What’s working well for French immersion and Montessori students in New Westminster? What needs to change?
Parents and students in School District 40’s programs of choice will have a chance to share their opinions with the school district soon.
The district has hired a consultant to conduct a review of its programs of choice, with an eye to identifying “strengths, gaps and future opportunities” in the district as it grapples with an ongoing shortage of space in schools.
Right now, the district has two programs of choice in its elementary schools: Montessori, offered at Skwo:wech and Connaught Heights; and early French immersion, at Herbert Spencer, Qayqayt and Lord Tweedsmuir. There’s also late French immersion at École Glenbrook Middle School. Registration for those programs is on a lottery system.
The district also offers a Home Learners Program, based out of the former Hume Park Elementary School building.
School trustees got an update on the programs of choice review at their Feb. 7 education committee meeting.
A report to trustees notes the consultant, Nancy Brennan, has had initial meetings with the principals of the schools involved and with some of the groups involved in their operation — including the presidents of the New Westminster Teachers’ Union and CUPE Local 409 (which represents school support staff), the Montessori parents’ group, the local Canadian Parents for French group and more.
Brennan is also gathering data on issues such as enrolment trends, graduation rates, application processes, and recruitment and retention.
SD40 plans surveys for students, parents, staff
Next up will be surveys for parents, teachers, students and community members to gather their feedback on the programs.
The district plans to have electronic surveys available between Feb. 27 and March 10, with individualized surveys targeting different groups:
- all teachers;
- all school-based administrators;
- all secondary students;
- teachers of district programs;
- secondary French immersion students;
- intermediate-level Home Learners;
- Grades 5 to 8 French immersion students;
- Grade 5 Montessori students;
- parents of French immersion students;
- parents of Montessori students; and
- parents of Home Learners.
The review will continue through to June 2023, and a final report will be presented to the education committee this fall.
An updated progress report will be on the agenda for the April 11 education committee meeting.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
