Family French Concert

Carnaval in Quebec City Featuring Chris Rawlings

This highly participatory 45 to 60 minute concert draws from the music traditions of Quebec in the context of Carnaval. Easy sing-alongs, hands-on music making and simple movements highlight this energetic performance.
Free for CPF members. All others $2 per ticket.

Thursday June 14, 2007 7:00 pm
Earl Kitchener School Gymnasium, 300 Dundurn Street South

Chris Rawlings is a professional musician and songwriter, born in Montreal, presently living in Toronto. Since 1968 he has made his living as a professional performer in both French and English. His programs for children feature engaging educational songs, especially about the environment. As a composer and arranger, Chris has won awards for his work with the National Film Board of Canada. Chris Rawlings is a talented singer, nimble-fingered guitar player and gifted song-writer whose originality and wit brighten up the stage. Chris is equally at home in English and French with traditional songs and contemporary compositions. Chris links audiences with the long tradition of music about who Canadians are.

Public Board Transportation Policy

Bussing update:
History was made in January 2006, when bussing for public French Immersion schools was provided for the first time in the program's 30 year history. The budget for the 2006/2007 school year continues to include funds for FI transportation.

The provision of bussing has already had a positive effect on FI enrolment over one year. Schools such as GR Allen, Glen Echo and Norwood Park are experiencing record registration numbers as parents from outlying areas are able to access the program more easily. CPF Hamilton-Wentworth will continue to approach the Ministry of Education to request that the new Provincial Transportation Funding Formula includes provision for French Immersion students.


What Else Should Parents Do?

Transportation funding will be reviewed each budget cycle. The continuation of this service will depend upon the new Provincial Transportation Funding Formula. Write to your Provincial member of Parliament asking that full funding be provided for transportation of French Immersion students in the new Transportation Funding Formula being developed by the Province.

Click here to view a letter from the Ministry of Education to CPF Hamilton-Wentworth

CPF's past submissions to the Board:

CPF Hamilton Wentworth's March 2005 Submission to the Transportation Review

CPF Hamilton Wentworth's August 2005 Submission to the Transportation Review

Keys to French in Student Agendas

One of the major roles of Canadian Parents for French Hamilton-Wentworth is the promotion of French language education in Hamilton. For the 2006-2007 school year, CPF Hamilton Wentworth is paying the copyright fee for the insertion of the Keys to French reference tool. The Keys to French an 8 page comprehensive reference and study tool, which when bound into the agenda, will always be readily accessible to the students. We are happy to report that students at St. Eugene, Sts. Peter & Paul, Norwood Park and St. Joseph's schools will benefit from this offer for the 2006/2007 school year.

CPF Annual General Meeting

CPF members came out on June 8, 2006 and learned how their local Chapter has been working to promote and enhance French language education in Hamilton. After the meeting, everyone enjoyed refreshments and live music provided by : L'Esprit de l'Escalier

The band is made up of seven Hamilton parents with children in French Immersion. The band members are enthusiastic fans of rock and pop with a repertoire that spans four decades. But they are happiest playing anything that makes you clap your hands, get up and shake it. A rocking time was had by all!

Gregg LeRock in Hamilton!

Presented by Canadian Parents For French Hamilton-Wentworth

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2006
10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Ècole Secondaire Georges P. Vanier
100 Macklin St. N., Hamilton (west end)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006
10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Bishop Ryan Catholic High School
50 Albright Road, Hamilton (east end)

Each school will received a complimentary, curriculum-based CD/study guide so that students could learn the songs in advance. Some of LeRock's better known songs include: La pizza, Mon t-shirt, Écoutons la radio, Sauvons les animaux, La télévision, Mon sac à dos, Nathalie au Québec, Andrée prend un biscuit, À La Nouvelle Orléans, and Mes amis.

Hamilton Reads in French! Lysette Brochu

CPF Hamilton-Wentworth sponsored French Canadian author, Lysette Brochu to come to Hamilton as part of the Public Library's Hamilton Reads event. Lysette read from her book "Jérôme et la fête des toutous". The children were invited to act out the birthday party for the stuffed animals.

Wednesday, January 25
Le Petit Navire - 10:30 a.m.
Coin de la famille - 6:30 p.m.

French Trade Show

Have you ever asked yourself:
-Where can I find French language tutoring or French lessons?
-How can my child take part in fun French activities outside of school?
-What do universities and high schools offer for French Immersion students?
-Where can I access French language summer camps and exchange visits?

Our first ever Trade Show was held on November 17, 05 at GR Allan School to answer these questions by providing one-stop resources & information about French language activities in Hamilton and elsewhere. Representatives from French summer camps, student exchange programs, French language entertainment, work programs, francophone community organizations, French tutoring, and even French post-secondary school programs attended the event, which was held in conjunction with our annual book sale.

SEVEC Exchange- A Huge Success!

CPF Hamilton-Wentworth is thrilled to have organized and sponsored a 2005 summer exchange to Quebec for 40 Hamilton students. The group spent the first two weeks of July twinned with a group of French speaking students from Quebec. They returned with their twins for two more weeks of bilingual fun in Ontario during the second half of the month.

Many exciting activities and excursions were planned for the group of 11 to 14 year olds as they improved their French, and collected a lifetime of memories.

Visit the SEVEC page for more information and photos from the exchange.

More About SEVEC!

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Le festival de la Saint-Jean Baptiste

Sunday June 26, 2005 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Pier 4 Park, Hamilton

All French Immersion families were invited by the Centre Français Hamilton to attend their annual Saint-Jean Festival on the Hamilton waterfront. The event featured tons of French language family entertainment and all free! CPF Hamilton-Wentworth had a booth to promote our Chapter and sold cotton candy to the crowd.

A Christmas Afternoon in French

Date: Sunday December 5, 2004
Celebrate the holiday season with an afternoon of French and start a new holiday tradition.

All afternoon
At the Staircase Café & Theatre 27 Dundurn Street North
Enjoy a special French menu featuring savoury and sweet crepes and other delicious goodies.


1:30 p.m. - Staircase Café & Theatre - Jim Carrey’s Le Grincheux Qui Volait Gacher Noel -$10 per family or $5 for individual tickets.

4 p.m. - Dundurn Castle 610 York Boulevard
Enjoy a bilingual Christmas tour of Dundurn Castle suitable for the whole family.
Adults $6 Children $3 RSVP: 905-318-1646 to register your group.

A French Afternoon in Hamilton

Sunday October 17, 2004
This great event included a bilingual guided tour of Dundurn Castle, a special French menu at a local restaurant, and French films for children at a local cinema.

French Tour of Dundurn Castle
610 York Boulevard
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
A bilingual guided tour suitable for the whole family.
Special group rate for this tour:

Special French Menu
Staircase Café & Theatre
27 Dundurn Street North
Menu offered all afternoon.
www.staircase.org
A selection of fresh crepes, soup, pommes frites with mayonaise, baguette sandwich with brie and avocado, or thin crust pizza with maple bacon, cheddar and caramelized apple. The delicious highlight of the French afternoon!

French Films for Children
Staircase Café & Theatre, 27 Dundurn Street North www.staircase.org
English subtitles will be shown $5 per person or $10 per family

2:00 p.m.
La Prophetie des Grenouilles
(It's Raining Cats & Frogs)
A colourful 2003 animated picture. A flood hits planet earth, and an unusual group of people are dragged through a whirlpool of adventure.

4:00 p.m.
Le Voyage de Chihiro
(Spirited Away)
Ten year old Chihiro is transported to the spirit world when the family car takes a wrong turn. A fascinating and delightful journey.

CPF Hamilton-Wentworth 2004 Member Appreciation Event

Free Magic Show featuring Marc Tardif: Le Magicien!
Sunday May 16, 2004
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Hamilton Conservatory of Music
126 James Street South

Since 1983, Marc Tardif "Le magicien" has specialized in magic shows for French immersion programs from Grades 1 to 12. He presents 200 bilingual shows annually.

Audiences enjoy his spectacular visual illusions, sense of humour, and dynamic interaction with the audience. His French language skills will allow your children to enjoy an incredible Francophone experience outside the classroom setting.

Parent Information Night: April 22, 04
French Immersion in High School

Topics:
Why continue in Immersion through high school?
Benefits of French language skills to Canadian youth
Language bursary program, exchange programs, etc.
Careers for bilingual students
Hamilton's two FI high schools (locations, amenities)
Immersion courses offered at both schools
Coping with the new curriculum in Immersion

Featured Speakers:
John Pusztay: Cathedral High School
Anne Klaus: Westdale High School
Ian Thompson: Trusteee & French Immersion Graduate
Lorraine Hamilton: ACFO -representing Heritage Canada
Rachel Pound: Summer Work Student Exchange

Extras:
French materials for sale from Poster Pals, Scholars Choice, Turtle Pond & Usborne Books
Great door prizes were donated by: Poster Pals, Explora Toy, Librairie Champlain, Étienne, Turtle Pond, Scholars Choice, Tralco, Fortinos and Room for Dessert Bakery
Information Night Meeting Notes

CPF Promotes Immersion

One of the great things about having a local Chapter of Canadian Parents for French in Hamilton is being able to take advantage of programs offered by the Provincial branch of CPF.

Media:
In January, your local Chapter received a grant of $1,700 to be used to promote French Immersion programs in Hamilton. You probably saw the newspaper ads which we ran in the Hamilton Spectator on three occasions during February and March.

Malls:
CPF also provided materials to the Norwood Park school council to use in their Limeridge Mall booth promoting immersion to parents In February.

Daycares:
We mailed posters promoting the Immersion program to over 40 local daycares and encouraged those parents to come and find out more.

Schools:
Chapter Executive members attended the seven Kindergarten Information Nights offered by the Public and Separate School Boards to offer support and answer questions for the parents.

We are happy to report that there was a record turn out at the SK information nights this year -hopefully a sign of healthy FI enrollment for 2004.

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Etienne C'est le temps II
North American Tour

On Wednesday February 11, Hamilton public elementary students rocked the house!
Two sold-out concerts by French rapper Étienne were attended by 1,600 Core and Immersion French students from all over the City .

Westdale students watched with interest as busloads of elementary school students marched though their corridors to the auditorium. Meanwhile, Grades 3 to 7 French Immersion students took a good look at their future high school. Inside the hall, as Étienne signed posters and shook hands before the performance, kids clapped and chanted his name in anticipation.

Once the performance began, the excitement rose to a fever pitch as Etienne lead the students in a series of chants, raps and dance steps. French vocabulary, verb conjugations, and spelling were all covered in a series of catchy lyrics and hip hop beats which the students roared and repeated with enthusiasm.

Mon, ma, mes!
Ton, ta, tes!
Son, sa, ses!

During breaks between songs, Etienne praised and encouraged the audience in a mixture of French and English and passed out prizes to each school including copies of his CDs and video. Then the music would begin again as he ran up and down the aisles and bounded up the steps to the balcony to greet all the students.

As one teacher remarked “This is unbelievable. These kids are actually excited about French grammar!” It was absolutely wonderful to hear those hundreds of kids from all over Hamilton singing together in French.

The event was sponsored and organized by the Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter of Canadian Parents for French, with special help from Earl Kitchener teacher, Lori Prevec and the Board’s French Curriculum consultant Giséle Portelance. Thanks also to all the Core and Immersion French teachers who prepared their students and brought them to this event.

Basic French Courses for Parents - Levels One and Two

The first session of our Level Two French Course for Parents began on Tuesday February 10, 2004. The course is being held at Norwood Park School on the mountain from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Level Two course is aimed at people some prior French experience and is intended to build on the introductory course offered in 2003.

We have now held three sessions of the Level One Course since last winter. The cost of our courses is $75 for CPF members and $100 for non-members (including a one year membership). This is a great value for a ten week course which includes a binder of all course materials.

Our next session of French courses will begin in October 2004.

CPF Library Donation

Canadian Parents for French donated $2,500 worth of French Reading Materials to the Hamilton Public Library for running the storytime program at the Central and Westdale Library Branches this summer. The CPF cheque presentation took place at the Hamilton Public Library Board Meeting in November.
Pictured below are: Rosalind Minaji, Chair of CPF Hamilton-Wentworth, Helen Benoit, Youth Services Coordinator for the Hamilton Public Library and Doreen Horbach, Chair of the Library Board.

Chapter Book Sale 2003

The Chapter held a French Book Sale on November 26, 2003 at St. Joseph's Catholic School on Locke Street South.

Books, videos, computer games and teacher resource materials were sold on commission for the Librairie Champlain bookstore in Toronto. Unsold items were returned to the store.

The event was publicized to parents, teachers and librarians at the public and separate School Boards. Hamilton Francophone schools were sent a French translation of the book sale poster. Large banners were spray painted and hung at several different French Immersion schools across the City to publicise the event.

The period before Christmas turned out to be a successful time to hold our annual sale. Crowds turned out and dozens of people lined up to buy items during the afternoon and evening.

Approximately $6,000 worth of products was sold and $650 was raised for the Chapter. CPF materials were displayed and membership applications provided at the sale.

Family Concert 2003

On November 15, 2002 approximately 300 children and parents enjoyed a lively one hour concert featuring Chris Rawlings and Anne Lederman on fiddle and vocals.

The concert was planned and sponsored by CPF Hamilton-Wentworth. Ticket costs were kept to an affordable $2 per person through a donation by CPF toward the rental of the Westmount auditorium.

The concert was intended to expose students and their parents to French-Canadian culture and allow kids to experience French outside of the classroom setting. A combination of traditional French- Canadian music and original material kept both the kids and parents thoroughly entertained.

Parent Information Night 2003

Our 2003 Parent Information Night was held on April 24 at Glen Echo School. The evening featured two guest speakers: Gisèle Portelance, the new FSL Consultant for the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board discussed ongoing changes and trends in French Immersion in Hamilton, and Ted Karp, the new Executive Director of CPF Ontario addressed advocacy for French Immersion education.

Representatives from Hamilton's "Usborne Books", and Smithville's "Poster Pals" were on hand to showcase the French books and other learning resource materials available from these two organizations.