French Immersion Program Changes at Our Lady of the Prairies

• 80% of respondents were concerned about bus rides of 45-90 minutes.
• All Our Lady of the Prairies students transferring to Holy Cross, who are taking the bus, will receive free yellow bus transportation for the 2026-2027 school year.  
• Based on your feedback, Edmonton Catholic Schools is committed to limiting yellow bus ride times to a maximum of 60 minutes for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6. Ride times will range from 15 to 60 minutes one-way, depending on the neighbourhood served and overall ridership demand.
• Students who previously walked to Our Lady of the Prairies will now be eligible for transportation to Holy Cross.
• Students currently accessing transportation to Our Lady of the Prairies will continue to receive transportation to Holy Cross.

• A quarter of all respondents highlighted the critical need for alignment between childcare, busing, and Kindergarten programming.
• Out-of-School Care is offered at Holy Cross and will expand to accommodate any future demand.
• Out-of-School Care will be available for Kindergarten students, aligned with their morning or afternoon class schedule. This ensures they can ride the bus home with their siblings, providing families with comfort and consistency.
• There are three French-speaking staff members at the out-of-school care program, including an Educational Assistant from Holy Cross, who will enhance French language acquisition for our students.
• STEM programming is incorporated into childcare services.

• Nearly two-thirds of respondents emphasized continuity as essential to a successful transition.
• Consistency regarding social networks and classroom culture increases relative to the number of students that transition to Holy Cross. For families not choosing to go to Holy Cross, Edmonton Catholic Schools will ensure that those living within the OLOP-designated area wishing to keep their child within the OLOP community may do so.

• A quarter of all respondents expressed staffing concerns and have asked for assurances that French Immersion teachers will move to Holy Cross.
• Staffing decisions will be guided by Human Resources and made collaboratively with school principals and teachers. When the French Immersion program relocates, its teachers are initially assigned to the new school as part of our regular staffing cycle. Teachers do have the ability to explore changes each spring, but we remain committed to maintaining stability for students throughout this transition.

• Approximately 20% of respondents had questions about program quality, class sizes, supports, and school culture.
• To support families with planning and questions, Holy Cross will be hosting a Welcome House (open house and information session) for Our Lady of the Prairies French Immersion families on Thursday, January 29, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Families will be able to tour the school, meet staff, and connect with child care providers. The Transportation team will also be available to provide more information on your child's specific ride times. More details regarding the event will be shared with you in early January.

French Immersion enrolment across the Division is strong, with more than 3,700 students. However, only 20% of students who begin in Kindergarten continue through to Grade 12. To improve retention and strengthen French Immersion programming, we are creating conditions that better support long-term success.

French Immersion families were asked to share their insights through a series of engagements in 2023-2024. More than half of French Immersion families and 89% of students from Grades 7-12 answered the questionnaire and provided thoughtful insights. Their feedback revealed four key themes: Program Pathways, Transportation, Program Experience, and Cultural Experience.

Moving the French Immersion program from Our Lady of the Prairies to Holy Cross will address these needs

• It will reduce transition points by consolidating west-end French Immersion programming into a cohesive single-track K-9 site. Families overwhelmingly identified transition points between Grades 6 and 7, and Grades 9 and 10, as key drop-off stages for student retention.
   
• It will improve transportation for French Immersion students. We heard from families that school location and travel time are major barriers. All K-6 French Immersion students from Our Lady of the Prairies, including those who previously walked to that school, are eligible for yellow bus service to Holy Cross.
   
• Bringing students together in one cohesive program unlocks powerful benefits in an optimal learning environment. With more classes at each grade level, students will experience a vibrant and dynamic French Immersion community. Teachers collaborate more deeply, sharing expertise and creating richer, more engaging lessons. For students, this means a truly immersive French environment where language learning thrives and cultural experiences expand. A single-track program will deliver fewer transitions, stronger friendships, and a consistent, high-quality immersion journey.
   
• It will strengthen language development with more opportunities to read, speak, and engage in French daily. Through mentorship and deeper teacher collaboration, students will learn from role models and experience a strong sense of community within a stable learning environment.

This change is intended to help improve student retention in French Immersion programming and to address needs identified by French Immersion families. Through Division-wide engagement, families identified four key areas for improvement: Transportation, Program Experience, Cultural Experience, and Programming Pathways. Relocating the French Immersion program to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary/Junior High School directly addresses these needs and supports long-term success for students.

Students currently enrolled in French Immersion at Our Lady of the Prairies will automatically have Holy Cross Catholic Elementary/Junior High School indicated as their school for the 2026-2027 school year through the pre-enrolment process, which opens in February 2026. If your child wishes to remain at Our Lady of the Prairies, they will need to transition to English programming. Principals Marcel Evaristo (Our Lady of the Prairies) and Marlene Forest-Wallace (Holy Cross) are available to support families and answer any questions throughout this transition.

Holy Cross will be hosting a special Welcome House for Our Lady of the Prairies French Immersion families on Thursday, January 29. Families will receive an invite in early January. For those unable to attend, you can visit the school's Open House on Thursday, February 12. This is a great opportunity to tour the school, meet the teachers and Principal Marlene Forest-Wallace. You can also visit their website to learn more and watch the school’s Open House Video.

A single-track immersion program provides a fully immersive experience. With the exception of Religion and English Language Arts, students are immersed in the French language within the classroom and within the school environment, giving them additional opportunities and exposure to the language.

Our Lady of the Prairies will continue to be a vibrant school offering excellent English programming. This change helps address space challenges, as the school has been operating at or above capacity for a number of years. This adjustment allows Our Lady of the Prairies to focus fully on English programming while continuing to live its mission to provide a joyful Catholic education that inspires students to grow in faith, hope and love.

The future of French Immersion at Edmonton Catholic Schools is strong. With more than 50 years of experience offering French Immersion, ECSD remains committed to its long-term success. The move to a single-track K–9 site at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary/Junior High School is a positive step forward. It will strengthen the program by creating a unified learning environment where students can deepen their language skills and cultural understanding. This change supports academic excellence and prepares students to thrive in both of Canada’s official languages.