District exploring possible expansion of Early French Immersion in South Surrey

FRIMM Community Interest Survey

The district is running an online survey to explore interest in a new French Immersion program in South Surrey. This will provide the necessary information to bring the community's interest back to trustees for a final decision at the December Board meeting.

Please note: Filling out this form does not guarantee you a space in the new program and is only for the purpose of gathering information regarding community interest.

For more information, see the South Surrey Community Letter for FRIMM Expansion.

At the Nov. 17 Surrey Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Jordan Tinney presented to trustees the possibility of adding French Immersion to Pacific Heights Elementary in September 2022, with the option of settling the program at Ta'talu Elementary, a new school anticipated to open in September 2024.

Tinney noted that though there has been sustained interest in French Immersion in the south of the city, there have been difficulties expanding the program due to overcrowding. With the recent opening of Douglas Elementary and Edgewood Elementary, Ta'talu Elementary on the horizon, and site acquisitions for three more nearby elementary schools in the Five-Year Capital Plan, there is now an opportunity to consider growing the program.

"The board has known for a long time that French Immersion is a very valued program in the Surrey School District, but due to our capacity issues, it's also extremely challenging for us to provide Programs of Choice," said Tinney. "Pacific Heights, in this case with its addition, has extra classrooms that we feel we could begin a program if necessary.

"It's really important that if we do this, that the public knows that we would have to determine a final location and that may be actually Ta'talu down the road."

Trustee Bob Holmes commended staff for the initial analysis, saying the expansion has been contemplated by the board for awhile but had been put on hold because of  rapid growth and capacity issues in the area.

"We basically put off any idea of French Immersion expansion for some time until portables were down to a certain number, and I think we were wise to be cautious about the south," said Holmes. "I think it's an exciting opportunity and is well needed."

The board voted in favour of directing Tinney to provide further analysis on expanding Early French Immersion in the Grandview Heights neighbourhood and recommend program placement at the next board meeting on Dec. 8.

In South Surrey and White Rock, Early French Immersion is currently offered at Laronde Elementary and Peace Arch Elementary, with Late French Immersion at Crescent Park Elementary and Jessie Lee Elementary, and Secondary French Immersion at Earl Marriott Secondary. Other schools offering French Immersion are as follows:

• Early French Immersion: Martha Currie, Riverdale, Simon Cunningham, Woodward Hill
• Late French Immersion: Henry Bose, K.B. Woodward, Sunrise Ridge
• Secondary French Immersion: Kwantlen Park, Panorama Ridge, École Salish