While English still ranks as the first language in the Ontarian Communities, the interest in learning French continues to grow, as it’s officially the second language in the country, with almost 21% of Canadians speaking French. In fact, speaking away from the Canadian population, there are 29 countries that officially speak French around the world.
So, in other words, encouraging younger kids to start learning French, doesn’t only facilitate communicating with non-English speakers, but it also offers them better job opportunities, as owning the power of bilingualism is always a plus.
In this article, we're looking at the top three French schools in Cambridge and Waterloo region, and diving into the pros and cons of each.
École Élémentaire Catholique Mère-Élisabeth-Bruyère
Address: 280 Glenridge Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3W6
Scoring a bold and proud 8.2 on Fraser Institute, EEC Mère-Élisabeth-Bruyère , is a French Catholic that is supervised by the Conseil Scolaire MonAvenir, with a comprehensive French language program, that implements all-day French learning and living, offering the students the opportunity to master their French language skills.
Graduated students will be certified bilingual and taught through an interactive curriculum that guarantees participation and inclusion. The school takes students between kindergarten and Grade 6, to be later transferred to École Secondaire Catholique Père-René-de-Galinée starting Grade 7.
The school is also home to Centre Éducatif Village d'Élisabeth daycare centre, which offers childcare services for Pre-K-aged kids between 18 months old, and 4 years old.
In addition to a variety of fun-filled activities that help the kids receive education while engaged in academic yet fun-oriented happenings, the school offers EUREKA program which supports the students in all subjects taught for students all the way between Grade 1 until Grade 12.
Like all other French language schools, EEC Mère-Élisabeth-Bruyère automatically admits students, after confirming that their parents are “right holders”, who are basically French-speaking parents who have the right to teach their kids the French language.
This will also ensure that the student will be having enough French communication at home, which complements in-school learning.
Whereas if a student’s parents are not French-speaking or “right holders”, then admission eligibility will be determined by the admission committee based on the parents’ ability to speak French fluently. Moreover, as a Catholic School, some religious restrictions would apply, where only catholic or Baptized students will be eligible to admit to school.
ÉÉC Saint-Noël-Chabanel-Cambridge
Address: 640 Trico Dr, Cambridge, ON N3H 5P2.
Scoring 7.4 on Fraser institute, École Élémentaire Saint-Noël-Chabanel is a Francophone Catholic elementary school performing under the Conseil Scolaire MonAvenir, with a complete French language curriculum, that embeds learning and living all day in French, which gives the students every chance to master their French language skills.
Students in the MonAvenir board are certified bilingual and taught through a dynamic approach that ensures involvement and inclusion The school accepts students from kindergarten till Grade 6, to be later transferred to École Secondaire Catholique Père-René-de-Galinée.
The school is also partnered with Les Petites Sauterelles daycare center, to offer childcare services for Pre-K aged kids starting 18 months old, until they are 4 years old.
ÉÉC Saint-Noël-Chabanel is the only MonAvenir board school in the city of Cambridge. Consequently, it takes students from all over the city. The school’s relatively high Fraiser ranking was based on scores overhead the provincial average in Reading, Writing and Math.
One important thing to keep in mind is that, since the school is a catholic school, a student must be Catholic, or at least with one of his parents being Catholic.
Otherwise, non-Catholic students may be admitted if they have been baptized into a religious tradition acknowledged by the Catholic Church as baptism. Moreover, although anyone can apply to a French school, a student may not be admitted if his parents were not French-speaking.
Père-René-de-Galinée Catholic High School
Address: 450 Maple Grove Rd, Cambridge,
With a 7 score in Fraser Ranking, Père-René-de-Galinée Catholic High School is a French Catholic high school, that operates under the Conseil Scolaire MonAvenir, providing a fully French language program embedding all-day French living and learning since 1996.
One of the most important aspects that makes this school special is that they offer the International Baccalaureate® (IB) program, along with the Novelty program that offers a Transition to a single math course in grade 9, and MHS information and communication technologies (ICTs).
In addition to the decent Academic Programs offered by the school, students will also enjoy community living that encourages cooperation and teamwork, through many sports and community services, charity, and volunteering along with different MHS health and wellness events and seminars.
Students can be admitted to the school starting Grade 7 until they finish their high school studies. Admitting to the school is exclusive to Catholic students, who at least have one of their parents being Catholic, or at least non-Catholic students may be admitted if they have been baptized into a religious tradition accredited by the Catholic Church as baptism.
Moreover, admission is automatically granted for students with “right holders” parents, whereas it’s subject to assessment by the admission committee in case parents were not French speakers, where admission will be considered according to French fluency of French language, to ensure enough communication in French at home.
With great-ranking French schools in the Area, Cambridge residents are fortunate to have this privilege, where such schools offer a high-end French education, as well as contribute to building a community with high academic standards.
The decision of picking up a school is a base for more serious decisions coming ahead, as it involved the student’s social and academic skills building.
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