École Rocky Elementary School and Pioneer Middle School offer French Immersion programs as an option for the parents and students in the community and surrounding area of Rocky Mountain House. In the Drayton Valley area Aurora Elementary School offers the only French Immersion program.
French immersion is a successful approach to second language learning. It is a effective way for students to become functionally fluent in French while achieving all of the objectives of the regular school program. French is the language of instruction for a significant part of the school day, several or all subjects, except English language arts, are taught in French. This program is designed for students whose first language is not French. The objective is full mastery of the English language, functional fluency in French, as well as an understanding and appreciation of the French culture.
Alberta Education has produced a resource, “Yes, You Can Help! Information and Inspiration for French Immersion Parents”, that provides information and answers the questions parents may have about French immersion such as: What is immersion?; How can I help my child if I don’t speak French?; Will my child’s English suffer?; Should my child remain in French immersion in junior and senior high school?
Information about French immersion curriculum, resources, evaluation and implementation is provided three times a year in Connection, Alberta Learning’s electronic information bulletin. Click on “Curriculum and Resources”.
Wild Rose Public Schools has an active parent community that is very supportive of the program, our teachers, our schools and our division. “Canadian Parents for French” (CPF) is the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and which is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French second language learning opportunities for young Canadians. A wealth of information may be found on the web sites of the Alberta branch and the national organization of CPF.