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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 26, 2008 - 5 Board struggling to meet French immersion demand By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The coming school year will see 16 portables placed on the site of Ecole Forest Trail, as the Halton District School Board struggles to decide on a long-term accommodation plan for elementary students in the northeast area of Oakville. Doubling the eight portables that are currently on the site will result in challenges, admitted board superintendent Steven Parfeniuk. "We know there will be a strain on the facility in 2008," he said. However, the move will allow the school to accommodate next year's students and provide a year to consult with the community on a plan for the future, he added. Along with Ecole Forest Trail, a French immersion school, the consultation will involve families at Captain R. Wilson, West Oak, Pilgrim Wood, Heritage Glen, Abbey Lane and Emily Carr public schools. The Ward 4 area of Oakville is being impacted by several significant trends, said Parfeniuk. The maturing communities south of Upper Middle Road are seeing their school population numbers drop, while schools north of the Upper Middle are seeing enrolment growth. The whole area is also experiencing a rapidly-growing demand for French Immersion programming. About 34 per cent of Grade 1 children in the area are opting for the French program, up from about 20 per cent in 2003. That has led to significant overcrowding at Ecole Forest Trail, a single-track French immersion school with a capacity for 552 students. In a report presented to school board trustees on Wednesday night, Parfeniuk noted that enrolment in the French program is projected to grow to 1,237 by 2012. "We need a comprehensive solution for Oakville Ward 4," he said. Community meetings over the last several months have bounced around a number of ideas, including adding a French immersion program to a school south of Upper Middle Road or moving Grade 7 and 8 students out of Ecole Forest Trail and back to Pine Grove Public School, which is south of the QEW. Oakville's French immersion parents have traditionally supported single-track schools, where the entire school is enrolled in a French program. Other communities in Halton offer the program in dual-track schools, where both French and English streams are available. Oakville trustee Kathryn BatemanOlmstead, who represents the Ward 4 area, said the accommodation issue has created turmoil for families in the community. "This issue has become very divisive and emotional," she said. "We need a year to figure it out and to figure it out right so we don't keep bouncing kids around." New Patients Welcome! DEERFIELD GOLF CLUB MAY 1, TWO FOR ONE GREEN FEES ALL DAY! Golf Cou rs & Drivin e g Range NOW OP EN Dear Neighbour, If you are looking for a new dental office in Oakville, I would like to welcome you to consider my practice. My office has developed a number of amenities to make you and your family feel as comfortable as possible during your time with us. Some of these amenities include satellite televisions in each of our treatment rooms so you can watch your favorite programs or you can listen to music on an IPOD with BOSE noise cancelling headphones. We also have the fabulous, new ICUITI Digital Video Personal Eyewear glasses that allow you to watch DVD's on a virtual large screen TV. We have developed a number of special amenities that have been specifically added for your children's comfort including a Playstation 3 with a 40-inch Sony Hi-Definition flat screen LCD TV in the children's section of the reception room. I have recently invested in a dental laser that can treat cavities in you or your children's teeth without the drilling sound or vibration. The Laser treatment can lead to a decrease in the amount of anesthetic that is required during the visit to treat the cavity and improve the overall dental experience for you and your child. I am very fortunate to have a caring and friendly team that are committed to your overall oral health and will make you feel welcome and respected. If you have any questions about our office, please feel free to call us at 905-827-1619. We look forward to meeting with you and creating a long-term relationship. Sincerely Dr. Stephen Phelan Deerfield Highway 25 DEERFIELD GOLF CLUB QEW 3rd Line Dental Surgeon. Laser, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 1500 Heritage Way, Oakville, ON L6M 3H4 call 905.827.1619 to arrange an appointment Creating sensational smiles in Oakville for 15 years.