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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 14, 2013 | 8 Public board eyeing new French Immersion plan by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver Concerned Halton residents had a chance to give their input on the public board's vision for French studies at a special delegation meeting on Monday night. Prior to that special meeting, the Halton District School Board (HDSB) released a series of recommendations made by education officials to the public that trustees bandied about at their Nov. 6 board meeting. The recommendations are slated to be voted on by trustees at their Nov. 20 board meeting. The recommendations were based on input from teachers, board representatives and parents and included the results of a questionnaire that was completed by nearly 4,000 parents in June. Two of the biggest changes being considered are having French taught as early as Grade 1 instead of Grade 4 and giving students interested in taking French Immersion two chances to enter the system instead of just at Grade 1. Jeff Blackwell, associate director of education, told board members on Nov. 6 the current Grade 1 entry point for French Immersion has resulted in positive achievements by students. Blackwell conceded there is concern about the number of students who start French Immersion in Grade 1, but don't finish the program. In some schools, Blackwell said, 24 per cent fewer students remained in French Immersion in Grade 8 than started in Grade 1. At least one trustee thinks students shouldn't enter French Immersion until Grade 3. Burlington trustee Jennifer Hlusko is recommending phasing out the Grade 1 starting point and replacing it with Grade 3. "It may improve the success rate of students who enter French Immersion at a later date," Hlusko told trustees Nov. 6. One of the benefits is students will have had a good couple of years of getting their toe in the water of French and have an idea os whether they like it or how they're learning. Nancy MacNeill Milton trustee Hlusko thinks teachers and parents would have a better idea of what "kind of a learner" the students will be if they wait until Grade 3. Education officials are recommending students also have the chance to enter French Immersion in Grade 5 for the start of the 2015-16 school year, provided 25 students are registered. It's believed the later entry point will deal with interested students arriving after Grade 1 and will also give parents ­ and students ­ more time before deciding to take French Immersion. Students enrolled in French Immersion studies will continue to receive 50 per cent of their instruction in English. A Grade 5 entry point with a 50-50 balance of English and French instruction also ensures students achieve 1,260 hours of French by the end of Grade 8 in order for them to be eligible to continue extended French studies in high school. Milton trustee Nancy MacNeill said the Grade 5 starting point for French Immersion should produce better results. "One of the benefits is students will have had a good couple of years of getting their toe in the water of French and have an idea of whether they like it or how they're learning," MacNeill said. see New on p.11 SimpsonWigle LAW LLP is pleased to announce that joined our firm NOVEMBER 1, 2013 Later entry point allows more time to decide continued from p.3 never displace English track programs out of any neighbourhood school." Oliver suggested Grade 1 French Immersion should be gradually phased out as extended French is phased in and that there is no need for a pilot project for French as a subject as board staff is recommending. Burlington resident Liz Laube urged trustees to keep dual-track schools and reject any plan to re-direct English-speaking students to other schools if there aren't enough for full classrooms at their current school. "Neighbourhood schools would be closed to neighbourhood children" if dual-track schools are allowed to be converted to singletrack French schools, Laube said. Laube and her husband have two daughters attending Charles Best Public School. One of their daughters took a "painless" exit from French Immersion because it wasn't stimulating her. She was one of 31 students who started French Immersion in Grade 1. By Grade 8, only 16 remained. "If Charles was a single-track school she (her daughter) would have either have had to leave her school, leaving her friends behind with a difficult transition, or stayed to avoid the social upheaval," Laube said. Education officials have recommended adding a second starting point of Grade 5 for French Immersion for the start of the 201516 school year, provided a minimum 25 students are registered. But Laube said there would be no such need if the first entry point was delayed until Grade 4. That would allow students to spend their early primary years developing strong English and math skills before trying a second language. It would also be clear by Grade 4 whether they would excel in a French program if French started as a core subject in Grade 1. "It's very difficult for a parent to know their child's aptitude for language at the age of 5," Laube said. "Delaying entry until Grade 4 allows parents to make a more informed choice." Jeff Blackwell, associate board director, previously told trustees capping French enrolment isn't on the table, but parent Jill McFarland urged trustees to consider it -- like the Halton Catholic board did when it introduced Grade 1 French Immersion this fall ­ in order to remove the threat of single-track conversion to French-only schools. "I didn't realize I had to be Catholic for an English-track program to matter in my neighbourhood school," McFarland said. "French Immersion is an optional program. It should never see Students on p.14 MICHAEL C. MORGAN Michael has practiced in Toronto for many years, providing tax planning and estate planning advice, as well as tax dispute resolution advice, to individual and corporate clients. His extensive experience includes tax structuring for business owners, professionals and other individuals regarding the establishment of businesses (including professional corporations), corporate reorganizations, business succession arrangements, the purchase and sale of businesses, personal tax and estate planning strategies (including the creation of trusts and the preparation of wills & powers of attorney), and the establishment of charitable foundations and not-for-profit organizations; as well as preparing tax opinions and representing clients in tax disputes and tax litigation (including appeals to tax courts). Michael also taught taxation courses at Queens University Law School for several years. We welcome Michael and look forward to him being a strong addition to our team at SimpsonWigle LAW LLP. Hamilton Office: 1 Hunter Street East, Suite 200 905-528-8411 Burlington Office: 390 Brant Street, Suite 501 905-639-1052 www.simpsonwigle.com