Franc départ (Strong start)
The program “Franc départ” is an initiative of the B.C. Ministry of Education, implemented by the Conseil scolaire francophone. Its mission is to provide a variety of free activities at schools, in French, for Francophone children* aged 0 to 5 accompanied by an adult (either a parent or another person responsible for the child).
Find out the brochure of the program !
Activities examples :
Organized activity: Activities planned by the educator that promote social learning and involve the families.
Circle: Children and adults gather to sing, dance, tell and listen to stories and take part in games.
Free play time: Parents and children have an opportunity to discover a wide range of educational toys together.
A learning environment where:
- The parent is recognized as their child’s first educator.
- French is used in a living, stimulating Francophone environment that fosters the child’s language acquisition.
- Play is central: the child and adult learn about each other while exploring together. The transition to kindergarten is facilitated through activities that introduce the ideas of reading and writing.
- Each family is unique and helps enrich the program, providing an opportunity to develop a social network and break down isolation.
- Parents and children can familiarize themselves with the school environment, get to know school staff, and learn about services offered in French in the community.
The program is currently running at ten of our schools:
- L’école du Bois-joli à Delta
785, 49th Street
Tél : 604-948-7007
ebj-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Tuesday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- L’école Entre-lacs de Penticton
1213, Debeck Street
Tél : 250-770-7691
eel-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- L’école Mer-et-montagne de Campbell River
1102, South Alder Street
Tél : 250-923-3359
emm-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Mondays and Fridays, 8:45 to 11:45 a.m.
- L’école des Sentiers-alpins de Nelson
2780, Highway 3A
Tél : 250-770-7691
eel-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- L’école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville à Port-Coquitlam
1618 Patricia Avenue
Tél : 604-552-7915
pio-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.
- L’école Anne-Hébert à Vancouver
7051, Killarney Street
Tél : 604-437-4849
Eah-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- L’école des Voyageurs à Langley
8736, 216th Street
Tél : 604-881-0222
voy-francdepart@csf.bc.ca
Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:15 p.m. to 14:15 p.m.
- L’école des Deux-rives à Mission
7674 Stave Lake Street
Tél : 604-820-5710
Contact the school for more info.
- L’école La Verendrye à Chilliwack
6610, Lickman Road
Tél : 604-858-2666
Contact the school for more info.
- L’école des Sept-sommets à Rossland
2160 St-Paul
Tél : 250-362-3395
Contact the school for more info.
You must register in person with the educators.
*Children from a family with at least one Francophone parent.