Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Thursday November 4, 2004

Members: Roz Minaji, Deborah Doody, Kaywana Gargarello, Dianne Mackenzie, Frank Torelli, Susan McClure, Ron English, Carrie Crockett, Mimi Hall

Regrets: Marie Patenaude, Yvonne Swiston, Tracey Cseresnyes

The Chair called the meeting to order.

1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

Review of minutes, noting omissions of those in attendance: Ron English, Carrie Crockett and Mimi Hall in attendance. Deletion of Mary Finstad, Yolanda Cayzewski-Bragues from list.
The minutes of October 7, 2004 were approved with noted changes.

2. UPDATES

Volunteer Hours: 112

Treasurer's Report:

As of October 25th, 2004

Opening Balance - June 30th, 2004 $2,859.93

Revenues - July 8th - news letter grant $100.00
Revenues - September 25th - course fees $900.00
Revenues - October 5th - course fees $675.00
Revenues - October 12th - course fees $200.00
Revenues - October 15th - course fees $300.00
Interest $1.30
Total Revenues $2,176.30

Expenses

Roz Minaji - Newsletter printing #044 22-Jun $483.00
Roz Minaji - Mailing #045 4-Sep $107.21
Roz Minaji - Boards #046 1-Sep $48.84
School Rental - Course # 048 1-Sep $246.10
National Conference Registration - #049 1-Sep $200.00
Pamphlet printing Diane Mackenzie # 050 1-Sep $129.95
Diane Mackenzie #051 - newletter mailing 7-Sep $396.75
Teacher Course - Annette Ray #053 1-Sep $500.00
Roz Minaji - Photocopies & Binders Course # 052 1-Sep $296.43
Refund on course # 054 1-Sep $25.00
Diane Mackenzie #057 - newletter mailing Oct 1-Oct $305.95
CPF Membership paid to Ottawa #56 1-Oct $500.00
Deborah Doody - Sevec Printing # 67 (66 cancel) Oct-25 $57.81

Total Expenses July to October $3,297.04

Balance October 25th, 2004 $1,739.19

Membership Updates: Carrie Crockett
Twenty new members through the French course. Six new members from registration for SEVEC.
Keys to French Level One given to Carrie to send these new members.

Communications:

Kaywana attended the parent council at St. Joseph's to provide an update on CPF activities.

Parent Council - A.M. Cunningham
Discussion on having CPF representative attend Parent Council at A.M. Cunningham. Date ~ Thursday, November 11, 2004. Dianne MacKenzie and Frank Torelli will check schedules and advise if they are available.

Board Match
Deborah Doody presented overview of BoardMatch. BoardMatch is an innovative program which helps place knowledgeable and enthusiastic professionals on the Boards of Directors of registered charities. Benefits both employees and employers as it expands skills and demonstrates social responsibility. Will explore options for CPF.

3. CHAPTER EVENTS

SEVEC Planning
Update of Meeting October 25, 2004. Additional participants signed up. Deborah provided an excellent package to participants. Twenty parents have now paid the $100 deposit and signed the application. Information packages will be forwarded to Deborah from Deni Cavanagh. Deborah will forward these packages to participants/parents.

Discussion on formulating mailing list of local companies to approach for donations. These included: Spectator, Stelco, Service Clubs - Rotary Club, Lions Club; Trillium Grant.

Deborah will draft a letter that will be sent to companies requesting donations. All members asked to forward any names/contacts for donation letters.

Day In French
Roz reported on success of day. Dundurn Castle: 15 participants; Movies at Café - 30 for first; 5 families for second movie. Next time will only offer one movie.

Discussion on pursuing additional 'Day in French' . Options: Dundurn Castle - Christmas Theme in French; The Grinch that Stole Christmas - Staircase Theatre. Will proceed and confirm if Sunday December 5th is available. Dianne MacKenzie will design half page posters incorporating Day in French and CPF Book Sale.

Ontario Conference
Roz provided highlights of the conference to the Executive.

Rebecca Low -Centre for Research & Information on Canada
Provided statistics from a survey of Canadians and bilingualism completed December 2003. The CRIC.ca web site contains free copies all publications and research. -87% of anglophones outside of Quebec are uni-lingual. -immigrants are more likely to support bilingualism and fee that having 2 official languages makes Canada more welcoming - The poll was very encouraging with 8 out of 10 Canadians supporting bi-lingualism. Support was highest among younger people and among females.

Phil Hedges -Ontario School Counsellor's Association
Spoke about the difficulties in encouraging students to continue French language studies in high school. Students are more interested in the short term difficulties than the long term benefits of French. Guidance councillors are usually overwhelmed (eg: 50% of students change timetables within the first two weeks of school and these all go through the guidance department).

English and math are emphasized in the new Ontario curriculum as the most important skills. We need to counter the Provincial message and the narrow curriculum. Students tend to drop French because it is not a required course for their career path -but what's wrong with being an engineer or a mechanic who also speaks French? Some suggestions: make use of web based resources -these are on the OSCA web site. Summer opportunities are important (Encounters with Canada, Forum for Young Canadians, Katimavik, Summer Language Bursary, Study Abroad).

Universities are now looking for the competitive edge -what sets a student apart from all the other "A" students. They are looking at breadth of study, other experiences such as co-op and travel or study abroad. Monstertrak.ca has a university major to career converter. Students are supposed to complete an annual education plan during Grades 7 to 11 and this is to be signed by parents twice per year.

Guidance councillors have to stress to students that there is more than one route to a goal. The statistics on people who go from high school, to college or university to a job are really changing -many people are working or traveling, or going from university to college. There is a big gap in Elementary school because there are no guidance councillors and students are making choices with limited information. Some subject are marketed and others are not.

Ginette Graton -History of Franco-Ontarian Education
A language is a way of seeing the world not just a means of communication. It is discouraging that people in this province are only being defined and labeled in terms of being a consumer or an employee. A francophone is defined in the Charter of Rights as a Canadian citizen who's first language learned was French. French speaking immigrants do not have francophone rights. Living in French in Ontario can be a daily struggle. We have church, school and government services in French, but going to the store, or any other setting will be in English. Access to services depends on the numbers of francophones in a community.

In 1912 it was made illegal to speak French in schools in Ontario. The Catholic school system protected language rights so French schools remained -although they were illegal. It was not until 1967 that the government recognized the existence of French Language schools. It was not until 1986 that francophone school boards were funded. Developing self esteem and francophone culture is at the heart of having francophone schools.

Starting a Summer Camp
A panel of speakers provided tips on starting a French summer camp. The examples included:
1. A two week drama camp in the Stratford area. (Helen Orr) This camp was run by the vice-principal of the school, who provided the space for free. The CPF grant and handbook were very useful. The children were ages 6 to 12. The camp was one week long -mornings only and was ½ visual arts and ½ drama. The final day was a French performance for the parents. Charged $100 per student. Had one parent volunteer who was also a francophone. Had an FI student who was paid $100 at the end of the week. Made use of students as volunteers to get their required 40 hours.

2. Camp Tournesol -in Mississauga (Martine Brouilllet) 2 week camp at the end of each summer which is in its 5th year. Children must speak French. FI high school students are junior councillors ($350 to $550 pay scale for students) Main councillors are francophone teachers ($800 to $1000 pay scale). The teachers are responsible for program development and must attend training sessions. They recommend finding a location in a church without a basement and one with outdoor space. (Their rent is $1,500 for the two weeks.) Marketing is essential. CPF grant was used for a bussing service from the north of Mississauga. They paid a bus patroller $150 per week. Have 65 to 70 kids each week. Also essential to have the insurance from CPF as all the forms and research are now in the manual including staff contracts. The camp costs $175 plus the CPF membership per week.

3. Camp Baby Point in Central Toronto (Evelyne Dufau) The camp is held at a community centre with access to outdoor space (rent is $2,200 for 2 weeks). They go on field trips such as the CBC, Central Post Office, National Film Board. End of the summer is a time when many schools are not available as the teachers are getting ready for the new year. The camp runs from 9am to 4pm and takes 33 students per week. They have one senior councilor for each group of 8 students. Councillors do all the preparation up front and are paid $9 per hour for students and $18 per hour for teachers. The end of August is a good time for getting high school students who have finished their other jobs or sports. The cost of the camp was $250 per week and included a CPF membership. Extended care was offered.

4. Traveling French Camp in Clarington Bowmanville (Mickey) The campers met at a park each morning and had a different field trip each day (to the parkwood estate, to the zoo, to the city hall, to the beach). The camp was mornings only so there was no need to worry about lunches. They provided snacks. They had 5 teachers to help out and paid them $50 per day. Also had FI student volunteers to help. Used the CPF grant to get the bus each day. Charged $85 plus CPF membership.

Rosalind Minaji -Starting a CPF Chapter
Roz gave a presentation on the history of the CPF Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter and the things we have accomplished. She then provided suggestions for attracting and retaining members and for recruiting Executive members. The presentation was very well received.

4. UPCOMING EVENT PLANNING

Book Sale
Kaywana will follow-up on the number of tables available at St. Joseph's for the book sale.
List circulated for volunteer sign up.
Set-up: Deborah Doody, Ron English, Frank Torelli, Susan McClure. Parent volunteers will be there to assist. Roz will make directional posters, stickers, draw slips & signage.
Kaywana will make banners which will be available to be placed at schools the morning of the sale.
Draw for a French dictionary will be held at the book sale. CPF Display will be put up.
Prizes for Concours will be purchased (15 books).

Étienne Concerts
Thursday, February 24, 2005 confirmed for Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School - 2 performances.
Currently exploring alternative date and location for second day - possible location Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School or Mohawk College. Tickets will be sold by Educorock this year.

Le Concours
Provincial contest occurs: May 19, 2005
Emphasis on verbal skills. Norwood has all students in grades 4 - 8 participating in a school competition and a Board-wide event will also be held in the spring. Kaywana has sent Concours materials to the separate schools and they will likely be holding a competition again his year.

Member Appreciation Event -June 2005
Discussion on alternatives: Dundas Driving Park, HAAA grounds
Activities: Magician; Bouncing & Jumping, hold in conjunction with St. Jean Baptiste festival?

Parent Information Night/AGM - April 2005
Theme: Summer Experiences for French Immersion Students (SEVEC, Katimavik, Summer Student Exchange) with speakers from each

Summer Camps
Kaywana and Ron meet with Lisa Breton from the French Center to start the planning for next summer's camp.

5. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES
Kaywana has written to Trustees and Superintendents. Reminded them of the three issues raised by CPF at the June Board meeting. Advised by Trustee that the communication has now been referred to staff, and an answer will be forthcoming.

Kaywana shared with the members the ongoing support of the Principal of St. Joseph's: communication in school newsletter.

6. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES
Ron English provided summary of the discussion that came from the public forum with the Director of Education. Dr. C. Spence will be meeting with concerned parents on November 11, 2004 to review the Board issues that were raised.

Roz reported that Dr. Spence will be attending the FIAC meeting. Dr. Spence also recently visited Norwood Park. French Immersion issues raised: transportation, funding.

Roz reported on CPF Ontario Report by Fran Sutton. French Immersion Transportation. There are only three boards that do not provide transportation (including the Hamilton public board). Review new funding formula. French Immersion is not a program of choice.

7. OTHER BUSINESS

Information Package
Discussion on providing an information package welcoming parents in the French Immersion Program, and providing a listing of resources for them to use.

ECOO
Ron provided information about the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario. They run an annual web design contest open to all schools. Discussion that CPF could provide a prize for a French web site (possibly French software). Encourage participation. from Middle Schools. Time frame January 2005. CPF very much interested.