Protection of French key in DSFM plan

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This article was published 08/11/2015 (3584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A desire for French to be more than a language of work but a language permeating all facets of life will continue to guide the province’s French language school division over the next four years, an early indication into the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine’s (DSFM) next strategic plan shows.

DSFM started bringing its consultation process for its 2016-2020 strategic plan to its 23 school communities in March, asking what individuals want from their children’s educational experience.

Consultation sessions this fall have included stops in Ste Anne, St Pierre, Ste Agathe and St Jean Baptiste.

The prevailing directives arising from the upcoming strategic plan include three focus areas: academic and education success, as well as a more concerted effort to involve the community at large, whether that means school projects involving parents or reading workshops led by community members, and a commitment to identity building. On the latter end, the division intends to help students strengthen their Franco-Manitoban identity by involving them in contributing to the vitality of their community.

That proposal is looked upon favourably by the principal of Real Berard in St Pierre, Patrice Harvey.

“In this new strategic plan, the partnership with the community is really important,” he said. “If the student doesn’t have the chance to speak French at home they will have the chance to speak French at school, but it’s important there’s a chance to speak French inside the community, too.”

He notes the school’s partnership with the Sugar Shack, such as a lunch drama students served food at. There was also a golf event at Maplewood Golf Course students volunteered at, which again was held in French.

Joel Lemoine from Ste Agathe, who works with CDEM, a support group for bilingual communities, was acclaimed this fall as a trustee for the southern region.

He notes at the meeting he attended in Ste Agathe encouraging French outside school walls was favoured by parents, as is a desire to offer more for students, particularly in trades and technical courses. The division has made a step toward that with a new partnership this fall with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.

“With a growing school division, it’s a good problem to have—you’ve got to have additional staff and teachers,” said Lemoine.

Christeen Perreault is the president of the Real Berard parent committee. She said their group has appreciated communication efforts the division has made with its website and the weekly emails the school sends to keep the community in the know.

“I think the DSFM as a whole is definitely working on improving communication in the schools, within the community, and to the parents,” said Perreault.

DSFM plans to address such challenges like a lack of funding and a desire for offering a more diverse range of courses in its next strategic plan. Influenced by the consultation process, the division will expand on its focus areas to inform its next plan, to be crafted next year between January and May. The plan’s release is slated for the 2016-17 school year.

Ile des Chenes’s College Gabrielle Roy will host the last community consultation session in southeastern Manitoba. It will be held at the school Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.