French Immersion placement is based on your home address. Using the Find My Local School tool on the HDSB website, enter your home address and note the French Immersion school listed for your address. You will need this information when completing the registration form.
French Immersion
The Halton District School Board supports the Ontario Ministry of Education's vision and goals for French as a Second Language (FSL) programs. All programs in the French as a Second Language curriculum at the elementary and secondary levels share a common vision.
Registering for French Immersion
Register for Grade 2 French Immersion for the 2026–2027 school year by following the steps below for children entering Grade 2 in September 2026. Registration is open from Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 to Jan. 31, 2026.
Step 1: Confirm your child’s designated French Immersion school
Step 2: Ensure your child is registered with the HDSB
If your child is not currently enrolled at an HDSB school, please complete their HDSB school registration online first, prior to registering for French Immersion. Once your child is registered with the HDSB, you can complete the French Immersion registration form (below).
Step 3: Complete the online French Immersion registration form
As of Dec. 1, families can register for Grade 2 French Immersion by completing the French Immersion Registration Google Form by Jan. 31, 2026.
All students registered between Dec. 1 - Jan. 31 will be placed in the French Immersion program. No additional steps or confirmations are required at this stage.
Vision
Students will communicate and interact with growing confidence in French, one of Canada's official languages, while developing the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they need to participate fully as citizens in Canada and in the world.
In each French as a Second Language program (Core and Immersion), students realize the vision of the FSL curriculum as they strive to:
- Use French to communicate and interact effectively in a variety of social settings
- Learn about Canada, its two official languages, and other francophone cultures
- Appreciate how connected and interdependent the global community is
- Be responsible for their own learning as they work independently and in groups
- Use effective language learning strategies
- Become lifelong language learners for personal growth and for active participation as world citizens.
HDSB offers Core French and French Immersion learning pathways. Core French begins in grade 1, and the optional French Immersion has a grade 2 entry point.
Both Core French and French Immersion Tracks
- Can be followed until the end of Grade 12
- Will result in proficiency in French
- Cover all four strands (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
- Use authentic tasks, the action-oriented approach, new vocabulary and repetition to bring students to proficiency
- High expectations for students to engage with the language
Additional Core French & French Immersion Information
- Learning the language in a literacy based and focused way
- Time for practice is incorporated into class time
- Frequency (varies from school to school for completion of a minimum required hour count of 600 by the end of Grade 8, as per the Ministry of Education)
- Grades 1-3: 1 period per week
- Grades 4-5: 2-4 periods per week
- Grades 6-8: 4-5 periods per week
- Learning the language in an integrated way, using many subjects
- Some schools are dual-track, meaning they offer both programs, some schools only offer Core French, in which case students would change schools to register in French Immersion
- Frequency:
- Grade 2: 100%
- Grade 3: 80%
- Grades 4-8: 50% of the day
- Registration opens in December, and closes at the end of January during the grade one year.
- An email will be sent to parents of grade 1 students announcing when registration will begin
- The registration button can be used by families within HDSB or from out-of-Board
- Considerations for families while deciding on registration for French Immersion:
- How has my child’s language development progressed?
- How well has my child engaged in the Primary Core French program?
- How has my child’s math development progressed?
- What information has been shared with me about my child’s learning strengths and needs?
- Have I considered the information from the Progress Report?
- Would my family adapt to potentially having students at different schools?
- Have I considered potentially changing schools again if my child decided to demit from the program mid-year?
- Grade 1 Parent Information French Immersion Program
- To see if your neighbourhood school offers French Immersion, please check “Find My Local School”
- If you have questions, please call your local school offering French Immersion
Learn More About Registering for HDSB French Immersion
- Core French students in grade 12
- French Immersion students in grade 12
- Self-select level A2-B2 for the exam
- Students who pass the exam will receive a world-recognized DELF certificate
FSL Programs and Students with Special Needs
For more information about French as a Second Language programs in English-language school boards, including students with special needs and English language learners, refer to the information and resources posted on the Ontario Ministry of Education website.
In the Halton District School Board, we believe that every child is capable of learning French. There are six principles set out by the Ontario Ministry of Education that guide our work:
- French as a Second Language programs are for all students
- Teaching and learning French is recognized and valued
- French as a Second Language serves as a bridge between languages and cultures
- Learning French as a Second Language strengthens literacy skills
- Research informs decision-making, and
- Learning French as a Second Language is a lifelong journey
FSL Homework Toolbox
This site supports parents who have children in a “French Immersion” (FI) program and wish to assist them with homework in French. It is also a resource for FI students who require an accessible user friendly reference tool to help with homework. Learners and educators in other FSL programs will also find it helpful.
Resources to Support Your Child at Home with FSL Acquisition
| Resource/Link | Description | Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSL Homework Toolbox http://www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca/ |
Supports parents and students in French Immersion with homework help. “Toolbox” provides practice listening to everyday French expressions. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Canadian Parents for French https://on.cpf.ca/ |
Promotes bilingualism and offers learning opportunities. See “Resources” for parents and students. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mini-TFO / Idéllo http://www.tfo.org/fr/mini-tfo https://www.idello.org/en |
Students can explore videos in French. Ontario students can access a free Idéllo account. | Yes | |||
| Boukili https://boukili.ca/en |
Free illustrated French books to support reading development in French Immersion students. | Yes | Yes | ||
| Lecture Enfant http://lecturenfant.net/ |
Offers 18 levels of French books and videos. “Free Resources” includes downloadable books. | Yes | Yes | ||
| Je lis, je lis, littératie https://jelis.rkpublishing.com/student/ |
For French Immersion students in Grades 2–6 to practise reading and literacy skills. | Yes | Yes | ||
| SMASH Education https://login.smasheducation.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f |
Students with accounts can practise French skills. Speak with your child’s teacher if an account is not set up. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Il était une histoire https://www.iletaitunehistoire.com/ |
Digital short stories, poems, songs and other genres of French text. | Yes | Yes |
Additional Resources
- Government of Ontario - French as a Second Language
- Government of Ontario - French as a Second Language Programs
- French as a Second Language (2013)
- Online Resources to Support Your Child at Home with FSL Acquisition