Annual Report
2003-2004
Chair's Remarks
It's been another terrific
year for CPF Hamilton-Wentworth:
Some highlights of our
2003 - 2004 year include:
Two sessions of our Basic French Course for Parents Level One
and one session of Level Two were sold out;
Our CPF Chapter newsletter was expanded to the Separate School
Board and now reaches 2,500 families with each quarterly issue;
We encouraged the Hamilton Public Library to develop their French
Mother Goose program in return for a donation of $2,500 for French
materials;
A Parent Information Night was held in April 2003 to discuss
the future of French Immersion;
Our web site was expanded to include information on high school
courses and back issues of our Chapter newsletter;
Support and materials were provided for French Immersion Kindergarten
Information Nights and Meet the Teacher Nights held by the District
and Separate School Boards;
Brochures were mailed to Hamilton daycares to promote Immersion
and we ran a successful Spectator ad campaign promoting 2004
French Immersion information nights;
Two French book sales were held at Earl Kitchener in May and
St. Joseph's in November; and
Two highly successful French concerts featuring Etienne were
held in February 2004 at Westdale Secondary School.
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 2004 and 2005, especially representatives from Glen Echo
and Glen Brae schools.
Sincerely,
Rosalind Minaji
Chair, CPF Hamilton-Wentworth
Membership Summary
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.
We are happy to report
an increase in the number of separate school parents joining
CPF this year. Recruitment of new members took place at all CPF
Events. Copies of CPF pamphlets are also distributed at other
school functions such as Meet the Teacher nights and Open Houses.
The basic French Course for parents was also an excellent means
of attracting new members.
Membership renewals between
April 1 2003 and April 1 2004 equaled 15 out 45 expired memberships
or a 33% renewal rate.
CPF Memberships: April
2004 = 105
Public School 73 69%
Separate School 18 17%
Other 14 13%
Special Events
CPF Book Sales
The Chapter held
French Book Sales on May 28, 2003 at Earl Kitchener Public School
and on November 26, 2003 at St. Joseph's Catholic School.
Books, videos, computer
games and teacher resource materials were sold on commission
for the Librairie Champlain bookstore in Toronto. Unsold items
were returned to the store.
The events were 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 posters. Large banners were spray
painted and hung at several different French Immersion schools
across the City to promote the November event.
The period before Christmas
turned out to be a more successful time to hold a book sale.
Large crowds turned out and dozens of people lined up to buy
items during the afternoon and evening.
The May book sale raised
$345 for the Chapter, however, approximately $6,000 worth of
products was sold in the Fall and $650 was raised. Future book
sales will be held in November.
Bilingual Concert
On Wednesday February 11,
Hamilton public elementary students rocked the house! Two sold-out
concerts by French rapper Étienne were organized by CPF
Hamilton-Wentworth and attended by 1,600 Core and Immersion French
students from all over the City
Westdale students watched
with interest as busloads of elementary school students marched
though their corridors to the auditorium. Meanwhile, Grades 3
to 7 French Immersion students took a good look at their future
high school.
Inside the hall, as Étienne
signed posters and shook hands before the performance, kids clapped
and chanted his name in anticipation.
Once the performance began,
the excitement rose to a fever pitch as Etienne lead the students
in a series of chants, raps and dance steps. French vocabulary,
verb conjugations, and spelling were all covered in a series
of catchy lyrics and hip hop beats which the students roared
and repeated with enthusiasm.
Mon, ma, mes! Ton, ta,
tes! Son, sa, ses!
During breaks between songs,
Etienne praised and encouraged the audience in a mixture of French
and English and passed out prizes to each school including copies
of his CDs and video. Then the music would begin again as he
ran up and down the aisles and bounded up the steps to the balcony
to greet all the students.
As one teacher remarked
"This is unbelievable. These kids are actually excited about
French grammar!" It was absolutely wonderful to hear those
hundreds of kids from all over Hamilton singing together in French.
The event was also a great
fundraiser for CPF Hamilton-Wentworth. The use of Westdale auditorium
was generously donated by the School Board and $1 from each ticket
sold was contributed by Etienne to CPF. A total of $1,500 was
raised for the Chapter. This money will be used for a Member
Appreciation Event on May 16, 04.
French Courses for Parents
Over the summer, CPF Executive
members reviewed and revised the material from the Level One
pilot program offered in January 2003. The material was re-typed
and saved in electronic format. A copy of the revised course
was provided to CPF Ontario in exchange for 50 copies of "Keys
to French".
In September 2003, two
sessions of the Level One Course for parents were offered. The
courses were fully subscribed with twenty students in the Monday
night class and twenty-one on Tuesday evenings. Thanks to our
wonderful teachers, Annette Ray and Tanya Gonzales. Membership
in CPF was a registration requirement and 36 new CPF members
joined as a result.
"Now I know what it
is like to be immersed in French! Ten minutes into the first
class we all looked at each other as if to say 'duh?' Four weeks
later, I know to scream 'allons y' (lets go!) to my kids as we
scramble out the door, and I say 'bon chance' when my daughter
has 'dictee'.". Parent from St Joseph's
In February, the Chapter
was pleased to offer the Level Two course for the first time.
This course material was also corrected and formatted by the
Executive prior to start-up. Twenty-two students registered and
seven new members joined CPF in order to take the course. We
plan to continue offering courses in the Fall of 2004 and Winter
of 2005, perhaps introducing a Level Three course next year.
Outreach
Le Concours
On May 24, 2003, three
students from G.R. Allan School in Hamilton took part in the
CPF Ontario public speaking contest "le concours festival
d'art oratoire" at Glendon College in Toronto. Elementary
and middle school participants in the contest were treated to
a French music concert before they presented their speeches to
groups of their peers. Each speech was evaluated by a judge and
fellow students and our contestants came home with souvenir T-shirts
and lots of written tips for the 2004 contest.
This year, we are excited to have several more Hamilton schools
represented at the Provincial Concours. CPF Chapter members have
been liaising with both school boards since September to encourage
their participation in the 2004 event.
On March 23, 2004 an inter-school
French public speaking competition was held by the Public school
board. The nine winners in the various Core and Immersion French
categories are advancing to the Provincial level contest at Glendon
College on May 15.
Hamilton's Catholic school
board also held it's first inter-school competition for Grades
4 to 8 on April 15. French books were provided by CPF Hamilton-Wentworth
as prizes for all competitors.
This initiative will benefit
our children through enhanced French reading, writing, listening
and speaking skills, as well as increased self esteem. We wish
our students and teachers 'bonne chance' with this endeavour
and hope Le Concours will expand each year.
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.
CPF Hamilton-Wentworth
continued to send a representative to FIAC meetings in 2003/2004
so that our members can be kept informed about future public
school Board initiatives and Immersion issues.
CPF Ontario
The Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter sent two delegates to the October
2003 CPF Ontario Conference and we are happy to report that our
own Marie Patenaude has been elected to the CPF Ontario Board
of Directors for 2003 - 2005. Congratulations and thanks Marie!
Your participation means that Hamilton parents will have direct
input into CPF Ontario policies and programs.
Parent Information Night
Our 2004 Parent Information Night was held on April 22 at G.R.
Allan School. The theme of the evening was "French Immersion
in High School". Guest speakers from Westdale Public High
School and Cathedral Separate High School discussed the courses
and amenities offered at the two respective schools. A representative
from Heritage Canada spoke about the benefits of a French language
education and about the Summer Language Bursary Program, Exchange
Programs and other activities offered by the Federal Government.
School Trustee Ian Thompson, an Immerson graduate, spoke about
his French experiences.
Representatives from Hamilton's
"Usborne Books", "Scholars Choice", "Turtle
Pond" and Smithville's "Poster Pals" were on hand
to showcase and sell the French books and other learning resource
materials available from these companies. Doorprizes were contributed
by Poster Pals, Scholar's Choice, Explora-Toy, Tralco, Librairie
Champlain and Étienne. The CPF video "Proud of Two
Languages" was shown.
French Storytime
Hamilton Public Library presented a weekly program of French
stories, songs, and activities for children from birth to six
years of age in July and August 2003. The storytime was prompted
by an CPF Ontario program which allowed local CPF Chapters to
donate $2,500 worth of French materials to libraries offering
French storytime sessions.
An average of 45 children
attended the storytime program each week. The weekly sessions
were based on a series of themes, with corresponding songs and
activities. At the end of the program, each child was given a
French storybook.
"One program featured
the Three Little Pigs and the children made a pig hand puppet.
Another week, the children were read a book about a mouse in
a strawberry patch and they had some "fraises" to eat
as they listened." Parent from Norwood Park
The CPF cheque presentation took place at the Hamilton Public
Library Board Meeting on Wednesday November 19, 2003. Pictured
at the cheque presentation are: Rosalind Minaji, Chair of CPF
Hamilton-Wentworth, Helen Benoit, Youth Services Coordinator
for the Hamilton Public Library and Doreen Horbach, Chair of
the Library Board.
French Immersion Promotion
One of the great things about having a local Chapter of Canadian
Parents for French in Hamilton is being able to take advantage
of programs offered by CPF Ontario.
In January, the Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter received a grant of
$1,700 to be used to promote French Immersion programs in Hamilton.
Newspaper ads (illustrated below) were placed in the Hamilton
Spectator on three occasions in February and March.
We mailed posters highlighting the Immersion program to over
40 local daycares and encouraged those parents to find out more.
CPF also provided materials to the Norwood Park school council
to use in their Limeridge Mall booth promoting immersion to parents
In February.
Chapter Executive members attended the seven Kindergarten Information
Nights offered by the Public and Separate School Boards to offer
support and answer questions.
We are happy to report that there was a record turn out at the
SK information nights this year -hopefully a sign of healthy
French Immersion enrollment for 2004.
CPF CHAPTER FINANCIAL
STATEMENT
April 1st 2003 to March 31, 2004
STARTING BALANCE April 1st, 2003 $ 1,286.69
Add income (Subtotal A) $17,310.24
Subtract Expenses (Subtotal B) $13,005.61
BALANCE AS OF MARCH 31st $ 5,591.32
Communication
Newsletters
Four issues of the CPF Hamilton-Wentworth newsletter have been
produced this year to inform Hamilton parents about special events
and CPF activities: May 2003, October 2003 and January 2004 &
April 2004.
About 3,000 copies of each
newsletter are printed and distributed. Copies of the newsletter
are delivered by the Chapter Executive members to the schools
they represent and sent home to each French Immersion student.
Board staff, school trustees and Heritage Canada contacts are
also sent copies of each issue. Back issues of the newsletter
are handed out at various school events.
CPF Executive attended
the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board meeting
on September 9, 03 and requested that the Separate School Board
establish a process for the distribution of future Chapter newsletters.
Since that time, issues have been well received by the Separate
Schools in Hamilton and our separate school membership and activity
rate continues to grow.
Some of the topics dealt
with in 2003/2004 newsletters include:
" Immersion in Hamilton High Schools;
" French Course Registration;
" CPF Hamilton-Wentworth News;
" French Summer Camps in Hamilton; and
" Easy French Accents on your computer
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;
" information on high school Immersion programs in Hamilton;
" back issues of CPF newsletters in pdf format; and
" archived stories about CPF activities and events.
Executive Members 2003
- 2004
Chair/Treasurer/CPF Contact:
Rosalind Minaji
Membership Secretary:
Carrie Crockett
Recording Secretary:
Tracey Cseresnyes
CPF Ontario Board/ Francophone
Community Liaison:
Marie Patenaude & Craig Sproats
A. M. Cunningham Representative:
Lori Prevec
G.R. Allan Representative:
Mary Finstad
Earl Kitchener/Dalewood
Representative:
Susan McClure
Westdale/Ryerson Representative:
Frank Torelli
Norwood Park Representative:
Deborah Doody
Glen Echo/Glen Brae Representative:
Vacant
St. Joseph Representative:
Kaywana Gargarello
Sts. Peter & Paul Representative:
Yvonne Swiston
St. Eugene Representative:
Dianne MacKenzie
Cathedral Representative:
Yolanda Czyzewski-Bragues |
