The little French school that can continues to chug along 鈥� full steam ahead.
Walnut Grove鈥檚 celebrates its 20th year this month.
And to mark the occasion, the school at the corner of 216 Street and 88 Avenue hosted a celebration that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school鈥檚 new multi-purpose sport court.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about celebrating the 20th anniversary of the school itself, but 20 years of a public francophone education being available to the 91原创 communities鈥� notes Laura Grefford, president of the Association des Parents Francophones de 91原创 (APFL), which functions as the school鈥檚 Parent Advisory Council.
Isabelle Baril has been the school鈥檚 principal for the past three years and says the sense of community among 脡肠辞濒别 des Voyageurs鈥� students and staff has made a lasting impression on her.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the greatest,鈥� Baril said. 鈥淢ary (London-) Fraser, who was the secretary here for more than 17 years, used to tell me, 鈥業t鈥檚 a little school but with a big heart.鈥� It鈥檚 just amazing what we can do. We are like a big family. That鈥檚 how we describe our school.鈥�
London-Fraser said, 鈥淚t truly is the best little school in the entire world. Even though I鈥檓 not there on a daily basis any more, I love it with all my heart.鈥�
脡肠辞濒别 des Voyageurs is often confused for a French immersion school but actually falls under school district 93, (CSF).
It is a public kindergarten to Grade 7 elementary school offering francophone education to children who have at least one parent who satisfies French first language criteria.
While there is no requirement for children to speak French fluently upon entering kindergarten, the admissions criteria means that French is typically spoken and supported within the home.
鈥淏ecause we are a public school, we must teach the same English curriculum as the French immersion and English schools,鈥� Baril explained.
The APFL also operates a non-profit francophone preschool program, Les Petits Voyageurs, for children ages 30 months to five years.
Basil said the ability to be bilingual is hugely benefits a child because it opens many doors later in life.
鈥淭hey get to access different jobs and a little better wage because of being bilingual,鈥� she said.
Basil believes French immersion is a 鈥済reat program.鈥�
鈥淲e always push (the students) to the best of their abilities up to Grade 12,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e only go up to Grade 7, here, at Voyageurs, but they can finish high school in another French school from our school district.鈥�
The school is the former site of Topham Elementary which the CSF purchased from the 91原创 School District in 1997.
It was then re-opened as 脡肠辞濒别 des Voyageurs as a means of offering a French elementary education to the growing francophone community.
The sport court unveiling was a fitting way to help mark 20 years in the community, noted Grefford.
鈥淭he APFL鈥檚 fundraising efforts over recent years permitted the installation of a brand new sport court this summer鈥� Grefford said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to mark such a special occasion for our school community鈥�.
For more about the school, visit .
To learn more about admission criteria to CSF schools, visit .
troy.landreville@blackpress.ca
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