February Chapter Rep Update

Chapters in the News

When thinking about ways to promote your French programs and the work done by your chapter, don't forget about the power of your local media. Here are some local chapters that have made their way into the news lately:

Vernon: Taking a journey towards bilingualism

New Westminster: French immersion will stay at John Robson Elementary

Gibsons: Parents push for French Immersion

Vancouver: Vancouver School Board eyes French immersion expansion

For ideas about how to work with the media, check out the Communications Guide page on our website under the Advocacy Toolkit

Island Regional Conference

Delegates from over 20 communities attended the Island Regional Conference on February 1st and 2nd, 2013 at the Tigh-na-mara resort and conference centre. Minister of Education, the Honorable Don McRae showed his support to CPF by presenting keynote address about his personal experiences as a parent with children in French Immersion. Maple-Ridge Mission MLA Marc Dalton also addressed the crowd, and engaged on a personal level with the delegates by attending and participating in the conference programming. Marc (which he pointed out is French) is a strong supporter of CPF, and renewed his 3 year membership at the conference! Delagates had the opportunity to network and attend workshops on Goals and Visioning, BCCPAC, Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners, Enagaging all Generations of Volunteers and How to run an Effective Chapter and the resources provided by la Societe francophone de Victoria. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in this event. Also, thanks to Heather Bartlett, our very own Project Coordinator for finding such an amazing venue, negotiating such a great price and organizing an amazing conference! Merci Heather!!

Chapter Bylaws

Bylaws are a set of regulations that are adopted by an organization for its internal governance. When your chapter was founded, the founding members would have adopted a set of bylaws. Most chapters start out with a set of bylaws provided by CPF BC & Yukon Branch, and then modify them as required by their chapter.

In order to amend a bylaw, you are required to make a motion at a general meeting (Either you Annual General Meeting, or a Special Gerneral meeting). General meetings require that you notify your entire membership 14 days prior to the meeting.

Read more about this on our website under Governance - Bylaws

Bouquet de Merci

Do you know someone whose outstanding activities and achievements have contributed to the health and vibrancy of French programs and activities for children in your community?
The Bouquet de Merci is an award of recognition of the contribution by an individual or an association to the goals of Canadian Parents for French – winners are announced at our AGM. The Board of Directors of CPF BC & Yukon recognizes individuals or associations in BC or the Yukon which have contributed significantly to the following goals of CPF:

To assist in ensuring that each young Canadian has the opportunity to acquire as great a knowledge of the French language as he or she is willing to attain.
To promote the best possible types of French language learning opportunities.
To establish and maintain effective communication between interested parents’ educational and governmental authorities responsible for the provision of French language learning opportunities.
To provide educational opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use the French language.

To nominate a volunteer in your area please see our website: Bouquet de Merci

Board Nominations

Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch is seeking interested and enthusiastic CPF members to join our Branch Board of Directors. Directors are elected for either one or two-year terms and are responsible for supporting the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.
Board Director positions are voluntary and travel is required. Reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed. The Board of Directors meets in person at least four times a year; other meetings occur by teleconference.

If you value French as an integral part of Canada and if you are dedicated to providing opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French, we need you!

Can you offer these skills?
• You enjoy working on the big picture
• You are innovative and responsive
• You can respectfully share your views
• You work well independently and as part of a team
• You are a good communicator
• You have a love for languages and an awareness of FSL issues
• You are comfortable with computers and have access to email

For more information see: Board Nominations

French Immersion Policy in British Columbia

The K-12 French Immersion Policy:

provides information on the Ministry's goals and objectives for the consistent application of French Immersion programming in the education community;

emphasizes the two official entry points for French Immersion; and ensures that students in French Immersion programs are aware of the requirements that must be met to graduate with both a British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) and a Diploma de fin d'etudes secondaires en Colombie-Britannique).

For more information see: BC's French Immersion Policy

Concours 2013

In May every year, Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch hosts the French public speaking competition Concours d’art oratoire. The CPF Concours d’art oratoire offers hundreds of prizes to participants including: university scholarships, trips to Ottawa, books, medals, merchandise, cash and more.

Last year, more than 10,000 students in grades six through 12 participated in the Concours in communities throughout BC, almost 300 students participated in the Provincial Concours, and 4 students participated in the National Concours in Ottawa.
Teachers and parents have been organizing Concours for over 25 years, and for many students, it’s now part of the curriculum.

It's time to begin coordinating the logistics at your local levels for your local and district 2013 Concours. Registration opens for Concours February 28- April 16. We will be searching out volunteers for this event and for the first time, graduates who were past participants have the opportunity to join in as a judge.

This year's Provincial competition will be held Saturday May 4th at SFU Surrey.
For more information: Concours

Imagier pour apprendre à lire

This website helps kids learn to read in French. It has over 12000 words, each with a picture of what the word means and a sound clip to demonstrate proper pronounciation.

Check it out here: Imagier pour apprendre à lire