Friday January 15 2016
The
Leader
SECOND CHANCE FOR CANCELLED FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM
▶ SURREY SCHOOL DISTRICT BELIEVES MORE TIME WILL IMPROVE REGISTRATION IN NEW COUGAR CREEK LANGUAGE PROGRAM SHEILA REYNOLDS
A French immersion program that was cancelled at Cougar Creek Elementary before it began last fall is getting a second chance. The new Surrey location of the kindergarten-entry language program was scheduled to open at the Newton-area elementary school last September. However, despite a lengthy district-wide waiting list, only 12 children enrolled, forcing the program’s cancellation. While more than 200 families were contacted and offered a spot, because it was so close to the beginning of the school year, most turned the opportunity down, citing transportation concerns. Now, the district wants to give it another shot, hoping that informing parents and the community well ahead of the new school year will draw more students. “While 12 students were not enough to make the program viable last September, we are hopeful with more time for parents to consider travel arrangements and more time to promote awareness of the program, we will get at least another half-dozen registrations to launch in the fall,” said Shawn Wilson, chairperson of the Surrey Board of Education. Shawn Wilson
‘WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED’ ▶ NEWTON EXHIBITION BY FEMALE MUSLIM ARTISTS EXPLORES SIMILARITIES IN DIVERSITY 23
▶ EDUCATION THROUGH ART Taslim Samji is the guest curator for a new group show at the Newton Cultural Centre called Commonality, on until Jan. 30. Behind her is her own painting, entitled Tree of Pluralism. BOAZ JOSEPH
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