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On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Year 2 Kindergarten families were invited to attend a Grade 1 French Immersion virtual information night. Watch the video to learn more about French Immersion at DCDSB.
The registration process for the French Immersion program takes place each school year in an online format. Families must register for the French Immersion program through OSAS. Families of students in Year 2 Kindergarten program are invited to register their child for entry into the Grade 1 French Immersion program in November. The online registration process is open for approximately six weeks and closes in mid-January. Important dates relating to the registration process for that academic year are shared on the French Immersion webpage and on school online calendars.
Below is an overview of our typical French Immersion registration timelines (subject to change):
Watch the video below to learn how to register for Grade 1 French Immersion online:
The following list of Frequently Asked Questions shares important information relating to the French Immersion program and registration process.
How do I register my child online for Grade 1 French Immersion?
Grade 1 French Immersion online registration will be open from November 26, 2025 - January 16, 2026.
After this registration time frame, we occasionally have limited spots still available in select schools. Please contact your local DCDSB French Immersion school to inquire about registering your child. Late registrations will be processed on a first come, first serve basis while space is available.
When will French Immersion registration open?
Registration opens on November 26, 2025 and will close on January 16, 2026.
All children are considered. Nothing is looked at per se. After the close of the online registration period, places will be assigned to all students that have registered (provided that the number of students registered meets the minimum threshold for establishing a class). At schools where demand exceeds capacity, students will be placed in accordance with the following criteria:
Primary classes are capped at 20 (with approval of the Area Superintendent some primary classes may be expanded to 23).
When will parents/guardians be notified of acceptance and placement?
Parents/guardians who have registered using the online process will receive an automatic email notification of their registration. An acceptance and placement email will be sent in February 2026. Upon receipt of this second email, parents/guardians will be requested to confirm their registration. Students who are not currently enrolled in the Durham Catholic District School Board will have to complete the process in person at the designated French Program School and produce the required documentation for registration at that time.
NOTE: If the school does not receive confirmation of enrollment from the parent by the expected due date, the child’s name will be removed from the list, and the application will be considered withdrawn.
Will students with siblings already enrolled be given priority at the designated school?
All students who apply during the online registration process will be offered a position in the French Immersion Program (except in the case where the minimum number of students enrolled does not meet the threshold to establish a class).
Where space permits and after “in boundary” students and students with childcare in area have been accommodated, consideration will be given to cross boundary approvals for families requesting a particular school where siblings are in attendance. Please note that in this instance if a cross boundary is approved, students will not be eligible for transportation.
Why is the Board making families have their children attend two different schools?
We recognize that families who have experienced the convenience of having all children attend the same school may be concerned by potentially having to have siblings attend different locations. It is important to note that French Immersion is an optional program and parents have the right to exercise their choice as to whether or not their child will attend.
As an English Language Learner in the French Immersion program, what supports will my child receive?
For English Language Learners in the French Immersion program, the instructional model of 75% of daily instruction in French remains the same. While in Grades 1 to 3, all students will receive 25% of their daily instruction in English. Students will receive English instruction during Religion and Family Life, Sciences, Physical Education and some of the Arts subjects. - you can word it better if you feel.
The online registration process closes on January 16, 2026. In order to allow time to process the online applicants and determine class formations, no further registrations will be accepted until March 2026. At that time, any parent/guardian who wishes to enrol their child will be required to contact the appropriate DCDSB French Immersion school to request an application. Late registrations will be processed on a first come, first serve basis, while space is available. If no space is available, the child will be placed on a waiting list.
Why can’t the Board add more classroom spaces at overcrowded French Immersion Schools?
Class size is regulated and funded according to Ministry directives and varies by division. The Board must therefore do its best to maximize classroom organization. Numbers will continue to be monitored by the Principal, Family of Schools Superintendent and Superintendent of Academic Services. When/where a threshold of 15 students is met; consideration will be given to the formation of an additional class at an appropriate location.
How do other Boards manage increasing demand for French Immersion?
Many boards offer limited French Immersion programming; cap the number of students who can register; or offer no French Immersion at all. Our Board offers French Immersion to every family that requests it for their Grade 1 child(ren) through the online process; and we provide school busing where it is warranted. Program location may not be guaranteed.
All students who apply during the online registration process will be offered a position in the French Immersion Program (except in the case where the minimum number of students enrolled does not meet the threshold to establish a class).
Where space permits and after “in boundary” students and students with childcare in area have been accommodated, consideration will be given to cross boundary approvals for families requesting a particular school where siblings are in attendance. Please note that in this instance if a cross boundary is approved, students will not be eligible for transportation.
Kindergarten students who have requested cross-boundary approval because their sibling attends the French Immersion program, will be accepted where space allows at the following sites for the current academic year:
Parents/guardians must first enroll their Kindergarten son/daughter at their home school (the school associated with their home address) and then complete an Exception to School Attendance Areas application, which must be approved by the Home School and French Program School Principals. A waitlist will be established at these schools as required and parents and guardians will be directed to register at their child’s home school for Kindergarten.
Due to enrollment pressure at some of our elementary schools, out of area applications for Kindergarten students will not be accepted at the following sites for the current academic year:
Kindergarten siblings (both Year 1 and Year 2) who are accepted at an out-of-area French Immersion school with their older sibling(s) will be provided transportation for Kindergarten. Continued transportation will be provided granted that they enter into the Grade 1 French Immersion program.
The Ministry of Education requires a minimum of 3800 hours of instruction in French in a French Immersion program at the elementary level. In the Durham Catholic District School Board, we provide a total of 4,437 hours of French instruction which helps to support a strong level of proficiency before entering into the secondary program. Students’ level of language proficiency will vary due to a variety of factors however; most students will be able to communicate effectively with native French speakers. Students in the Core French program by contrast will receive a total of 600 hours of instruction in French by the end of Grade 8.
All subject areas in Grades 1-3 French Immersion are taught in French except for the Religion and Family Life programs. Reading instruction will be provided in French only. Skills in this area that are taught at school can be supported by parents/guardians at home as you explore reading together in English or your home language. This will help to support the transfer of skills from one language to the other. Parents/guardians are encouraged to provide a literacy rich environment at home to help build strong reading and writing skills for children.
A transfer from the French Immersion program into the English program requires teachers, school staff and parent/guardians to follow Board policy and procedures. When a child is experiencing challenges in their French Immersion program, as with any program, educators will communicate with parents/guardians and will provide appropriate supports to help support learning.
An emphasis on retention of the student is of primary importance. Parents/guardians will meet with the school and be provided with an action plan to support their child in their continued learning in French. Should the child continue to experience difficulty after all measures have been put in place over a period of time to support the child in the French Immersion program, a decision may be made to transfer the child. Parents/guardians would be involved in the Board procedure process to transfer their child out of the program and will be required to provide informed written consent.
Are there any recommendations to prepare our child for Grade 1 French Immersion?
Parents/guardians can help to support a smooth transition into the Grade 1 French Immersion program by promoting a positive approach to learning and sharing excitement about the French Immersion program. A variety of recommendations for parents/guardians can be found in this resource from the Ontario Ministry of Education: Supporting Your Child's Success in French Immersion.
To determine which school is the Home School English or French for your child, please visit our “Find My Local Catholic School” portal. A form to find your appropriate schools is provided. Parents/guardians can also call 905-576-6150 ext. 22211 or 1-877-482-0722 or email our Planning and Admissions Department to obtain this information prior to registration.
Your child’s OEN is listed on their Kindergarten Communication of Learning shared by the school.
For dual track schools (English stream and French stream), there are many opportunities to integrate classes of the same grade in order to collaborate on various school initiatives to build rapport and amity e.g., class/grade performances, school sports teams, class/grade-hosted assemblies, science fairs, field trips, group work, combined lessons when applicable, team building challenges, and more. Educators find that, when possible, such collaboration helps immensely to prevent a two-tiered system within immersion schools. DCDSB educators are committed to promoting an inclusive learning environment for all.
I am from another school board and want to register my child for French Immersion. Is this possible?
Our French Immersion program begins in Grade 1. However, there are circumstances where students may be transferring to DCDSB from a French Immersion or French First Language program at another school board. In these cases, we ask that families register their child through our online registration portal for their DCDSB Home School (select "Enrol a New Student"). Once the board/school receives the new student registration, the family will be contacted to discuss transferring their registration to their local DCDSB French Immersion home school in accordance with Board Policies.
Which DCDSB secondary schools offer French Immersion?
The following DCDSB secondary schools offer French Immersion:
