Report on Progress

Chronological History of Events/Major Milestones

• The Board will cast its final vote on this isse at the Committee meeting in Apr 2008, pending on numbers of kids actually registerd at Fessenden.
• An FI information session will be held at Fessenden on Mar 6, 2008, from 6:30-7:30.
• Registeration of SK and Gr 1 for French Immersion begins at Fessenden school, starting Jan 29, 2008.
• The Jan 14 motion will be ratified by the Board on Jan 28.
• On Jan 14, 2008, Krys Croxall, superintendent of program and Assessment of HWDSB, presented the staff report along with her recommendations. A motion raised by Ancaster Trustee, Shirley Glauser, to support the expansion of FI to Ancaster, was passed unanimously.
• Dec 10, 2007, Michele Myles and Ying Chan made an important presentation to the Committee of the Whole, asking for support for expanding FI program into Ancaster. 20+ Ancaster Parents showed up for support. Ancaster school trustee, Shirley Glauser, raised a motion for a staff report for the next committee meeting in Jan 2008. The motion was passed.
• Mid Oct, 2007, HWDSB conducted a FI survey to current JK and SK students, targeted group for FI program of SK and Gr 1, respetively. The results are as follows: SK (for Sept 2008) - 61( 24 from school survey, and 37 online); Gr 1(for Sept 2008) -10 (4 from school survey, 6 from online)
• Oct 22, a FI info night was held at the Ancaster High School.
• French Immersion Info Night took place on Apr 30(see details).
• APFI held a parent meeting on Apr 12(see minutes).
• Mar 21, 2007, Ying Chan attended French Immersion Advisory Committee meeting, introducing Ancaster Parents for French Immersion to the group. APFI also asked the board to a)have a French Immersion Info night in Ancaster; b)conduct a survey to Ancaster schools for FI interest.
• Mar 16, 2007, Community Calendar, "French Immersion Group Seeks Support for Daycare".
• Mar 2, 2007, Mike Pearson, Ancaster News Report, also an attendee of the first APFI meeting on Feb 22, published French immersion supporters see strength in numbers in Ancaster News.
• Feb 28, 2007, Lisa Cole attended the Ward Information meeting, introducing APFI to the meeting.
• Feb 22, 2007, the Ancaster Parents for FI held their first group meeting(meeting minutes).
• Feb 9, 2007, Ancaster News published an article "Parents push for French immersion in Ancaster", by Mike Pearson.
• Feb 7, 2007, www.AncasterFI.com is registered, developed and live(technical support Thomas Reinke, Website design Ying Chan), inviting All Ancaster FI parents to join so that we can bring FI (in all grades) to Ancaster.
• Feb, 2007, Lisa Cole wrote to Ancaster News, querying the lack of FI in Ancaster
• Feb, 2007, Ancaster Parents for French Immersion group is formed with 3 mothers.
• Jan 24, 2007, Ying Chan attended French Immersion Advisory Committee meeting, where she met many key members of HWDSB FI community.
• Jan 22, 2007, Thomas Reinke attended the HWDSB Committee of the Whole meeting, where Waterdown, Dundas and East Mountain obtained the appoval for their local FI sites
• Dec 2006, Ying Chan sent to all Hamilton-Wentworth District School board trustees an email, citing significant FI difference between Burlington and Ancaster, and asking for support for a local FI school in Ancaster
• Since Feb 2006, Joanne Saab has been collecting info from parents who are interested in FI in Ancaster