Osgoode Public School

Parent Council

 
 
 
 

5590 Main Street, PO Box 70
Osgoode, Ontario, K0A 2W0

Phone: (613) 826-2550
Fax: (613) 826-1139
 
 
We Did It!  Early French Immersion is coming to OPS!
 
 

In late 2007 the Ottawa Carleton Public School Board made a decision to get rid of Late French Immersion (grade 7 and 8) and instead implement Middle French Immersion (grade 4 -8). The schools in the south end that were awarded Middle French Immersion were Kars Public and Metcalfe Public.

Previously students at Osgoode Public school would attend OPS in the English program from JK to grade 6 and then had the option of either starting Late French Immersion for grade 7 and 8 at Castor Valley or continue in English for grade 7 and 8 at Metcalfe Public. In the future if the students in the Osgoode community want French Immersion they will either:

a) Attend Early French Immersion at Kars Public School starting in JK (no change to existing process), or
b) Attend Middle French Immersion (leave Osgoode Public in grade 4 and go to Kars Public to receive MFI)

We set out to bring awareness to the Board of our desire for a French Immersion program in Osgoode.  The French Immersion program would be in addition to our existing English program, and would give the children of Osgoode the opportunity to receive an education in either English or French without having to leave the community. 

Based on feedback, our efforts were focused on bringing Early French Immersion (EFI) to Osgoode Public.  Students would start JK in English, with SK being their first year in a French Immersion program.  The goal would be to phase this program in over a period of years, rather than implement French Immersion in SK-Gr 6 immediately. 

On January 27th, the Board voted in favour of granting Osgoode Public School Early French Immersion, with JK/SK starting in September 2009.  We thank you for ongoing support through the process of campaigning for this program, and look forward to having both English and French programs at Osgoode Public for years to come.

See the detail on the right hand side for a chronology of activities and milestones in the process.

 

Chronology of French Immersion Dates
 

        February 25, 2008

Middle French Immersion Information Session.  Presentation of Middle French Immersion program issues.  Feedback from school communities concerning potential criteria for decision-making and other school community issues.  OPS Parent Council had representation at both the afternoon and evening sessions, and had dialog with the board staff at the event.
 

        March 18, 2008

Meetings with school council chairs and principals of schools interested in new Middle French Immersion programs (or other French as a Second Language programs).  OPS Parent Council attended with our Principal and participated in the discussions with other schools and board staff.

        April 9, 2008

Staff recommendations to Business Services Committee.  Osgoode Parent Council had two delegations with presentations related to French Immersion and boundary considerations.

       April 22, 2008

Board Meeting - Review of findings of Board Services Committee from April 9th.  Osgoode Parent Council had representation at the meeting, and reiterated our interest in French Immersion at Osgoode Public School.

June 17, 2008

OCDSB planners released their interim report on sites being considered for French Immersion.  Osgoode Public school was listed as one of the schools.  Full report can be viewed here.

November 3, 2008

OCDSB planners hosted a public consultation session for French Immersion sites (MFI and EFI) being considered.  OPS Parent Council and other OPS parents attended. 

December 10, 2008

OCDSB planning staff released their report with a recommendation of new MFI and EFI sites.  Osgoode Public School was included in the proposal as a site to get EFI starting in September 2009.  This recommendation requires Board approval in order to proceed.

January 12, 2009

Business Services Committee reviewed the recommendations of the Planning staff from December and approved the proposal for the new MFI and EFI sites, including Osgoode Public.  The final vote on the proposal is by the Board at their Committee of the Whole meeting on January 27, 2009.

January 27, 2009

The final vote on the proposal was held by the Board at their Committee of the Whole meeting.  The Board voted in favour of an EFI program at Osgoode Public, which will commence with JK/SK in September 2009.

 

Participate!

If you are interested in participating or volunteering with the Osgoode Parent Council, we'd love to hear from you!

Please Contact us to find out how you can get involved.

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