international languages elementary Archives - St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education

International & Indigenous Languages – Meet & Greet

‘Back to School’ Start-ups

At St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres, there are numerous ‘Back-to-School’ start ups.

Secondary School Credit Day Classes for Term 1 are well underway. Guidance is meeting hundreds of students around education planning and numerous pathways. Students have started their first couple of online Correspondence lessons already and are accessing in-person Student Support this week. ESL & LINC students, many of whom are newcomers, are feeling welcomed during ‘Welcoming Week’ as they return to classes and are joined by some new English language learners. Core Essentials students are working on personalized learning goals — sometimes in tandem with another St. Louis class.

Culinary students are cooking, Hair students are styling and Personal Support Worker students are building the essential health care skills to become certified.

So what start-up could possibly be left this month?!

Children language programs are also part of the ‘continuing education’ programming at St. Louis.

Over 2000 elementary students have registered for up to 18 languages offered and taught by over 100 language instructors at 6 locations. International and Indigenous Language Program – Elementary (IILE) allows children JK-Gr 8 to explore either their heritage or first language and culture or be challenged to learn a new language and make new friends. This Saturday morning, September 20, 2025 is the annual IILE Meet and Greet from 11am-12pm– a fun-filled introduction for children attending their first of language class for the 2025-2026 school year. Meet the teacher, see old and make new friends and discover what the language program will look like for 2.5 hours each week over the next 30 Saturdays. (Additional classes are offered on Monday evenings for Chinese and they have a meet and greet session on Sept 22nd in the evening)

Registration is closed for most languages, as the program is at maximum capacity, however inquiries are always welcome!

For more information: https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca/

International Languages Registration is OPEN

As we wind down the end of the school year, start planning for September!

Registration is now open for the 2024-2025 International & Indigenous Languages Program – Elementary (IILE)

Program runs from September to June every year. IILE is FREE and open to all Elementary students in our community.

18 Languages to Choose From!

With over 18 languages to choose from, children from JK to Grade 8 can be registered to enrol in language classes offered during the school-year. Participants may already speak the language at home; may wish they could improve their communication with friends or family; or want to learn a new language that would develop varied interests and broaden their perspective of the world. (No previous language knowledge is necessary.)

In our fast-growing and diverse community, school-age children who learn more than one language:

build richer friendships, family relationships and community connections
develop heritage pride, identity, and embrace various cultures
strengthen overall learning through improved writing, thinking and speaking skills

Help your child develop a passion for learning languages through music, games, storytelling, crafts and technology. Students who know more than 2 or 3 languages typically do better in school overall, and are keen to pursue other interests and hobbies with greater achievement.

Register NOW for Elementary Language Program until September 6, 2024.

Wish you learned a language when you were younger?

Secondary School Language Credits are available FREE for youth and adults and six different languages are offered September to June. Each class is 3 1/2 hours and parking is free at each school location (first come, first served)

Monday Evenings (St. Benedict CSS, Cambridge): Portuguese

Wednesday Evenings (St. Louis – Main Campus, Kitchener): Italian (NEW), Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish

Saturday mornings (Resurrection CSS, Kitchener): Chinese

The International Languages Secondary Credit Program will help youth and adults:

Earn up to three elective secondary credits towards graduation and Ontario Secondary Diploma – even if you are learning for personal interest and already have your high school diploma, this credit class can be added to your transcript upon successful completion.
Be better prepared for post-secondary studies in the fields of business, trade and communications
Successfully complete the Level D / Level 3 – University course and use it as one of the top six marks for post-secondary entry
Develop skills for international/ global employment opportunities
Foster global awareness and understanding

At the beginning of Secondary School Credit class, teachers describe course outlines, learning outcomes, class expectations, weekly attendance, assignments and culminating activities.

Interested?

International Languages – Secondary School Credit program is open to:

students under 18 currently attending day classes at ANY Secondary School
students over 18 currently earning secondary school credits in any other program at St. Louis
any adult who is an Ontario resident
all students must be be able to attend classes in-person.

Register NOW for Secondary Language Credit classes until September 6, 2024

If you do not see the language you wish to learn, reach out to Susan.ElNagar@wcdsb.ca for more information.

Summer Learning – UPDATE

Waterloo Catholic District School Board is committed to supporting your child’s continued learning. In July and August this year, there are several FREE* learning options available for elementary and secondary students that will ignite, support and challenge toward student success and preparation for the next grade.

Registration for Summer Learning credit and children’s programs has been open for several weeks and a few programs and sections are now FULL. Registration for all summer programs and courses ends in June. If a course or program is full, students will be accepted on a waiting list.

Visit https://www.wcdsb.ca/summer-learning/ for full details.

** All Grade 9-12 summer credit courses and K-8 summer learning programs are subject to change and are based on enrolment and availability**

SPACE AVAILABLE

Gr. 9 Summer Credit course online

HIF1OE (Individual and Family Living) (for Grade 8 students entering Gr. 9 at WCDSB secondary school)

Gr. 10 – 12 Summer Credit courses online

Over 24 Grades 10-12 Summer Online Credit Courses to choose from — Summer Online Credit Course Offerings – 2024

Children’s Summer Learning

Summer Fun with Languages – JK – Gr. 8 – Tamil and Arabic (St. Francis Campus, 154 Gatewood., Kitchener)
Summer Boost – SK – Gr. 6 (Peter CES, St. Bernadette, Sir Edgar Bauer)
Summer Expedition for students currently in Grades 6, 7, 8 (St. Mary’s HS and St. Benedict CSS)
HeadStart – Afternoon sessions (Resurrection, St. David, St. Mary’s, St. Benedict and St. Vincent de Paul for Monsignor Doyle students)

Summer ESL

Registration Opens May 1st for current students and May 8 for new students

WAITING LISTS ONLY

Grade 9 Summer Credit In-person courses

TDJ1OI – Exploring Technology Design / Engineering
TFJ1OI – Exploring Hospitality and Tourism
TGJ1OI – Exploring Communication Technology
TXJ1OI – Exploring Hairstyling and Aesthetics

Children’s Summer Learning

Summer Fun with Languages – JK- Gr. 8 – Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Spanish, Tigrinya, Traditional Mandarin, Ukrainian
HeadStart – Morning sessions at all 5 locations

CUPE Labour Update Re: St. Louis Saturday Programs – Nov 5

Labour Negotiations – CUPE

Update

St. Louis Saturday Programs

Released: Nov 4, 2022

Dear St. Louis Saturday Students, Parents and Guardians and Community Partners,

All St. Louis Saturday classes WILL BE RUNNING, on Saturday, November 5, in-person, as per our usual schedule for currently registered students.

This includes:

Saturday Skills Builder at St. Mary’s High School and St. Benedict CSS
International and Indigenous Language Programs – Elementary at St. Louis – Kitchener Main and St. Francis Campuses, Resurrection CSS, St. John CES, and Holy Spirit CES
International Languages – Secondary Credit (Chinese) at Resurrection CSS

No new registrations to St. Louis Saturday programs will be accepted, until further notice.

For updates regarding the status of ANY St. Louis classes in the coming week, including Monday evening International and Indigenous Language Elementary and Secondary Language Credit classes, please check the St. Louis website DAILY https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca for the most up-to-date information. Or follow StLouisALC on Facebook / @StLouisWCDSB on Twitter.

You may also subscribe to St. Louis Newswire (found on the bottom of the St. Louis homepage). Or follow StLouisALC on Facebook / @StLouisWCDSB on Twitter.

For information about the status of Catholic Elementary & Catholic Secondary school operations, please visit https://www.wcdsb.ca

Quick Facts:

St. Louis supports approximately 2500 learners at one time (ages 6mths to over 70 years old) meeting the continuing education needs of over 12 000 students annually.
St. Louis is funded by various ministries (including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Ministry of Colleges and Universities; Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Canada; and Employment Ontario)

Year of the Tiger – 2022

On behalf of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the International and Indigenous Languages Program (IILP) at St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres and the Grand River Chinese Language school,

新年快乐

Xin nian kuai le

Happy New Year

Year of the Tiger

This year – the Year of the Tiger, runs from February 1st to the Lantern Festival on February 15th , 2022. The Tiger ranks third among the animals of the Chinese zodiac and is known as the king of all beasts in China. The zodiac sign Tiger is a symbol of strength, and bravery. During the Chinese New Year celebrations children could wear hats or shoes with a tiger image for good luck.

The St. Louis IILP Chinese language school, previously host to over 1500 people at magnificent Chinese New Year events, presents a virtual celebration again this year. Chinese language students showcase their learnings each year through music, dance, dramatic performances, traditional garments, as well as many exhibits of art and accolades for essay competitions. Students will continue to make their families proud, as they demonstrate their knowledge of the Chinese language and culture, as well as their strength, and courage for the year ahead.

Virtual events will be held this morning, Saturday, February 5^th and again on Monday evening, February 7^th . These events are not open to the public.

Families of the children attending the IILP Chinese language school wanted to extend warm new year’s greetings to all.

恭喜发财

Gongxi Facai

Be Prosperous

About

For information about Chinese, Traditional Mandarin and the many other languages offered FREE for children and young adults to learn on Saturday mornings, Monday or Wednesday evenings and for 4 weeks in July,

Visit: International and Indigenous Languages Program – Elementary or International Languages Credit Courses

WCDSB and St. Louis launch two Nigerian language programs

WCDSB and St. Louis launch two Nigerian language programs for Children Kindergarten to Grade 8

February 4, 2022 — The Waterloo Catholic District School Board and St. Louis Adult Learning & Continuing Education Centres are pleased to announce the start of two new International and Indigenous Language Program (IILP) schools this week. Of the thirteen languages currently being offered remotely to students Kindergarten to Grade 8, we now welcome Nigerian languages, Igbo (E-boo) and Yoruba (Yo-RU-ba) to the Saturday morning program complement.

Yoruba will begin this Saturday, February 5th.

Igbo will begin next Saturday, February 12th.

Interest and enrolment spread rapidly over the past 6 weeks to attract close to 75 children from the Igbo and Yoruba language communities into the program. Although these language schools’ new beginnings are imminent, students interested in these two languages are welcomed to enrol at any time. Learning will begin remotely from home. When Saturday morning programs can resume to in-person learning safely, classes will be moved to our new St. Francis Campus (Queens Blvd and Westmount area).

What will they learn?

For 43 years, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board has assembled numerous language communities together to provide a robust International and Indigenous Languages Program (IILP) for both Elementary and Secondary learners. Various cultural communities within Waterloo Region have offered language learning for their children, JK to Grade 8. Learning language among children ones own age is very different. By using music, games, storytelling, interactive and educational activities as well as increased use of technology, students learn the value of using another language.

This Ministry of Education mandated funding is available to school boards who then accommodate language learning when approached by cultural communities. To start a language school, a minimum of 23 learners (JK to Grade 8) is required. Regardless of which publicly funded school children attend during the day, all students are welcome to learn any of the languages offered after school, on weekends or in summer. Note: prior knowledge of the language is not necessary.

How to Register?

Program details about these and other Saturday morning programs may be found at https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca/programsandcourses/il/elementary/ . Registration is online.

Classes are currently offered in a learn-at-home format led by a qualified instructor hired by WCDSB, until such time as we are permitted to return to a physical classroom.

Quotes:

“We are excited to welcome these two Nigerian language communities to the International Languages – Elementary Program and add them to the St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education legacy in Waterloo Region. Some language schools in the Region have been in existence for over 127 years, like the Sir Casimir Gzowski Polish School, and 45 years with the local Portuguese community.”

“We are enormously proud when we help a cultural community in their efforts to preserve language and culture. WCDSB and St. Louis became ambassadors for the first Rohingya language school in the world in 2012. That legacy has been recognized and can now continue for years to come. By inviting new language communities like Igbo and Yoruba to St. Louis / WCDSB, we are demonstrating a commitment to the value of diversity, inclusion and quality education.”

~~ Susan ElNagar, Program Manager, International Languages

“When a child hears their language spoken, especially while out in the public, they instantly feel a sense of community ~ a sense of belonging. Language is an integral part of cultural identity and a shared connection to roots brings communities together.”

~~Grace Ogor, Igbo Community member

“Youth growing up in an environment with little cultural outlets need intentional opportunities like this language school to foster usage and continuity of their mother tongue. While entertainment and social media give a general appreciation for the language that otherwise may not be spoken in daily life, learning with their peers would give an avenue for personal connections. The gift of learning their mother tongue would not only keep the language alive, but also gives them the confidence to stay rooted in culture – to explore other creative expressions, beyond our imagination.”

~~Aramide Taiwo, Yoruba Community member

Quick Facts:

History of St. Louis International Languages Program:

History of International Languages in Ontario is 44 years old in 2021.
Prior to 1977, heritage language schools were delivered by various cultural and linguistic communities.
In July 1977, Ministry of Education introduces Heritage Language Program to be offered through Continuing Education in or through School Boards.
By July 1989, Heritage Language programs become MANDATED and are funded through the Ministry of Education.
In 1993, the program name changed from Heritage to International Languages and then International and Indigenous Language Programs
To date, St. Louis International and Indigenous Language Program has over 1300 children participating in language learning during the 2021-2022 school year. Summer Programming usually sees another 400 children.

About St. Louis:

Established in 1986, the St. Louis Adult Learning & Continuing Education Centres have been a proud part of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board for 35 years, serving more than 260,000 adults, youth and children.
St. Louis focuses on supporting adults and youth to complete their OSSD, upgrade for post-secondary, or learn an employable skill; help newcomers to learn or improve English; and offers many after-school, weekend and summer learning options for children.
Over the last 15-20 years, more than 2,800 students have graduated from St. Louis’ award-winning, accredited certificate, apprenticeship and licensing ‘school-to-work’ programs (Culinary, Hairstyling and Personal Support Worker).

Nigerians in the Region of Waterloo

Waterloo Catholic District School Board

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 185-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

International Languages Elementary Program 14th annual PD Day

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s International Languages – Elementary Program, hosted by St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education, has made a solemn commitment to the Professional Development of over 100 language instructors. By dedicating one day each year, all language instructors will assemble to learn and share best practices.

This Saturday morning, November 17^th, will mark the 14^th consecutive year that all language school teachers come together to share the common elements of effective language learning. By devoting this time for professional development, there will be NO language classes offered to students this Saturday, at any of the five locations. (Note: Monday and Wednesday evening classes are still scheduled for next week.)

Each week, WCDSB International Language (IL) teachers provide two and a half hours of language instruction to over 2000 learners across the Region. International Language instructors bring a wealth of teaching experience, credentials and dedication to the cultural and language experience that children (JK to Grade 8) have enjoyed for generations. For a program of this magnitude to thrive, parents, students and language instructors, alike, need to share the importance of consistent classroom management, research-based teaching, meaningful engagement with students and relevance of learning multiple languages (even outside of a student’s mother tongue).

For over 38 years, St. Louis has been the hub for over 19 language school collectives. Some well-established schools, such as the 124-year Polish and 42-year Portuguese schools became part of the core language schools, yet even recently introduced Chin, Rohingya or the 1 ½ year old Arabic language schools are new reflections of our diverse community. The intention behind the umbrella name “International Languages Program” is to focus on the togetherness versus the separateness of culture and language learning.

This year’s IL professional development workshop motto emphasizes this togetherness when modelling effective teaching strategies.

Motto:

In the International Languages- Elementary Program, ALL language schools come first. It is important for our team to see the universal values the IL Program carries to all our students:

inclusion
equity
accountability

We would be disloyal to these values if we saw each of the language schools as ‘first among others’. We can not work better, if we don’t work together.

If you are a parent or student of the International Languages Elementary program, take this Saturday to reflect on what you have learned so far and share with your teacher via email, on social media or in person next week. By doing so, you are validating their efforts.

If you know someone who would be interested in having their child learn language, please share: https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca/programsandcourses/il/elementary/