Future and current Francophone students in Bonnyville were given some help getting prepared for their path in life thanks to a variety of activities at Ecole des Beaux-Lacs.
Last Wednesday, Beaux-Lacs held a forum featuring graduated students as guest speakers. Geared towards Grade 7 to 12 students, the Beaux-Lacs alumni talked about their experiences transitioning into post-secondary and how being fluent in both of Canada's official languages has helped them in life.
“It's just to give them something that we never had because we were one of the first graduating classes. So just to come back and tell them what to expect so they can build a path for themselves and understand what's going to happen afterwards,” said Nicolas Roy, a 2011 graduate who is currently at Grant MacEwan University.
The current students asked questions about what it's like moving away for post-secondary schooling, how to be prepared and whether or not being bilingual actually is a benefit. Anna Flood, from Beaux-Lacs 2014 graduating class, said that being at a francophone school, the students don't always realize what an advantage it is.
“It opens so many doors. You don't realize that when you're in high school but when you get out it's just shocking how many doors are opened because of being bilingual.”
However, coming from a Francophone school means the transition and keeping up the bilingualism can be a little harder if graduates choose to go to a predominately English post-secondary institution.
“I find that, because I went from a French university and then I switched to a predominately English one, it was a difficult transition. But not as hard as I expected,” said Lauren Vincent, a 2012 grad in her third year of kinesiology at the University of Alberta.
She added, “It's hard for me to find words and communicate clearly now, but I think if you put effort into it and keep up with it, it wouldn't be as hard as it is for me.”
Beaux-Lacs principal Lise Gratton said that was one of the main reasons for the forum with the former graduates, to show current students that it is valuable to keep up the French language.
“It's so important because the language, if you don't use it you lose it. It's important for us to show our students it's an advantage in life. You want to have it and you want to pursue it even when you're not going to use it predominately.”
The forum also came on Beaux-Lacs' open house day. Prospective students and their parents were invited to visit the Francophone school and learn about what they had to offer. Gratton said unlike French immersion programs, a francophone school is about more than just the language.
“With francophone education, it's instilling the culture…(The students) are immersed completely in a French environment. It's like being on a French island, everything is in French.”
The day finished off with a presentation from speaker Glen Taylor. Based out of Calgary, Taylor is an Anglophone parent who put his children through the Francophone school system.
“He just saw how it was a positive influence for him and his family. Now, he goes around and speaks to different communities, particularly to the Anglophone parent,” explained Gratton.
She added, “It was an evening and conversation about even if you don't speak French, Francophone education is important for your kids.”
It was an important conversation, as Gratton noted a lot of the parents of Beaux-Lacs students aren't fluent in French. She said that it's becoming an increasingly important message since the numbers at Ecole des Beaux-Lacs are continually growing.
“We are seeing an increase in preschool and kindergarten classes. We're having larger classes than we've had in the past. I think it's something parents are very open to.”
