French Immersion

• St. James Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. Patrick Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School - Grades 9-12

• St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School - Grades 1-6
• St. Christopher Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School - Grades 1-8 
• Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School - Grades 9-12

• St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. Monica Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. Mary Catholic Secondary School - Grades 9-12

• St. Joseph Catholic School - Grades 1-6 

• St. John the Evangelist Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. John Paul II Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. Leo Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School - Grades 1-8
• Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School - Grades 9-12

Grade 1 French Immersion registration for September 2020 is now closed. 

How will pupil places be assigned?

After the close of the online registration period, places will be assigned to all students that have registered (provided that the number of students registered meets the minimum threshold for establishing a class).  At schools where demand exceeds capacity, students will be placed in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Students whose home address falls within the boundaries of the requested French Immersion school.
2. Students who have requested cross boundary approval due to the location of their child care (the specific, valid address of the child care must be included in the online registration).
3. Students who have requested cross boundary approval on account of having siblings that will be in attendance in a French Program at the requested school where space allows.

Parents/guardians who have registered using the online process will receive an automatic email notification of their registration. An acceptance and placement email will be sent on or before February 3rd.  Upon receipt of this second email, parents/guardians will be requested to confirm their registration no later than February 14, 2020.  Students who are not currently enrolled in the Durham Catholic District School Board will have to complete the process in person at the designated French Program School and produce the required documentation for registration at that time. 

NOTE: If the school does not receive confirmation of enrollment from the parent by the expected due date, the child’s name will be removed from the list, and the application will be considered withdrawn.

All students who apply during the online registration process will be offered a position in the French Immersion Program (except in the case where the minimum number of students enrolled does not meet the threshold to establish a class).  Where space permits and after “in boundary” students and students with childcare in area have been accommodated, consideration will be given to cross boundary approvals for families requesting a particular school where siblings are in attendance.

We recognize that families who have experienced the convenience of having all children attend the same school may be concerned by potentially having to have siblings attend different locations.  It is important to note that French Immersion is an optional program and parents have the right to exercise their choice as to whether or not their child will attend.

The online registration process closed on January 17, 2020.  In order to allow time to process the online applicants and determine class formations, no further registrations will be accepted until March 16, 2020.  At that time, any parent/guardian who wishes to enroll their child will be required to contact the appropriate French Immersion school to request an application. Late registrations will be processed on a first come, first serve basis, while space is available.  If no space is available, the child will be placed on a waiting list.

Class size is regulated and funded according to Ministry directives and varies by division.  The Board must therefore do its best to maximize classroom organization.  Numbers will continue to be monitored by the Principal, Family of Schools Superintendent and Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Services. 

When/where a threshold of 15 students is met; consideration will be given to the formation of an additional class at an appropriate location.

Many boards offer limited French Immersion programming; cap the number of students who can register; or offer no French Immersion at all.  Our Board offers French Immersion to every family that requests it for their Grade 1 child(ren) through the online process; and we provide school busing where it is warranted. Program location may not be guaranteed.

Due to enrollment pressure at some of our elementary schools, out of area applications for Kindergarten students will not be accepted at the following sites:

• St. Christopher Catholic School,
• St. James Catholic School,
• St. John the Evangelist Catholic School,
• St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School, and
• St. Patrick Catholic School (includes a limit of 45 new Kindergarten students)

Where families have younger siblings who are not yet eligible for French Immersion, they may apply for “cross boundary” approval at French Immersion schools not listed above.  To do so, a parent/guardian must first enroll their JK son/daughter at their home school (the school associated with their home address) and then complete an Exception for School Boundary application, which must be approved by the Home School and French Program School Principals.  Approval will be contingent upon space availability. A waitlist will be established at these schools as required and parents and guardians will be directed to register at their child’s home school for Kindergarten.

Transportation for Kindergarten siblings who are accepted at an out-of-area French Immersion school with their older sibling(s) will be provided transportation for Kindergarten.  Continued transportation will be provided granted that they enter into the Grade One French Immersion program. 

Registrations will be closed from January 17, 2020 to March 16, 2020 , which means that no registrations will be accepted during this time. 

After March 16, 2020, late registrations will have to be made at the French Immersion school, and will be pending available space. Late registrations are not guaranteed.

Note: In Grades 4-8, subjects taught in English include English Language, Mathematics and Religious Education and Family Life.