French Immersion Registration

The registration process for the French Immersion program takes place each school year in an online format. Families must register for the French Immersion program through OSAS. Families of students in Year 2 Kindergarten program are invited to register their child for entry into the Grade 1 French Immersion program in early December. The online registration process is open for approximately six weeks and closes in mid-January. Important dates relating to the registration process for that academic year are shared on the French Immersion webpage and on school online calendars.

Below is an overview of our typical French Immersion registration timelines (subject to change):

Late-November: French Immersion information session for parents/guardians provided by DCDSB
Early-December: Grade 1 French Immersion online registration opens (families with children in Year 2 of Kindergarten are invited to register)
Mid-January: Grade 1 French Immersion registration closes
February: Acceptance emails sent to families who registered for Grade 1 French Immersion for the following year, and families have to confirm their acceptance
Late-March: Any family who missed the earlier registration may contact their local French Immersion school to inquire if there is space available in the program. If not, their name will be placed on a waitlist.

Register Online for Grade 1 French Immersion

The following list of Frequently Asked Questions shares important information relating to the French Immersion program and registration process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register my child online for Grade 1 French Immersion?

Grade 1 French Immersion online registration opened on Monday, December 7, 2020 and closed on January 15, 2021. The online registration for Grade 1 French Immersion for September 2021 is now complete.

Some limited spots may be still available in selected schools. Please contact your local DCDSB French Immersion school to register your child for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Late registrations will be processed on a first come, first serve basis while space is available.

How will student placement 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:

Students whose home address falls within the boundaries of the requested French Immersion school.
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).
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. Please note that Kindergarten siblings (both Year 1 and Year 2 of Kindergarten) 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. Students who are attending on a cross boundary in grades not mentioned above, will not be eligible to receive transportation.

Primary classes are capped at 20 (with approval of the Area Superintendent some primary classes may be expanded to 23).

When will parents/guardians be notified of acceptance and placement?

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 1, 2021. Upon receipt of this second email, parents/guardians will be requested to confirm their registration no later than February 12, 2021. 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.

Will students with siblings already enrolled be given priority at the designated school?

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. Please note that in this instance if a cross boundary is approved, students will not be eligible for transportation.

Why is the Board making families have their children attend two different schools?

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.

As an English Language Learner in the French Immersion program, what supports will my child receive?

For English Language Learners in the French Immersion program, the instructional model of 90% of daily instruction in French remains the same. While in Grades 1 to 3, all students will receive 10% of their daily instruction in English. This allows for approximately 30 minutes per day for students to have exposure to English language instruction. This occurs during the Religion and Family Life block. Should an English Language Learner require the support of an ESL teacher, it will be during this time. In Grades 4 to 8, instructional time in English increases to 50%.

What if a parent/guardian wishes to register their child in a French Program after the online registration process has been closed?

The online registration process closes on January 15, 2021. In order to allow time to process the online applicants and determine class formations, no further registrations will be accepted until March 22, 2021. At that time, any parent/guardian who wishes to enroll their child will be required to contact the appropriate DCDSB 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.

Why can’t the Board add more classroom spaces at overcrowded French Immersion Schools?

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 Academic 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.

How do other Boards manage increasing demand for French Immersion?

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.

I am registering my child in the Grade 1 French Immersion Program and have another child who is in Kindergarten. Can he/she be accepted into the French Program Site?

Kindergarten students who have requested cross-boundary approval because their sibling attends the French Immersion program, will be accepted where space allows at the following sites for the 2021-22 academic year:

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School
St. Leo Catholic School
St. Monica Catholic School
St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School (Uxbridge)

Parents/guardians must first enroll their Kindergarten son/daughter at their home school (the school associated with their home address) and then complete an Exception to School Attendance Areas application, which must be approved by the Home School and French Program School Principals. 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.

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 for the 2021-22 academic year:

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

Kindergarten siblings (both Year 1 and Year 2) 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 1 French Immersion program.

What level of French proficiency can be achieved by the end of Grade 8 in the French Immersion Program? How does this compare to the Core French Program?

The Ministry of Education requires a minimum of 3800 hours of instruction in French in a French Immersion program at the elementary level. In the Durham Catholic District School Board, we provide a total of 4680 hours of French instruction which helps to support a strong level of proficiency before entering into the secondary program. Students’ level of language proficiency will vary due to a variety of factors however; most students will be able to communicate effectively with native French speakers. Students in the Core French program by contrast will receive a total of 600 hours of instruction in French by the end of Grade 8.

In Grade 1 as students are beginning to learn to read, will this be taught in English or in French? Do parents need to teach their child to read in English?

All subject areas in Grades 1-3 French Immersion are taught in French except for the Religion and Family Life programs. Reading instruction will be provided in French only. Skills in this area that are taught at school can be supported by parents/guardians at home as you explore reading together in English or your home language. This will help to support the transfer of skills from one language to the other. Parents/guardians are encouraged to provide a literacy rich environment at home to help build strong reading and writing skills for children.

Can you please explain more about the transfer process into the English track should we decide to switch from French Immersion?

A transfer from the French Immersion program into the English program requires teachers, school staff and parent/guardians to follow Board policy and procedures. When a child is experiencing challenges in their French Immersion program, as with any program, educators will communicate with parents/guardians and will provide appropriate supports to help support learning.

An emphasis on retention of the student is of primary importance. Parents/guardians will be provided with an action plan to support their child in their continued learning in French. Should the child continue to experience difficulty after all measures have been put in place over a period of time to support the child in the French Immersion program, a decision may be made to transfer the child. Parents/guardians would be involved in the Board procedure process to transfer their child out of the program and will be required to provide informed written consent.

Are there any recommendations to prepare our child for Grade 1 French Immersion?

Parents/guardians can help to support a smooth transition into the Grade 1 French Immersion program by promoting a positive approach to learning and sharing excitement about the French Immersion program. A variety of recommendations for parents/guardians can be found in this resource from the Ontario Ministry of Education: Supporting Your Child's Success in French Immersion.

For the online registration, where can I find information relating to my child’s Home School English, Home School French and his/her OEN (Ontario Education Number)?

To determine which school is the Home School English or French for your child, please visit our “Find My Local Catholic School” portal. A form to find your appropriate schools is provided. Parents/guardians can also call 905-576-6150 ext. 22211 or 1-877-482-0722 or email our Planning and Admissions Department to obtain this information prior to registration.

Your child’s OEN is listed on their Kindergarten Communication of Learning shared by the school.

Can I still register after January 15, 2021?

Registrations will be closed from January 15, 2021 to March 22, 2021, which means that no registrations will be accepted during this time.

After March 22, 2021, late registration inquiries should be directed to your local DCDSB French Immersion school, and will be pending available space. Late registrations are not guaranteed.

My family is new to the Durham Region and we would like to register my child who is not in Grade 1 for DCDSB French Immersion, as they have been in a French Immersion/French First Language program at another school board. What is the process to register my child for DCDSB French Immersion?

Our French Immersion program begins in Grade 1. However, there are circumstances where students may be transferring to DCDSB from a French Immersion or French First Language program at another school board. In these cases, we ask that families register their child through our online registration portal for their DCDSB Home School (select "Enrol a New Student"). Once the board/school receives the new student registration, the family will be contacted to discuss transferring their registration to their local DCDSB French Immersion home school in accordance with Board Policies.