French immersion at École St. John Paul II in Medicine Hat (Photo courtesy Colton Mckee)

By Chantal Wagner

17 years for French immersion programming at Medicine Hat Catholic School Division

Feb 14, 2020 | 2:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Over the past 17 years, the French immersion program in the Medicine Hat Catholic School Division has grown.

Vice Principal of École St. John Paul II Terry Kennedy was one of two teachers who started the French program back in 2003.

He says it’s been a fantastic experience to be part of the growth. And he says students are engaged to learn french.

“It’s exciting to be able to learn something at a young age that you might not know how you’re going to use it when you’re older. But when you go to apply for a job, travel, just having that language experience is going to make everything a bit richer and open up some doors for you later on.”

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Lillie Doud is a grade 5 student at École St. John Paul II she says, “It’s just really great to learn. It’s easy after you know it all. It’s easy to learn more languages after you know (French) too.”

Kennedy adds, “When it comes to French immersion, one of the things that set us apart from other schools is French immersion in conjunction with faith.”

Students have been in the brand new École St. John Paul II school for a year and a half.

The dual-track school offers K-6 learning in the French immersion stream as well as in English.

The French immersion program in the Medicine Hat Catholic School Division is also housed at St. Mary’s School for grades 7-9 and Mosignor McCoy High School for grades 10-12 students.