Teachers from John Black Public School hosted a French cultural event for Grade 7, 8 and 9 students on April 6.
The event, called Franconnexion, aimed to build relationships between elementary students and their future high schools as well as promote French.
“We went with (Grades) 7, 8 … and 9 because they’re thinking about afterwards and where does French go from here,” said Christina Schilling, a curriculum leader for French as a second language for the Upper Grand District School Board.
“That would be the time to influence them a lot.
“Kids who start French they usually love it because it’s new and they’re excited about it but in Grade 7, 8, 9 that’s where we want to grab them and say ‘stay motivated and keep going with it because it … can change your life.’”
One of the event organizers, Nia Pommier, a teacher at John Black Public School added, “We really want kids to be encouraged to take French past Grade 9.”
The French culture day, the first of its kind for the Upper Grand District School Board, was held on April 6 at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus.
About 300 students were in attendance from schools throughout the Upper Grand District School Board.
About 275 of the students were in Grade 7, 8 and 9 and participated in the event, while about 25 of the students were Grade 11 and 12 volunteers from Wellington Heights Secondary School, Centre Wellington District High School and Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute.
The day’s theme was “where can French take you” and the senior students ran various activities to help show what opportunities continuing French education can offer.
Some of the stations included a career panel where local professionals discussed how French helps them in their jobs, a student panel where younger students could ask senior students about French in high school, a Caribbean and Creole drumming demonstration, games, interactive improv, drama and eating crepes.
Each group was also accompanied by senior students from the younger student’s corresponding high school.
“We’re really excited and hopeful that kids are going to come away from today and go ‘oh my gosh, yeah, of course I’m going to take French,’” Pommier said.
