Minutes of the CPF Hamilton-Wentworth
Annual General Meeting 2002/2003

Thursday April 24, 2003

Total in attendance: 39
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 7:09 p.m.

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Rosalind Minaji welcomed all parents, the 2 publisher's displays from Poster Pals and Usborne Books and special guests Gisele Portelance, Consultant for FSL for the HWDSB and Ted Karp, Executive Director of CPF Ontario.

2. Changes and Trends in Immersion
Gisèle Portelance who is the new FSL Consultant for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board gave a presentation about current French Immersion issues for the public board. She reviewed the current state of the program including the location of existing French Immersion schools and the closure of Peace Memorial school this June.

Since starting the position in January 2003, Gisèle has had the opportunity to visit all FI schools and teachers and has offered training in math to primary teachers to help them to better prepare their students for EQAO testing. She has also assisted staff looking for French language resources by setting up a publisher's display of French materials at Norwood Park School on March 20th. Other 2002/2003 initiatives have been a Gold Seal FI certificate offered to Grade 8 Immersion students completing Middle School and new French Immersion high school courses being offered at Westdale this coming Fall.

The issue of transportation is an area the Board is exploring. The French Immersion Advisory Council meeting is the major venue where suggestions and discussion about immersion schools can take place. CPF has started sending a representative to these meetings.

A short question and answer period took place following Gisèle's presentation with some concerns noted over the School Accommodation and Review Committee process which is looking at some of the immersion schools.

3. Advocacy for Immersion
Ted Karp the Executive Director for CPF Ontario, gave an inspirational speech about the importance of parental advocacy for French Immersion. He discussed the ways in which CPF can provide involvement in French Immersion at all levels. He discussed the Rozanski report and its commitment to special education, transportation and equality of education for all students. All of these issue are important to the FI cause as they should be considered and addressed for French Immersion students as well. Since the Rozanski report says students should be educated equally then special education and transportation should be available to FI students on an equitable basis. Currently some Hamilton parents are unable to transport their children to Immersion schools. Ted also discussed the enhanced Federal commitment to bilingualism with $179 million in additional funds that will make its way into the school system in the coming years. He urged parent to be vigilant and not only involved at a time of crisis like a school closure. French Immersion is a unique and valuable opportunity for Canada's youth.

4. Annual General Meeting

Annual Report
The annual report was distributed in hard copy form to all those who attended the meeting (and to all CPF Hamilton-Wentworth members by e-mail). The current executive of CPF Hamilton-Wentworth was introduced. She reviewed our initiatives for 2002 including the French Immersion Review, FI information nights, our newsletters and our Web site. Other important items included our annual book fair which will take place on May 28th 2003, our November 15th concert by Mariposa in the Schools and our first basic French course offered to parents in January 2003.

Motion by Rosalind Minaji: That the Annual Report for CPF for 2002-2003 be approved.
Moved by Marie Patenaude. Seconded by Mary Finstad. Carried.

Financial Statement
Rosalind reviewed the financial statement for CPF included in the annual report. There was an opening balance of $720.93. The total expenditures were $2678.70 and the total revenues were $3244.46 with a final balance as of March 31st 2003 of 1286.69.
Motion by Rosalind Minaji: That the 2002 Financial Statement and Auditor's Report be approved. Moved by Mary Finstad. Seconded by Tracey Cseresnyes. Carried.

Door Prizes
Door prizes were awarded to parents and sponsored by Turtle Pond Toys, Usborne Books, Poster Pals and Walker's Chocolates.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:55

NEXT MEETING: May 15, 2003 7:00 P.M.
Norwood Park School Library