French and English Early Reading
St. Luke School, located in the northwest, is one of nine French Immersion elementary schools with the Calgary Catholic School District. Students are taught the curriculum mandated by Alberta Education using the French language as the medium of instruction. Our French Immersion program is designed for students who have little or no previous knowledge of the French language but possess a keen interest in learning designated curriculum in the French language.
The approach used in the FI (French Immersion) program has much in common with learning a first language; in both instances, the language becomes a tool for communication and learning. Through literacy and numeracy supports, participating students will assist St. Luke students with their learning in a classroom setting and collaborate with St. Luke teaching staff as they work to meet the needs of the children in their classrooms.
What's Involved
- One-to-one and small group classroom-based program
- Age of Children/Youth: 6-9 Years Old
- Participants will attend for 10-12 sessions, based on the schedule that they arrange with the teacher(s) they will be working with.
- Pre-service teachers will work with students one-on-one or in small groups in a classroom environment. Depending on your subject expertise and students' needs, you will provide proactive academic support to students in Math, Science, or the Humanities, with an emphasis on providing French/English reading and writing support to a diverse group of learners.
- To develop rapport and trust with students, pre-service teachers will work alongside St. Luke staff and will reach out to students who may be struggling. Pre-service teachers also have the opportunity to extend their involvement beyond the end of the program.
Requirements
- Pre-service teachers need a current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (issued after July 1, 2021). Students who do not already have a police check should begin this process at their local police station as soon as possible, as police checks often take 4-6 weeks to process.
- All participants will complete an Occupational Health and Safety orientation as well as an orientation to volunteering with St. Luke and Calgary Catholic.
- Note: While St. Luke is part of the CCSD, students of all beliefs and backgrounds are welcome to support this program.
Werklund Dates and Times
FALL 2023 (Application is now closed.)
- Werklund Fall 2023 Wrap-Up Session: Friday, December 8, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Zoom)
- Fall 2023 Placements End: mid-December
WINTER 2024
- Winter 2024 application will open on November 20, 2024.
- Werklund Winter 2024 Orientation: Monday, December 11, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Zoom)
- Winter 2024 Placements Start: early January (program dependent)
- Werklund Winter 2024 Check-In Session: Monday, January 29 at
- 9:30 am - 10:30 am (in-person) or
- 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm (Zoom)
- Werklund Winter 2024 Wrap-Up Session: Tuesday, March 12, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Zoom)
- Winter 2024 Placements End: mid-March (program dependent)
St. Luke's Dates
- On-Site orientation: Specific date TBD
- Program Dates: October-December
- Times: St. Luke's classes run from 9:00am-3:30pm. Participants will provide 2-3 hours of direct support each week for 10-12 weeks, based on the school schedule and students' availability
- Students who wish to continue their placement after December are welcome to do so based on their availability
Making Connections
- Throughout the semester, pre-service teachers will curate their volunteering experiences using a creative medium (e.g., photos, art, storyboarding, videos, etc.) that best reflects their experiences in the program. Your creative reflections will form part of a public showcase of Werklund student experiences later in the year.
- Pre-service teachers will participate in 2 group meetings: one at the mid-point and another at the end of their placement (1 hour each). These group meetings provide pre-service teachers with opportunities to reflect on the community placement experience and to guide improvements for the program.
Applications are now closed. Please check back for more updates.