THUNDER BAY — The French-language Catholic school board in Northwestern Ontario is expanding its high school programming in the region.
The Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales has announced plans for a satellite secondary school of École secondaire catholique de la Vérendrye in Thunder Bay.
It will offer students across the region the opportunity to pursue their high school studies in French.
In announcing the plan, the CSDC des Aurores boréales said many students outside the city currently have no access to French-language options when it comes to enrolling in high school.
"I am pleased that we can fill a void in the provision of French-language education in Northwestern Ontario, with a reinvented virtual school that takes into account the lessons learned during the pandemic," said Marie-France Tousignant, superintendent of education.
Under a model being implemented for the next school year, students in three communities west of Thunder Bay will enrol in Grade 9 and receive on-site supervision while following a typical high school schedule of four classes per semester.
Courses will be offered remotely, in collaboration with students from all the participating campuses.
To start with, the program will be offered within the walls of existing board schools École Immaculée-conception in Ignace, École catholique de l'Enfant-Jésus in Dryden, and a site in Red Lake.
In addition to courses taught by teachers, online courses will be accessible via the Consortium d'apprentissage virtuel de langue francaise de l'Ontario.
Students will have the opportunity to meet periodically for systemic activities specific to their campus.
The board said they will have access to the same well-being support services, authentic learning, and special programs, and partnerships will be created to allow them to join sports teams within the community and meet the requirements of the Healthy Active Living course.
CSDC des Aurores boréales chair Claudette Gleeson said the initiative is in response to requests from parents.
"This is truly a momentous occasion for our board. It's a big step for the Francophonie in the Northwest," she said.
The board is currently recruiting a school principal/guidance counsellor, teachers and teaching assistants.
It hopes to expand the program to communities east of Thunder Bay by September 2025, and to offer it to Grade 10 students.
By 2027, instruction up to Grade 12 will be available to Francophone students from Kenora to Manitouwadge.
