On March 20, 2013, students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School participated in Franco Fun Day. On this day, the students were able to recognize and celebrate French-Canadian culture in a fun and educational way. The school joined together by wearing green and white, the colour of the French-Ontarian flag. The students had an entertaining French concert put on for them by Roland Bibeau. The concert was full of fast-paced, youth-friendly French music. The students had a wonderful time dancing and singing along with all of the catchy songs. The classes also participated in many French games and puzzles and made their very own flags to celebrate Franco Fun Day. Afterwards, there were bracelets and buttons passed around to all of the students to remember the great time they had. Students said the day was “fun and entertaining” and they “had a very good time!”
Category: French as a second language
Franco-Fun Day at St. Andrew
The students of St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School celebrated Franco-Fun day recently by beginning the day with O Canada in French. As well, during the morning announcements they learned about the history of Franco-Fun Day. Later on in the day the junior core french students, with their teacher Mr. Mailloux, created francophone flags of the various provinces. These paintings will be displayed in the school activity room. Pictured is Mr. Mailloux with Keenan Kivi, Myron Lam and Ryan Vendette.
Franco Fun Day – A Tremendous Hit with St. David Students!
St. David Catholic Elementary School celebrated, along with the world, the Francophone culture, music, food and language on March 20, 2013. Franco Fun Day was a day filled with fun, educational cultural activities and interactive games. There were culturally themed prizes for rewarding student participation and a very special treat for all those who enjoy good food with a Franco cultural twist!
French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario Visits St. Benedict
On Wednesday, March 20th, all Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrated Franco-Fun day, which is a day dedicated to celebrating French language and culture. As part of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School’s Franco-Fun Day activities, grade 11 and 12 French Immersion students were honoured to welcome Francois Boileau, the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario to their school. Francois Boileau is currently pursuing his third mandate as the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario and his role is to receive complaints from members of the public and present recommendations regarding the application of the French Language Services Act. Currently, Mr. Boileau reports directly to the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, and has the power to make recommendations on matters pertaining to the application of the French Language Services Act. Since his appointment, Commissioner Boileau has worked diligently to improve the quality of French-language services in Ontario, and to ensure its full development and preserve its culture.
Introducing Mr. Boileau to the students was Sudbury Catholic consultant Lianne Perreault-Raymond, who was thrilled about the opportunity for the students to interact with the Commissioner. “It was wonderful to see our French Immersion (F.I.) students participating in an open discussion with M. Boileau, completely in French. We were honoured that he recognized both the students and staff for speaking the language so fluently, and he encouraged them to continue their journey even after leaving high school,” Perreault-Raymond stated. “I was very proud of our students, as well as the teaching staff, as they demonstrated such skill and confidence during the entire discussion, which is strong evidence that our French Immersion program is very successful!”
The students spoke with the Commissioner for approximately an hour, and discussed the importance of carrying on with the language after graduation, as well as how French can play a great role in one’s career and contribute to personal and cultural growth. “To take on a new language, is to take on new thinking,” Boileau told the students. “To take on new thinking is to take on a new world and new possibilities!”
Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the board echoed Mr. Boileau’s sentiments. “We are so honoured that Commissioner Boileau spoke to our students about the importance of bilingualism in today’s society as part of the board’s Franco-fun day,” McCullough said. “At Sudbury Catholic, we recognize that French language skills can certainly improve a student’s career options later on in life and the Commissioner’s visit reinforced this message for the students.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools Celebrate Franco-Fun Day
On March 20, all Sudbury Catholic Schools took part in Franco-Fun Day activities. Franco-Fun day is a day dedicated to celebrating French language and culture. Whether it be French Immersion or core French students, each school set up a variety of activities to honour French language for all the classes. Staff put a great deal of time and effort into planning the events, and the students had an outstanding time learning new words and taking part in all of the activities, some of which included French concerts, cooking French foods, French-themed playdays, and sport activities instructed in French, etc. Lianne Perreault Raymond, a curriculum consultant for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board who was responsible for the coordination of the Franco-Fun Day activities, was thrilled with the efforts made by all the schools to embrace French culture and language on Franco-Fun day. “What an outstanding effort by our schools and staff,” Perreault-Raymond stated. “They have really outdone themselves, as they do every year, by making this year’s Franco-Fun day truly a day that honours and celebrates the Francophone culture in our community. From cooking crepes to singing French songs, I am very proud of everyone’s contribution to making this year’s Franco-fun day such a success!”
Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the board echoed Perreault-Raymond’s comments. “Our staff has once again done an outstanding job for our students through their Franco-Fun day activities and celebrations. We recognize the importance of supporting French language skills, and know that our Board’s French Immersion programming is such a success because it is supported throughout our system.”
St. James Celebrates Franco-Fun Day
March 20th was International Francophone Day and to celebrate the occasion, St. James Catholic Elementary School students dressed in green and white. This day is a celebration of French language in all countries. Some students participated in an activity called “New Age Kurling”, others sang French songs and participated in French DPA (daily physical activity). Teachers organized various classroom activities including colouring the fancophone flag and making crowns.
“Le 20 mars * marque comme chaque année la Journée internationale de la Francophonie. L’occasion pour les francophones de fêter leur bien commun, la langue française, mais aussi d’exprimer leur solidarité et leur désir de vivre ensemble au travers de centaines d’événements organisés dans le monde entier.” www.francophonie.org
Francais! Francais! at St. Bernadette
Francais! Francais! The students at St. Bernadette Catholic School welcomed French singer/songwriter Roland Bibeau Tuesday, March 19th to celebrate the International Francophone day. Mr. Bibeau performed a concert for the french immersion school that had the students putting on a fashion show, playing their air guitars and enjoying an explosion of confetti. “The students had a wonderful time dancing and singing along with the French music. What a great way for our students to celebrate being Franco-Ontarians!” said Diana Salvador, principal.
Gearing Up for Franco-Fun Day at St. Anne Catholic School
St. Anne Catholic School is proud to announce that one of their students, Kyle Denis was selected as this year’s Sudbury Catholic District School Board Intermediate student Franco Fun Day button contest winner.
The Core French student took part in this contest in preparation for our 3rd annual Franco Fun Day. “I was very proud to see the students so motivated and put so much effort into designing potential button templates for this day. Many of them really wanted to win this contest,” said Liane Dutrisac, Core French teacher at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School. Kyle’s button has now been sent out for printing. “I think it’s really cool that many students in our school board will be wearing a button that I designed for this day,” says Kyle Denis, a grade 7 student. Franco Fun Day, scheduled for March 20, 2013, is a day when our school gathers to celebrate Canada’s other official language and French culture in our school community.
Pumpkin Palooza at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School
Dozens of pumpkins have made their way to the St. Anne Catholic Elementary School’s French Immersion Full Day Kindergarten class! Children were so thrilled to learn about pumpkins that waves of the orange gourd made their way to the classroom to help students inquire into things such as how pumpkins grow and how they smell. Students discovered that the seeds inside the pumpkin can be used to plant and make new pumpkins grow. The students were sent to actively search for a place in the schoolyard where they could plant their seeds in the spring. Katelin Brouse was overheard saying, ”The best part of pumpkins is taking the stuff out of them.” Cameron O’Daiskey thought that, “Eating the seeds is pretty great!” The next part of the inquiry is a video a student found on YouTube about using pumpkins as a boat. Theories on floating techniques are sure to follow!