PUBLIC

FEASIBILITY OF A FRENCH IMMERSION

PROGRAM IN WARD 4 SCHOOLS

“There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning.” 1 Corinthians 14:10

Created, Draft First Tabling Review

October 27, 2014 December 2, 2014 Click here to enter a date.

Dan Koenig, Superintendent of Education, Curriculum and Accountability

Sylvie Talarico, Program Coordinator, French as a Second Language

RECOMMENDATION REPORT

Vision:

At Toronto Catholic we transform the world

through witness, faith, innovation and action.

Mission:

The Toronto Catholic District School Board is an

inclusive learning community rooted in the love of

Christ. We educate students to grow in grace and

knowledge and to lead lives of faith, hope and

charity

G. Poole

Associate Director of Academic Affairs

A. Sangiorgio

Associate Director of Planning and Facilities

S. Pessione

Associate Director of Business Services,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Angela Gauthier

Director of Education

REPORT TO

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND

WELL BEING, CATHOLIC

EDUCATION AND HUMAN

RESOURCES COMMITTEE

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A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Arising out of a Trustee motion at the Student Achievement and Well-Being Committee

Meeting of September 11, 2014, staff was directed to investigate the feasibility of a

French Immersion program in a Ward 4 school. Staff was also directed to investigate and

come back with data concerning the French Immersion program in place in other schools,

with regards to student achievement in the program, drop out, etc.

B. PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to provide information to determine the most feasible site for

the expansion of a French Immersion program in Ward 4. The data used in this report

was extracted from various data sources and from the selection criteria (Appendix B of

TCDSB Policy S.P.10) that applies when potential French Immersion start-up sites are

being considered.

C. BACKGROUND

1. On October 10, 2013, a group of parents presented to St. Conrad’s CSAC to be a French

Immersion site. A petition was presented to in support of the implementation of the

French Immersion program at St. Conrad.

2. On November 12, 2013, a survey went out soliciting community views on the possible

implementation of the French Immersion program at St. Conrad (See Appendix A)

3. On January 15, 2014, at a St. Conrad CSAC Meeting, the Principal reported the results of

the survey. There were just over 100 surveys completed by parents, under a third of

families in St. Conrad School at that time. Of the respondents 60% were supportive of

the French Immersion program at St. Conrad while 40% were against the implementation

of the program.

4. On January 23, 2014, at a Corporate Affairs Strategic Planning and Property Committee,

a motion was presented for a feasibility study to consider French Immersion at St. Conrad

to begin as early as September 2015.

5. On February 11, 2014, Superintendent Gina Iuliano-Marrello and FSL Coordinator Judith

Esser met with CSAC to provide more details about the French Immersion program. A

Committee of volunteer members was established to further discuss the possibilities of a

French Immersion program at St. Conrad.

6. On March 6, 2014, at a Student Achievement and Well-Being Committee Meeting, a

Elementary French Immersion Review was first tabled by Curriculum and Accountability

Superintendent with a selection criteria for the expansion of a French Immersion

Program. A motion was put forth that the Board approve a five-year expansion plan for

French Immersion. St. Conrad was slated for 2016-2017.

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7. On March 26, 2014, the Principal met with the St. Conrad Committee’s to share results of

a telephone survey done by the Principal with the assistance of the clerk typist to all

kindergarten parents – current JK and JK students for the 2014/15 school year. (See

Appendix B and C)

8. On April 3, 2014, at a Student Achievement and Well-Being Committee Meeting, a St.

Conrad parent presented a request that staff consider an amendment to the

implementation date of French Immersion at St. Conrad.

9. On June 17, 2014, a meeting was held with St. Conrad parents interested in the French

Immersion program with the Superintendent and the Trustee.

10. On September 11, 2014, at a Catholic Education and Human Resources Committee

Meeting, a motion from Trustee Ward 4 requested that staff ‘investigate the feasibility of

a French Immersion (FI) program in other schools in Ward 4 beside St. Conrad,

considering school capacity, enrolment, proximity to a public board FI school.’

11. On September 11, 2014, at a Catholic Education and Human Resources Committee

Meeting, a motion from Trustee Ward 4 requested that staff ‘investigate and come back

with data concerning the FI program in place of other schools, with regards to student

achievement in the program, drop out, etc.’

D.EVIDENCE/RESEARCH/ANALYSIS

There is an increasing demand for French Immersion placements across the city as is

evidenced in the steady increase of enrolment in most of our seven (7) TCDSB sites for

French Immersion programming. Slight variations between years can be due to the

implementation of ELP in year 5 (2014-2015) in most TCDSB French Immersion

schools.

French Immersion Enrolment in the Elementary Schools in the last five (5) years

(Data Source: ICT Trillium)

School

Enrolment

2010-2011

Enrolment

2011-2012

Enrolment

2012-2013

Enrolment

2013-2014

Enrolment

2014-2015

Blessed

Pier Giorgio

Frassati

N/A

N/A

N/A

16

34

James

Culnan

79

89

126

150

176

Our Lady

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of Peace 372 391 394 419 431

Our Lady

of Wisdom

368

379

373

368

347

St. Agatha 251 253 272 291 301

St. Cecilia 285 318 338 390 383

St. Cyril 285 291 284 271 278

TOTALS 1640 1721 1787 1889 1950

The TCDSB Policy S.P.10, data from Planning Services and ICT, Trillium were

referenced and used as essential sources to collect the data.

All eleven (11) schools in Ward 4 were considered as no school in that Ward offers

Extended or French Immersion.

The following findings were determined using the ‘Selection Criteria’ (Appendix B of

S.P. 10).

1) When consideration is given to enrolment, ‘on the ground’ placements and utilization

rate, St. Conrad has the least utilization rate at 77% followed by St. Charles Garnier at

78%. Both schools have capacity in the 400 to 500 range for a dual-track FI program

school.

“As per Planning Services, projections over the next 3 to 5 years will steadily

increase as a result of the recently completed boundary review involving St. Conrad

and St. Raphael. Consideration will need to be given to the St. Conrad facility as the

French Immersion program grows over the coming years.”

The chart below lists the eleven (11) English schools in Ward 4 with regards to

Enrolment, OTG and % of Utilization

(Data Source: Planning Services)

School Enrolment |Oct. 2014* OTG % of Utilization

St. Conrad 484 628 77%

St. Charles Garnier 448 571 78%

St. Wilfrid 639 709 90%

St. Martha 224 263 85%

Blessed Margherita 338 337 100%

St. Jerome 443 438 101%

St. Norbert 320 354 90%

St. Robert 573 501 114%

St. Jane Frances 749 715 105%

St. Augustine 554 344 161%

St. Raphael 551 395 139%

*October 31, 2014 Enrolment data from Trillium Extract. Has not yet been verified through OnSIS.

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2) When consideration is given to location and proximity to other FI and Extended

French schools, St. Conrad has the strongest presence of TDSB schools in its

proximity with three (3) TDSB schools within 1.22 km. St. Wilfrid has two (2)

TDSB schools within a kilometre.

The chart below lists the location of TDSB FI or Extended programs in Ward 4

(Data Source: Planning Services)

School Proximity to TCDSB school in Ward 4

Tumpane Public School 0.88 km from St. Conrad

Beverley Heights Middle School 1.10 km from St. Conrad

Blaydon Public School 1.22 km from St. Conrad

Topcliff Public School 0.78 km from St. Wilfrid

1.16 km from St. Charles Garner

Derrydown Public School 0.97 km from St. Wilfrid

1.42 km from St. Jerome

3. When projected enrolments are analyzed, none of the schools in Ward 4 have less than 75%

utilization for current and projected enrolment (as per the selection critieria).

Ward 4

Schools

OTG

Capacity

Por-

tables

Oct.

31/14

HC(2)

*Util.

Rate

(%)

2015

Util.

Rate

(%)

2016

Util.

Rate

(%)

2017

Util.

Rate

(%)

2018

Util.

Rate

(%)

2019

Util.

Rate

(%)

Blessed

Margherita

337

0

338

100%

335

99%

333

99%

336

100%

346

103%

338

100%

St.Augustine

of Canterbury

344

10

544

161%

558

162%

556

162%

557

162%

555

161%

560

163%

St.Charles

Garnier

571

0

448

78%

453

79%

455

80%

448

78%

457

80%

464

81%

St. Conrad 628 0 484 77% 509 81% 520 83% 539 86% 555 88% 566 90%

St.Jane

Frances

715

3

749

105%

747

104%

740

103%

741

104%

742

104%

738

103%

St. Jerome 438 2 443 101% 465 106% 493 113% 523 119% 638 146% 694 158%

St. Martha 263 0 224 85% 245 93% 250 95% 252 96% 254 97% 257 98%

St. Norbert 354 2 320 90% 330 93% 338 95% 354 100% 354 100% 356 101%

St. Raphael 395 6 551 139% 526 133% 525 133% 535 135% 537 136% 511 129%

St. Robert 501 2 573 114% 545 109% 576 115% 572 114% 599 120% 625 125%

St. Wilfrid 709 0 639 90% 644 91% 647 91% 648 91% 656 92% 670 95%

Notes:

*Utilization Rate does not include portable classrooms

1. St. Augustine is receiving an addition – all portables will be removed upon completion

2. October 31, 2014 Enrolment data from Trillium Extract. Has not yet been verified through OnSIS

3. Projected enrolment is Board approved Feb. 2014. Updated projections based on Oct. 2014 enrolment will be prepared for Board

approval in early 2015.

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4) When consideration is given to the properties, none of the schools in Ward 4 have

lease agreements.

5) When consideration is given for further expansion, St. Conrad has the largest property

with a 5.16-acre property and no additional capital and infrastructure expenses would

be incurred at this time.

6) When consideration is given to proximity of TCDSB secondary schools with

Extended and/or French Immersion programs, the chart below indicates the distance

between St. Conrad and the Secondary Schools.

Secondary School French Program Single Gender/Co-ed Distance

Monsignor Percy Johnson Extended French Co-ed 7.95 km

Loretto Abbey Extended French Single gender Girls 9.04 km

Marshal McLuhan Extended French Co-ed 11.51 km

Bishop Allen Extended French &

Immersion

Co-ed

13.35 km

Michael Power/St. Joseph Extended French Co-ed 14.60 km

Brebeuf College Extended French Single gender Boys 15.94 km

St. Michael’s Choir Extended French Single gender Boys 15.96 km

ST. Joseph’s College Extended French Co-ed 16.13 km

Senator O’Connor Extended French &

Immersion

Co-ed

19.10 km

Mary Ward Extended French Co-ed 24.28 km

Blessed Cardinal Newman Extended French Co-ed 30.02 km

Data concerning the French Immersion Program in Place in other schools

The chart below indicates the performance of students in both the English stream and the

French Immersion stream as per the Primary and Junior EQAO Assessment in 2013. The

data compares results between students in the areas of Math, Reading and Writing. The

percentages represent students achieving levels 3 and 4 in the EQAO Assessments.

EQAO Results for Grade 3 and 6 students in FI schools

in Mathematics, Reading and Writing

(Data Source: EQAO 2013 – M2 method used/exempted students excluded))

School Gr. 3 FI

Math

Gr.3 Eng

Math

Gr. 6 FI

Math

Gr. 6 Eng

Math

Gr. 6 FI

Reading

Gr. 6 Eng

Reading

Gr. 6 FI

Writing

Gr. 6 Eng

Writing

Our Lady of Peace 85% 46% 71% 67% 92% 100% 98% 100%

Our Lady of Wisdom 62% N/A 75% N/A 88% N/A 92% N/A

St. Agatha 66% 60% 73% 64% 97% 85% 96% 90%

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St. Cecilia 82% 81% 100% 56% 100% 72% 100% 96%

St. Cyril 75% N/A 75% N/A 94% N/A 95% N/A

Provincial 67% 54% 79% 78%

TCDSB 66% 53% 74% 81%

D. METRICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The information below will be necessary for the successful implementation of a new French

Immersion program in Ward 4:

1) Provide on-going monitoring in year one and beyond.

2) Continue to engage parents, staff and administration of the school to ensure sustainability

of the program.

3) Conduct a detailed cost analysis for the start-up of the program including costs for

staffing and resource materials. Arising from the cost analysis, a funding source will be

required and identified in order to offset any incremental cost pressures.

4) Pending the approval of the site:

a. Parents should be consulted to determine interest and support for the implementation

of the French Immersion program.

b. Board staff will work with local staff and administration to ensure the successful

implementation of the program.

c. A formal communication plan will be created to bring awareness to the TCDSB

community and its stakeholders.

5) Human resources will have to be monitored to ensure that we continue to recruit and

retain our qualified French Immersion teachers and ECEs for the ELP classes.

6) Material resources will be required for start-up classes (classroom texts and instructional

materials as well as library resources). Start-up costs for instructional materials would be

approximately $13,100 per year. The total allocation of funds for instructional materials

over time for a SK-Grade 8 French Immersion program would be $117,900.

7) Cost estimates for Year 1 will be calculated for start-up resources plus the average

salary/benefits for an FI teacher and an ECE.

E. STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that St. Conrad, as per the March 2014 report, be selected for the implementation

of a French Immersion program during the 2016/2017 school year.

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Our Catholic School is formed in faith and committed to supporting student growth and achievement through the collaborative efforts of staff, family and Church.

November 12, 2013 Re: Survey for Interest in French Immersion Program – St. Conrad Dear Parents: At our last CSAC meeting on October 10, 2013, there was a proposal passed to look into the feasibility of having a French Immersion Program at St. Conrad Catholic School. This survey is a first step. French Immersion begins in Senior Kindergarten and continues to Grade 8. Instruction is entirely in French until the end of Grade 2; English-language arts are added in Grade 3. From Grade 5 to Grade 8, instruction is given 50 per cent in French and 50 per cent in English. There would be both a French Immersion stream as well as an English stream within the school. Parents would have the option of either the English or French streams within the school. This is a preliminary survey to determine the community’s interest in pursuing this option for our school. Please complete the short survey below (one form per family) and return it to your child’s teacher. Deadline for the survey is Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Results will be published in the school newsletter for December.

Parent Surname: _______________________________ First Name: ______________________ (Please print)

Number of children attending the school: _________ Please select 1 (one) of the following options by placing an “X” in the appropriate box.

I DO SUPPORT the inclusion of a French Immersion program (along with a continuing English stream) at St. Conrad Catholic School.

I DO NOT SUPPORT the inclusion of a French Immersion program at St. Conrad Catholic School.

I understand that this is only a first step in the process of determining the feasibility of a French Immersion program at St. Conrad School. Further community information and consultation will take place in the future. ___________________________________________ __________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature Date

St. Conrad Catholic School 5 Exbury Road Toronto, ON M3M 1Z1 (P) 416.393.5396 (F) 416.393.5641

Living Faith. Building Community. Achieving Excellence.

Appendix A –

Feasibility of a French Immersion

Program in Ward 4 Schools

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Appendix B – Feasibility of a French Immersion

Program in Ward 4 Schools

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Appendix C – Feasibility of a French Immersion

Program in Ward 4 Schools

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