Annual Report 2002-2003

Chair's Remarks

Our Chapter was formed in December 2001, when Julie Senècal-Tremblay arranged to bring CPF Ontario staff to Hamilton to discuss the benefits of having a local chapter. Julie rounded up about 30 people to attend this French Immersion pep rally and as a result, the Hamilton Wentworth Chapter was formed. We held our first meeting in January 2002 and set to work.

Some highlights of our 2002 - 2003 year include:
Creation of a Chapter web site & regular newsletters;
Provision of comments to the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board on their 2002 French Immersion Review;
Parent Information Night in March 2002 to discuss: Immersion students' performance on Grade 3 Provincial tests, as well as homework tips & resources;
Support and materials provided for French Immersion Kindergarten Information Nights and Meet the Teacher Nights held by the District School Board in 2002 & 2003;
First annual CPF book sale at Earl Kitchener School in May 2002 featuring Librairie Champlain;
Bilingual concert for parents and children in November 2002 at Westmount Secondary School; and
Basic French Course for Parents offered over ten weeks at G.R. Allan School in the winter of 2003.

Of course we couldn't have accomplished all this without the financial support of our local Chapter members as well as the hard work of our Chapter Executive. A big thank you to everyone!

We appreciate your continued support of our programs and activities. As always, we would welcome the input and assistance of new members on the Executive Committee for 2003 and 2004, especially representatives from the separate school board.

Sincerely,
Rosalind Minaji
Chair, CPF Hamilton-Wentworth

Executive Members 2002 - 2003

Chair/Treasurer:
Rosalind Minaji

CPF Contact/Dalewood Representative:
Julie Senecal Tremblay

G.R. Allan Representative:
Mary Finstad

Membership Secretary:
Tracey Cseresnyes

Francophone Community Liaison:
Marie Patenaude
Craig Sproats

A.M. Cunningham Representative:
Lori Prevec

Earl Kitchener Representative:
Susan McClure

Westdale/Ryerson Representative:
Frank Torelli

Norwood Park Representative:
Deborah Doody

Glen Echo/Glen Brae Representative:
Mike Lalich

St. Joseph's Representative:
Kaywana Gargarello

Past Executive Members: Kim MacDonald, Dean Alex,
Kevin MacDonald, Kerry Dolan, Andrew Vowles

Many thanks for your hard work this year.

Special Events

CPF Book Sale
The Chapter held a French Book Sale on May 14, 2002 at Earl Kitchener School. Books, videos, computer games and teacher resource materials were sold by the Librairie Champlain bookstore. The event was publicized to parents, teachers and librarians at the public and separate School Boards.

Hamilton Francophone schools were sent a French translation of the book sale poster. Approximately $5,000 worth of products was sold and $700 was raised for the Chapter. CPF materials were displayed and membership applications provided at the sale.

We plan to hold our second annual book sale on Wednesday May 28, 2003. Many thanks to Earl Kitchener School for the use of their gymnasium for both of these events.

Bilingual Concert
On November 15, 2002 approximately 300 children and parents enjoyed a lively one hour concert featuring Chris Rawlings and Anne Lederman on fiddle and vocals. The concert was planned and sponsored by CPF Hamilton-Wentworth. Ticket costs were kept to an affordable $2 per person through a donation by CPF toward the rental of the Westmount auditorium.

The concert was intended to expose students and their parents to French-Canadian culture and allow kids to experience French outside of the classroom setting. A combination of traditional French- Canadian music and original material kept both the kids and parents thoroughly entertained.

Education

Basic French Course
Our first basic French Course for Parents started on January 21st 2003 and ran for ten weeks. The course was aimed at people with little or no prior French experience and was based on course material developed by CPF Newfoundland. The course was intended to give non-French speaking parents of F.I. students basic French vocabulary, to encourage their children's use of French at home. Many thanks to Annette Ray, our wonderful instructor. Thanks also go to Marie Patenaude and Craig Sproats for the many hours they spent photocopying and correcting the course materials. We hope to offer the course again in the Fall of 2003.

Parent Information Night
Our 2003 Parent Information Night was held on April 24 at Glen Echo School. The evening featured two guest speakers: Gisèle Portelance, the new FSL Consultant for the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board discussed ongoing changes and trends in French Immersion in Hamilton, and Ted Karp, the new Executive Director of CPF Ontario addressed advocacy for French Immersion education. Representatives from Hamilton's "Usborne Books", and Smithville's "Poster Pals" were on hand to showcase the French books and other learning resource materials available from these two organizations.

CPF Ontario
In September 2002, Marie Patenaude represented CPF Hamilton-Wentworth at the joint provincial/national CPF conference in Ottawa.
Also this year, Hamilton-Wentworth will be sending its first delegation of students to "Le Concours", CPF Ontario's public speaking contest. The Grade 4/5 class of Mdle. Patenaude at G.R. Allan School worked hard to prepare oral presentations from which three finalists were selected. Next year we hope to involve more schools from both the public and separate Boards.

Outreach

French Immersion Review (Public Board)
The Chapter provided written comments to the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board in 2002 in response to its review of Hamilton's French Immersion Program. The Chapter also made presentations to the Board in February and April. Peter Kenwood from the CPF Ontario Board of Directors also appeared at the April Board meeting. The Chapter spoke in support of the Immersion Program and requested that the School Board consider providing transportation, increase funding and increase the promotion of the FI Program. CPF continues to monitor the implementation of the Review recommendations in 2003.

Department of Canadian Heritage
On May 6, 2002, members of the Chapter, along with Heather Sabbagh from CPF Ontario, met with Mr. Hilaire Lemoine, Director-General, Official Languages Support Programs Branch, Canadian Heritage to discuss French Immersion issues. Since this meeting, we have continued to forward copies of our newsletters to Mr. Lemoine so that he is aware of the activities taking place in Hamilton-Wentworth.

French Immersion Advisory Committee (FIAC)
The FIAC has been established by the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board to provide advice to the Board regarding the French Immersion program and accommodation issues. The Committee consists of Board staff, teachers, principals, students and parents. In 2003, CPF Hamilton-Wentworth was requested to send a representative to FIAC meetings so that our members can be kept informed about future Board initiatives and Immersion issues.

FI Information Nights (Public Board)
Chapter members attended the four Kindergarten Information Nights held by the public School Board in February & March 2003. The CPF display was set up and Chapter members answered questions about parent involvement in French Immersion education and encouraged parents to enroll in the program.

Financial Statement

Opening Balance April 1, 2002: $ 720.93

Total Expenditures: $2678.70

Total Revenues: $3244.46

Closing Balance March 31, 2003: $1286.69

Membership Summary

November 2001 - 13

April 2002 - 29

April 2003 - 64

As new members join the Chapter, the Membership Secretary phones to welcome them to CPF, confirm their contact information and tell them about Chapter activities. A copy of the Keys to French One is sent to each new member as our thank you for joining. The Membership Secretary also sends renewal notices to our members.

Recruitment of new members takes place at all CPF Events. Copies of CPF pamphlets are also distributed at other school functions such as the French Café held at Norwood Park School, as well as Meet the Teacher nights and FI school Open Houses. Pamphlets and posters are provided by CPF Ontario.

In the coming year we plan to encourage the increased participation of separate school parents and teachers as CPF members and as part of our Executive Committee.

Communication

Newsletters
Four issues of the CPF Hamilton-Wentworth newsletter have been produced to inform Hamilton parents about special events and CPF activities: February 2002, May 2002, October 2002 and April 2003. Over 2,000 copies of the newsletter are printed and distributed on each occasion. The newsletter is sent by School Board inter-office mail to all FI students & teachers, and to Board staff and school trustees. Copies of the newsletter are also handed out at various school events.

Web Site
Our Chapter web site is hosted at no charge by the Hamilton-Wentworth Community Net. www.hwcn.org/link/hwcpf

The web site contains:
· monthly updates on Chapter initiatives,
· information about the benefits of joining CPF,
· CPF membership application form,
· tips and resources to help parents assist their children,
· links to French web sites of interest,
· minutes and agendas for Chapter Executive meetings,
· Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter Mission and Goals,
· discussion of the benefits of French Immersion,
· map and contact information for FI Schools across the City,
· an overview of the public School Board's FI Review and the Chapter's responses.

Volunteer Hours

Total Volunteer Hours: 672

Donations in Kind: $1,270

Number of Participants: 7,140