There may be some good news for parents and students in Barrie who want a full-time French immersion school in the city.
Warnica Public School in Barrie’s southeast currently has a French immersion program, one of a handful across Simcoe County. The school also has an English program but that could soon change.
“We are looking at being an all-French school so we would be French immersion and extended French,” says Principal Rob Perry.
If the project goes ahead, Warnica would be the first all-French school with in the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB).
Cathy Burns teaches grade one and she says she’s excited for what an all-French school could mean.
“I think it allows students to be able to use their French more than they are now, students generally speak English out in the yard, we give them that big of a break but if it’s all immersion then we can encourage them to speak more French outside as well.”
Perry says this change could be a great move because the school is already over capacity and there are ten portables outside.
SCDSB officials say Warnica was built for 325 students but right now they are already 200 students over capacity. Officials say moving the smaller English only program elsewhere could free up some much needed space.
“It’s less pressure on the facility, less students in portables, it’s better use of the facility and the capacity,” says Andrew Keuken with the SCDSB.
The plan would mean about 150 students in the English only program would be bused to neighbouring schools. Even though this is a big change for some families, the principal says parents shouldn’t worry.
“Sometimes it can be a concern but the schools we do have where kids will be feeding into are great schools and a lot of them are fairly new schools in Simcoe,” added Perry.
The final decision will be made by the school board and they will meet at the end of February. If approved, Warnica Public School could be all-French by September of 2015.
