CSAP schools to promote benefits of an education in French next week

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Many people would say there’s nothing funny about raising awareness over the benefits of an education in French, but at Ecole Secondaire de Par-en-Bas next week that’s exactly what they’ll be laughing about.

The school is hosting a comedy festival next Monday through Wednesday, as part of an effort to promote the oral side of the French language.

“We decided to do a comedy festival to show that you can have fun in French,” says teacher Yvette d’Entremont. “We thought this might be something that the kids would like to do.”

During noon hours on May 12-14, students will participate in comedy improv, similar to the television show ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’. On Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. there will be a comedy night at the school, that the public is invited to attend.

“The public is also invited to come noon hours too if they want to take a break and have a laugh,” says d’Entremont.

Admission to the comedy festival is and just one example of various initiatives schools in the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial will be undertaking as the CSAP marks Nova Scotia Acadian and Francophone Education Promotion Week.

The theme of the week is “Life Advantages,” which emphasizes the advantages that a French education offers N.S. Acadian and francophone students from a social, cultural and economic perspective. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of the benefits of an education in French, and in doing so the CSAP hopes to increase the number of students enrolled in CSAP schools and other institutions of learning.

The percentage of children of entitled parents enrolled in the CSAP’s 19 schools in the province is approximately 48 per cent. Only New Brunswick and Ontario report a higher percentage in their francophone schools.

CSAP schools are receiving funding to help them with their promotional efforts and initiatives during the week. Funding is being provided by some N.S. credit unions, Acadian Affairs, the Department of Education, the CSAP, Université Sainte-Anne and Gaston Chagnon Properties Limited.

Some of the activities taking place at the schools include open houses and concerts. A list of what schools have planned is included on the website www.lifeadvantages.ca.