Late French comeback trail Katharine Hamer News Reporter khames @nsnews.com PARLEZ-vous Frangais? That’s a question a fot more kids might know the answer to if plans to increase access to West Vancouver School District’s. | French immersion program reach fruition. Letters have been sent out to all Grade 5 parents in West Vancouver, inviting them to an information meeting Jan. 13. If enough families show interest in a late immersion program, it may start up as carly as September 2000, said Warren Hicks, director of human resources and school opé¢rations for District West Vancouver School District had a late immersion program: up until abour 10 years ago, said Hicks — but it was phased out as student enrollment levels dropped. But a schools review con- ducted {ase year indicated ‘that’ bringing back late immersion — which begins at the Grade 6 level — may be a good idea. Hicks said the addition of alate immersion program to the existing carly immersion (which . begins at Kindergarten level) could help support course options at the secondary level. Currently, French immer- sion students in West Vancouver begin classes in ‘Kindergarten at Ecole Pauline Johnson, and contin- ue their bilingual education at Sentinel Secondary. _ Pauline Johnson is one of only three “single-track” (French only) ‘clementary schools in B.C. | Hicks says there has been a renewed interest in the late immersion program — spear- headed by a group called Canadian Parents for French (CPE). ‘Marie Payette-Falls, chair of the West Van chapter of CPF, has two children at . Sentinel’ who have been through the immersion pro- gram. “At secondary level, the . immersion program tredi- . tionally loses numbers,” she said, “so we need an infusion of new blood. We're pressing ~ hard to have (late immer- sion) reinstated, for. those parents who missed our, who weren’t able to get on the first beat They ttissed the first shez, now they have a see- ond.” Although Payette-Falls said that extended expo- sure to the French language is prefer- able, “it's good to have a second choice.” “With carly immersion,” said Hicks, “non-French parents are some- times anxious about being able to help their kids swith school work. It’s all in French and they don’t understand. By Grade 6, they have as good grounding in an English program, and parents’ com- fort level increases.” The fear that children’s English language skills will - suffer as a result of immersion are unfounded, said Payette-Falls: “the mechanics of the language enhances both. It doesn’t affect the English, you can transpose one onto the other. immersion on in West Van Kids come from MARIE Payette-Falls, centre, with her daughters Stephanie English families and Dominique. Both girls have deen through the French where parents read immersion program in West Van. to them. They go to the library in Engtish, go to the store in English, they have PE and electives in English.” Hicks agrees, saying there are no statistics to support the idea that French immer- sion children perform any worse than their English-lan- guage program peers —~ especially by the time they get to high school. Early immersion is 100% French, and Grade 6 entry would represent a similar level of intensity. By the time kids reach Sentinel, though, lessons are equally divided between French and English. “Obviously, they're not taking immersion wood- work,” said Hicks. Plus, said Payette-Falls, there’s a “sense of family (amongst immersion stu- dents). They stick close together because they’ve been together 13 years. Tie English-speaking kids come from all over to go to high school, but they've all come from Pauline Johanson. They’re not like the new kids on the block.” Said fellow CPF member Jane Lloyd-Jones, whose two young children are thriving. in the Pauline Johnson immersion program, “It’s exciting. It’s the first time (late immersion) has hap- pened for a few years. It's such a big opportunity.” Both emphasize the expanded career opportuni- ties open to bilingual gradu- . ates. And us Pauline Johnson principal Jennifer Anderson points out, “Some parents ave not had the opportuni- ty to enter the program before or have not consid- ered it before. At an early age, it’s a par- ent’s decision. With late immersion, the child is at least partially involved in the decision.” If a sufficient number of families express an interest in Contract awarded for Anna Louise-Pentland Contribusing Writer ‘ordered a vew $2.2-million acrial ladder fire truck, it needs somewhere to put it. ‘» & $99,999 contract (plus GST) _construc- ‘tion: contract has been awarded to Pax Construction to modify Fire Hall No.1 (760- 16th Sx.) to accommodate the truck. The current ceiling height and a floor that couldn’s handle the increased load of the truck WY fire hall modification The total cost of the building modifications will be Su Sit 00 still approximately $3,606 et unde 60, t carli NOW that West Vancouver has in June. amount 4pprow * This cost includes $18,000, not included in . the Pax Construction contract, to upgrade the north wall to mect current seismic codes, This will be the first phase of an upgrade of the whole building to make it seismically safe. A 3995 preliminary estimate of the cost to upgrade the entire building came in at approx- imately $421,000. Pax Construction has also been recently awarded a $880,880 contract from the munic- the late immersion program, said Hicks, the board would make a recommendation in February and begin the search for a teacher. Dresses © Suits ¢ Blouses ° Skirts ¢ Pants 7 | Evening Wear ¢ Scarves ¢ Handbags Jewellery EXQUISITE BOUTIQI | After 33 years in business it’s retirement time! And that means... ase what was limiting the use of the fire hall. _ipafity to renovate the ice arena.