Special All Member Communiqué

Mark your calendar for...

French-Second-Language Education Week 2022

February 7-11, 2022

From the classroom to the stars! De la classe aux étoiles!

This theme will focus on the exciting journey each student is on right now, and well into the future, whereby they can become anything they want to be... with official bilingualism helping them to get there!

CPF-SK is excited to announce that arrangements are being made to host a virtual performer for kindergarten to grade 3 and a virtual keynote speaker for grades 4-12 during the Week. These events will be provided to schools free of charge. More information to come in the new year.

A Look Back...

French-Second-Language Education Week 2021

February 1-5, 2021

Schools across Saskatchewan celebrated French-Second-Language (FSL) Education Week 2021 with activities held virtually and/or in classroom cohorts due to COVID-19 restrictions. The theme encouraged students, families and schools to celebrate French at home, at school, outdoors, and in their physical and online communities.

FSL schools, with a French Immersion and/or a Core French Program, could take part in the FSL Education Week Challenge to be entered into a draw for one of three grants. To be entered into the draw, a school had to host at least one French cultural activity. Many schools held multiple activities throughout the week with some schools holding events everyday. In total, nine schools entered the FSL Education Week Challenge. A total of 23 schools held activities throughout the week.

With over 112 activities taking place, 8,506+ students participated across Saskatchewan. Congratulations to everyone who showed such strong and creative support for the French language!

Schools that participated in the FSL Education Week Challenge included:

École Sacré Coeur/Sacred Heart School, Estevan
École Holy Cross School, Prince Albert
École St. Thomas, Lloydminster
Prairie South Virtual School, Moose Jaw & Gravelbourg
École Alvin Buckwold School, Saskatoon
École White City School, White City
Rosemont Community School, Regina
École Connaught Community School, Regina
École Centennial School, Swift Current

The winning schools of the FSL Education Week Challenge were:

1st: École Centennial School, Swift Current, receiving a $500 grant.

2nd: École Alvin Buckwold School, Saskatoon, receiving a $250 grant.

3rd: École Holy Cross School, Prince Albert, receiving a $100 grant.

We also extend our gratitude to our funders. Merci beaucoup!

Here is a summary of the activities organized by some of the participating schools:

École Sacré Coeur/Sacred Heart School, Estevan

The school held a variety of activities centered around Les voyageurs. Students had to find the voyageur hidden in the school and take a picture with him. There was a beard growing contest where students came to school with homemade bearded face masks. Students took a virtual tour of Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg. French music was played everyday. Many classes met virtually to play French games. Students had the opportunity to snowshoe outside and play the wooden spoons.

École Holy Cross School, Prince Albert

Students made Ceintures fléchées. They attended a virtual magic show, played Kahoot games and Bingo in French and watched French movies.

École St. Thomas, Lloydminster

Classes had a virtual meet with a French-Canadian author and students were challenged to write their own stories or poems, or draw cartoons. One grade wrote 'messages de reconnaisance' (messages of appreciation) in French to every staff member.

Prairie South Virtual School, Moose Jaw & Gravelbourg

This class used their Nutrition unit to do some fun food-related activities for FSL Education Week. Students read a French recipe, prepared a dish and shared it with their families. Students learned about French idioms such as tomber dans les pommes (to faint), se faire rouler dans la farine (to be duped), haut comme trois pommes (to be very young), and avoir du pain sur la planche (to have a lot to do). They sang songs related to food such as "Je suis un pizza", "Salade de fruit" and "J'ai faim, j'ai soif".

École Alvin Buckwold School, Saskatoon

Throughout the week students were challenged to speak more French. A bulletin board was made with hearts that students made to show 'the heart' of École Alvin Buckwold School. Older students read French jokes over the intercom system to bring everyone a laugh. The whole school played a game of Bingo in French, the English students played with the help of posters to understand the game.

École White City School, White City

A banner celebrating FSL Education Week hung at the entrance of the school to greet students and staff. Students dressed in the colours of the Fransaskois flag (yellow, green and red). Students got to go dog sledding. Students enjoyed a French movie and played board games in French.

Rosemont Community School, Regina

Students learned about the Carnaval de Québec through various activities. Younger grades learned about Bonhomme Carnaval and winter clothing, middle grades learned about Bonhomme Carnaval's Ice Palace and made 'ice' palaces of their own using mini-marshmallows, and older grades learned about ice canoeing by watching videos and used what they learn about team work from the ice canoeists to make collages. Students learned about the Ceniture fléchée and learned finger weaving to make mini versions.

École Connaught Community School, Regina

Students painted in the snow and made a macaron craft using bottle caps. Students dressed by in the colours of the French and Québec flags (red, white and blue).

École Centennial School, Swift Current

Students and staff made a 'Corona Minus' video about how COVID-19 is affecting their usual school activities and routines. French family trivia was played by students and their families. Students dressed up as French mimes. French music was played in the school and students played Bingo in French.

École Palliser Heights School, Moose Jaw

Students made posts related to this year's theme and what it meant to them. They watched videos, played French board games, played an Improvisation game and played Kahoot. There also was a French story reading.

École Arthur Pechey School, Prince Albert

The school connected virtually for a game of Bingo with the School Division Superintendant, Mr. Michaud. Students learned folk dances and sang traditional songs. Each class set a French reading goal for the week. Students participated in activities about Carnaval and made mini Ceinture fléchées. They dressed in the colours of the Fransaskois flag (yellow, green and red). A bulletin board titled "Célébrons le français partout" was created that featured the reason why students love learning French. Students enjoyed a poutine lunch and got to watch French movies.

École St. Michael's School, Yorkton

Everyday began with some French music and a prayer in French. French Carnaval-themed activities were developed for Physical Education classes. Students watched French movies.

Canadian Parents for French - Saskatchewan would like to extend a sincere thank you to all students, teachers, parents, and administrators who participated in FSL Education Week 2021.

The enthusiasm shown and varied activities organized demonstrated a tremendously supportive culture in the school for FSL learning. It also showed the enormous fun had by all. Well done everyone! Bien fait tout le monde!