Submitted by:
Mary-Louise Davis |

École Swan River South School hosted the celebration for the 30th anniversary of the French Immersion Program in the Swan Valley on Thursday May 16, 2013.



The event included student performances, speeches from teachers and administrators past and present and messages from Canadian Parents for French.

Guests were welcomed into the gymnasium at 7pm to find the walls lined with creative artwork from the school’s students. Tables were for guests to sit around were decorated with more students work and balloons filed the room. Refreshments and deserts were provided for all.

Principal Lucie Lachapelle kicked of the evening with a warm welcome to guests, speakers and performers.

Student performances in drama, dance and music followed. All of the school’s French Immersion students, beginning with the Junior Kindergarten students (at only 4 or 5 years of age) went on stage & demonstrated their French skills and passion for the language and culture.

The speakers all conveyed the importance of French language learning for student. They discussed the history of the French Immersion program in the valley which sprang from the campaigning of several dedicated parents.

The recent developments in the program were also addressed, including the new French Immersion diploma that can now be earned by SVRSS students.

The program’s successes were highlighted as are the advantages that French Immersion graduates have in the competitive contemporary job market.

Overall the evening brought together many interests to celebrate thirty years of outstanding achievement, collaboration and dedication from parents, teachers, administrators and above all, from students.