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The proposal by York Region District School Board to establish a french immersion program in September 2025 at Huron Heights Secondary School has stirred up a storm of concerns among parents and stakeholders.By YRDSB graphic
As the demand for French immersion programs grows in York Region, so does the debate surrounding the expansion plans.
Two French immersion (FI) elementary schools, Mazo de la Roche P.S. and Poplar Bank P.S., are serving the students from Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Georgina, while Newmarket High School currently stands as the sole provider of FI education in the area. However, with residential development on the rise and an increasing enrolment from the elementary panel, the need for an additional FI secondary program has emerged.
The proposal by York Region District School Board to establish such a program in September 2025 at Huron Heights Secondary School has stirred up a storm of concerns among parents and stakeholders.
“What could be a positive change for my children will result in the loss of their community and friends from elementary school,” said Gale Allen, a parent with two children enrolled in the FI program.
“The proposed rezoning breaks up elementary school communities with a small portion of Mazo kids being sent to a different high school than their peers and a small portion of Poplar Bank kids sent to a different high school than their peers.”
York Region District School Board says that a boundary change or expansion of optional/regional programs may result in children attending different schools during the transition period.
By YRDSB graphic
Allen was one of more than 100 upset parents who attended a recent planning meeting, where concerns were raised about the potential disruption to students' education and access to specialized programs like advanced placement courses. Parents questioned the rationale behind the boundary changes and emphasized the need for options that prioritize student well-being.
Allen highlights the need for a more thoughtful and inclusive planning process.
“The entire planning process feels very backwards to me,” Allen told YorkRegion.com. “My concern is that they haven't consulted the public up front. What needs to happen is a change in the planning process.
“Like the lack of care about even splitting up siblings. That they wouldn't even make an exception for that really surprised me — how cold-hearted the process is,” she said.
“My son is a shy kid. It's taken him a long time to build his community. I haven't even told him about what they're planning because it will be so upsetting.”
Pull Quote"They need to take a step back, prioritize student learning and student well-being."
“They need to take a step back, prioritize student learning and student well-being,” Allen suggested.
Certain parents expressed discontent because Newmarket High School provides advanced placement courses and a high-performance athlete program, amenities that Huron Heights may not match.
Additionally, some parents expressed concerns regarding the shortage of french immersion teachers for the upcoming program.
Neither YRDSB or local trustee Pamela McCarthy responded to a request for comments via emails.
But Allen said she had a "productive conversation" with McCarthy after repeated attempts to contact her.
“She (McCarthy) agrees in principle, but she kind of said ‘I'm one person and I can't really change this,’” Allen said.
According to responses to frequently asked questions provided at the public meeting, the board said that “unfortunately, splitting elementary feeders is often required to balance enrolment across secondary schools.”
Any french immersion boundary proposal would require Mazo de la Roche and Poplar Bank Grade 8 students to attend different secondary schools due to multiple reasons, the board continued.
“A boundary change or expansion of optional/regional program may result in families who have children attending different schools during the transition period,” the board said.
If there are individual students who require support due to a change, the board recommends that families with concerns connect with the local superintendent and school administration team.
The board said it has a long history of expanding french immersion program locations across the region to provide opportunities for more students to attend. “Multiple elementary and secondary school sites have been designated to serve long-term enrolment growth in East Gwillimbury and Newmarket. The board has a future high school site designated in East Gwillimbury.”
However, Allen firmly believes that past practices should not serve as justification for future decisions.
“The existence of a harmful practice doesn't justify continuing the harmful practice,” said Allen.
“Our children have already had big impacts on their social well-being as they have moved through COVID school closures and YRDSB really needs to find a better path forward that includes actual research into student well-being.”
In response to Allen's concerns, the Ministry of Education underscored the authority of local school boards in operational matters and stressed the importance of school attendance areas for establishing well-proportioned school communities. However, Allen urged for heightened attention to student well-being.
“The YRDSB approach to planning and the presentation does not demonstrate a willingness to put students first,” she said.
“If the Minister of Education can have significant enough reach to dictate behaviour within the classroom regarding cellphones, then the Ministry of Education is certainly appropriate for concerns over the planning process and lack of attention to student well-being.”
来源链接：
https://www.toronto.com/news/cold-hearted-french-immersion-expansion-plans-in-newmarket-spark-concern-from-parents-about-student-well/article_0284a0ed-8f2d-5c1a-952e-b983ebdf7902.html
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