October 23rd, 2025

Over the past several months, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) has carefully explored the possibility of expanding French immersion to include Grades 7 and 8 at Janet Metcalfe Public School. We considered a number of important factors, such as:

  • Current and projected student enrolment
  • Staffing needs and collective agreement requirements
  • The ongoing challenge of recruiting qualified French immersion educators
  • Available financial and staffing resources

After a thorough review, we have decided not to introduce French immersion for Grades 7 and 8 at this time. Please know that this decision does not remove any existing program, as French immersion has not previously been offered at the intermediate level at Janet Metcalfe Public School. Each year, WRDSB will continue to review and explore opportunities to expand French immersion in our school.

Continuing French Language Learning

Intermediate French immersion will continue to be offered at several WRDSB schools. A complete list is available on our website. As with current French immersion programming, families choosing to continue in the program at these sites will be responsible for transportation if their children attend out-of-boundary schools.

If no further action is taken, students entering Grade 7 in the 2026-27 school year will be automatically placed in the core French language program. Any out-of-boundary students will be placed in their home school, unless otherwise requested.

We recognize and deeply value the commitment that parents, families, and caregivers have made to their children’s French-language education. For students continuing their French learning at Janet Metcalfe Public School, our core French program provides engaging and meaningful instruction that supports both language development and cultural understanding.

In Grade 12, students in all French streams are invited to take the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DÉLF) exam voluntarily, a globally recognized certification of French language proficiency. Many WRDSB students successfully achieve French language proficiency between the A2 and B2 levels, marking a significant milestone and reflection on language learning across the system. This credential can support post-secondary applications and employment opportunities. We are proud to offer the DÉLF exam at no cost to all students enrolled in a Grade 12 French course.

Next Steps

We truly value your commitment to your child’s education and your continued interest in French language learning. Please be assured that we remain committed to exploring ways to increase access to French immersion at the intermediate level. Your feedback and engagement are important to us as we continue to monitor the program’s development.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about enrolling your child in an out-of-boundary French immersion school, please contact us at frenchprograms@wrdsb.ca.

Learn more about French Programs at the WRDSB.

Thank you for your understanding as we continue to explore ways to make French immersion more accessible across the system.