New school gets French Immersion program
The Central Okanagan Board of Education has approved a French Immersion program at H.S. Grenda Middle School in Lake Country, which will open next school year for grades 6 to 7, and add a grade 8 program the following year.
The $36-million school will be able to accomodate 600 students between the grades of 6 and 8 when it opens next year.
It is being built on district-owned property south of George Elliot Secondary School.
The Board of Education also reviewed the recommendations from the planning and facilities committee on the plan to support the immediate capacity issues at Ecole Kelowna Secondary School. Currently, the following actions are being recommended considering the school currently being at full capacity and an additional 250-300 students expected over the next three years:
- Catchments will be evaluated upon entry to Ecole Kelowna Secondary School, with available spaces prioritized for catchment area students per Board Policy. Grade 9 students currently at Ecole KLO Middle School and cole Dr. Knox Middle School will not be exempt from this evaluation of catchments and may be required to attend their catchment secondary school.
- International students to be restricted to a maximum amount determined by the Board of Education.
- A Grade 10-12 French Immersion program to be established at Okanagan Mission Secondary School starting in the 2021/22 school year. The first Grade 10 cohort will be the Grade 9 students that currently attend Ecole KLO Middle School and live in the English catchment for Okanagan Mission Secondary School.
The Board of Education has requested additional information and will be making a final decision at the January 13, 2021 public meeting