Once again this year, the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales, in collaboration with Novocentre, is offering free French language courses to families of students from all the board's schools.
Launched 10 years ago with Novocentre, an organization specializing in French-language training for Thunder Bay communities, this program is reserved exclusively for the immediate parents of students attending our schools. Not only do the adults learn French and strengthen their language skills, but the program encourages them to share an experience with their children and strengthen the family bond through language.
The number of participants increases every year. In 2024, nearly 30 parents took online courses adapted to their level. Among them, Nana Roy, a parent at Red Lake, who testifies:
I've been taking online French courses for the past four years. These courses, offered by the Conseil with Novocentre, are very important to me and my family. The courses have been very beneficial to me and have helped me learn French. As my daughters attend a French school, I can help them with their homework and share French culture with them. We can share books, stories and the French language. I'm very grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
By enrolling in these courses, you'll be able to support your child's school career with greater self-confidence, show them the importance of perseverance and curiosity, and experience meaningful learning moments together.
This year, to better meet the needs of parents, courses will be offered both online and face-to-face, starting on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
- Online courses: every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Face-to-face classes in Thunder Bay: every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at École catholique Franco-Supérieur (220 Elgin Street, Room 4A).
To get the most out of the program, regular attendance is essential. As places are limited, we ask participants to notify their trainer if they are absent from two consecutive sessions, in order to free up space for a waiting parent.
We invite all parents to sign up and contribute to their children's academic success in French!
Registrations open until Thursday, October 16.
