FRENCH IMMERSION
French Immersion continues to be a popular program in the Burnaby School District. To increase opportunities for students to attend early, late and secondary French Immersion programs throughout the district, the Board of Education has established new program sites, capacity and catchment boundaries. The changes will take effect in September 2010. To learn more, click here.
French immersion provides an opportunity for children whose first language is not French to learn a second language.
Other benefits include:
- Learning another language in elementary school makes it easier to learn additional languages in the future.
- Students graduating from a French Immersion program receive a bilingual designation on their secondary school diploma, which can enhance their employment and post-secondary learning opportunities.
- French Immersion students follow the regular English curriculum in structure and content, receiving instruction in French.
Commonly asked questions about the program
Facts About the District's French Immersion Program
- Learning outcomes are the same in both English and French.
- Graduates of the program achieve a functional level in speaking French.
- Students are encouraged to develop an understanding and appreciation of French culture.
- Students can enter the French Immersion program in kindergarten (Early Immersion)
or grade 6 (Late Immersion) - All French Immersion schools in Burnaby are dual track schools which offer both a French Immersion and an English program.
Registration & Catchment Boundaries
Any child residing in Burnaby may apply to enter the French Immersion program. Registration takes place in February. Please contact the French Immersion school that serves the area where your child resides as outlined below.
For 2010/2011 there are newly defined school catchment boundaries.
- Click on schools to see the early immersion catchment boundaries. (Aubrey, Brantford, Inman/Cascade Heights, Marlborough, Seaforth, Sperling, and Westridge )
- Click on schools to see the late immersion catchment boundaries (Armstrong, Capitol Hill, Marlborough)
- Click on schools to see the Secondary catchment boundaries (Cariboo Hill, Moscrop and Alpha)
Early Immersion District Map (Elem)
Late Immersion District Map (Elem)
Secondary Immersion District Map
Placement Priorities - District Language Programs
Applications from new students for available spaces at program locations will be considered in the following order, provided application deadlines and other requirements have been met.
- Siblings of continuing students who are attending the site where the district program is located, and whose residence is within the district’s catchment area for that program;
- Students whose residence is within the district's catchment area for that program;
- Siblings of continuing students in the district program whose residence is in Burnaby but outside the district's catchment area for that program;
- Students who are registered in and attending before and/or after school childcare at a licensed childcare within the district catchment area for that elementary school program;
- Students whose residence is in Burnaby but outside the district's catchment area for that program;
- Siblings of a continuing student in the program whose residence is outside of the Burnaby School District; and
- Students whose residence is outside of the Burnaby School District.
In the event of more applicants than program spaces available, the following process will be used to determine the allocation of the available spaces:
- Applications received within the district's established registration timelines will be grouped by priority category as outlined in 2.4 of these regulations.
- A lottery method will then be used to determine the order of applicants within each priority category.
- Program spaces will then be allocated according to the order outlined in 2.4 of these regulations until all available spaces have been filled.
- Any remaining applicants will be placed in priority order on the district program waiting list. This list will be maintained until September 30 of each school year.
- Applications received after the district deadlines will be grouped by priority category as outlined in 2.4 of these regulations and placed at the end of the program waiting list.