French as a Second Language

English Kindergarten classes will be offered at all French Immersion schools; however, due to space limitations, a maximum number of classes will be offered at each site.

Should applications for English Kindergarten at a French Immersion school exceed the number of available spaces, a random selection process will be implemented to determine which children may attend.

Students may only apply to attend English Kindergarten at their designated French Immersion school based on the student’s home address. You can use the school locator tool on the Thames Valley District School Board’s website to find your designated French Immersion school.

Thames Valley Senior Administration has thoroughly reviewed the issue and determined that providing priority to siblings would create inequality of access to English Kindergarten at French Immersion schools. Due to extremely limited spaces at some schools, providing priority to siblings may completely deny access to other students.  

Therefore, Thames Valley’s admission process will be made strictly based on random selection – with exceptions being made for medical or other support needs of students. This process is both procedurally fair and consistent with the Board’s commitment to equity and inclusion. 

At the present time, all children are welcome to register for French Immersion in Grade 1 when age appropriate.

No. All applications received by Friday, January 30, 2026 will proceed through the same admission process.

All applicants who submit their applications by Friday, January 30, 2026 and who are not selected through the random selection process will be placed on a waiting list and will attend their designated English school. If an opening occurs in the English Kindergarten Program at the designated French Immersion School families will be notified according to wait list. All applications received after January 30, 2026 may also be eligible to be placed on the waiting list, if required. 

Yes. Your child will have already registered for Kindergarten at their home English home school through the registration process and must be in attendance to be offered a place in the English Kindergarten Program at their designated French Immersion school. 

Although all K1 students in the Program will be given priority for K2 admission for the following year, space availability for the Program will be reviewed annually; therefore, admission cannot be guaranteed

Yes, Students will be provided transportation to their designated French Immersion school.

Please note: Elementary students must reside more than 1.6 km from their school and secondary students must reside more than 3.2 km from their school. To verify eligibility for transportation, use the Check Bus Eligibility tool at mybigyellowbus.ca.

No, if your child is currently enrolled in Year 2 Kindergarten in the French Immersion school, your child will automatically be registered for Grade 1 French Immersion for September.

Eligibility Requirements of the current school year:

Students entering Grade 1 French Immersion must be 6 years old by December 31, of the current school year.

• When registering your child, you must produce proof of age and address (birth or baptismal certificate, registration of birth, passport, copy of lease agreement or utility bill).
• Registration deadline is September 30, of the current school year.

Parents/guardians are not expected to have French language skills in order to send their child to a French Immersion school. Parent/teacher interviews and report cards are in English.

Even if they do not know French themselves, parents can encourage their children to take an interest in French in various ways. Children might enjoy noticing and examining how French is used in their environment - for example, on packaging and on signage. Some children might also enjoy listening to French children's songs and rhymes, watching French children's programming, videos, or movies, counting in French, or singing the alphabet in French. Parent engagement leads to student success.

Parents of French Immersion students are not expected to know French. Although French is the language of instruction in the classroom, communication between school and home is in English.

Parents can help by providing a regular time and place for children to complete work at home. Making homework a routine part of after-school activity will help to ensure that children do their homework assignments. It is also important for parents to applaud their children's efforts - for example, when they listen to their children read or practice oral French. 

Yes. Students will be provided transportation to their designated French Immersion school.

Please note: Elementary students must reside more than 1.6 km from their school and secondary students must reside more than 3.2 km from their school. To verify eligibility for transportation, use the Check Bus Eligibility tool at mybigyellowbus.ca.

Grade 1 is the only entry point into French Immersion programming within Thames Valley. Registration must occur by September 30th of each academic year,  in order to provide sufficient time for language acquisition throughout the year. If transferring from another school board, only students transferring directly from a program where at least 50% of the instruction has been in French (evidence must be provided) will be granted non-entry point registration status for all other grades.

Yes. The French Immersion Program provides a full and balanced program in all areas of the curriculum and follows the same guidelines as those in English language schools.