French immersion is ready to make its debut in local high schools.
The Simcoe County District School Board voted Wednesday to introduce the program at seven of its 14 secondary schools, starting in September 2021. The locations are Banting Memorial High School, Barrie North Collegiate Institute, Collingwood Collegiate Institute, Georgian Bay District Secondary School, Innisdale Secondary School, Nantyr Shores Secondary School and Twin Lakes Secondary School.
The board has been offering the program in some of its elementary schools for a number of years and, by the fall of 2021, participating students will be in high school, explained board chair Jodi Lloyd.
Lloyd made it her mission to bring French immersion to the board when she was first elected as a trustee.
“I’m excited about it,” she said. “I’ve seen the program grow and flourish.”
The goal has always been to phase out extended French. That program will remain for three years after French immersion is introduced at the secondary level.
“You will have increased functional fluency with French immersion,” Lloyd said, noting the program includes more of a focus on the language throughout the school day than extended French.
A number of factors were considered when determining where to offer French immersion.
“We looked at geography and attrition in the program. They all have the capacity to sustain it for a number of years,” Lloyd said. “We can’t offer it in every high school. It’s just not possible, just like it’s not possible to have it in every elementary school.”
