. Deegan DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC 5 GEORGE STREET BOWMANVILLE 623-4473 or 263-2026 TELEPHONE 623-6555 JOHN MANUEL, C.G.A. 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