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Introduction

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This little website provides photos and stories from the setup and running of La Decouverte bilingual programme in Christchurch, from the early setup right up to the present day. I'm always happy to add further photos and details. Apologies in advance for any errors and/or omissions. Current 2023 Staff Associated Directly with La Decouverte Approximate Class Size There has been steady growth in the class numbers since we started out in 2017 at Aotawhiti School before moving to Tuia Burnside Primary School in 2019. 2017: 6 2018: 12 2019: 26 2020: 30 2021: 32 2022: 40 2023: 50 School Zone The current office zone entry requirements for the school can be found as published on the Ministry of Education website here:  https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3305&district=60&region=13 BURNSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL (#3305) Enrolment Scheme Description Amendment Commences 24 April 2023 Home Zone All students who live within the home zone described below shall
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2024

This year the class moved into the main learning spaces in the main teaching block, alongside Piwakawaka and Pukeko. The lack of distinct, separated classrooms has resulted in some work around with Weka 1-2 based in the resource room, while Weka 3-6 are together in a shared space with another English class. While not 100% ideal there were limited options with the whole school roll being well over 300.
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2023

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The new school completed construction and the class reached the limit of fifty children across three classes. If you have the Weka 1 photo I would love to get a copy as I only have the Weka 2 and Weka 3 photos with our kids in them. Weka 1 Weka 2 Weka 3 In the middle of the year, we farewelled three important people in the school. Matt Bateman retired after 18 years as the principal of the school. Jean Critron took up another role at another school. Jean was a teacher of LD since our second year of operation in 2018. Christelle returned to France, after four wonderful years of being a teacher with Weka. At mid-year the number of children in each year group was broken down like this: Year 0/1 = 13 Year 2 = 13 Year 3 = 6 Year 4 = 9 Year 5 = 6 Year 6 = 5 Total = 52
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2022

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For the first time the number of children in La Decouverte justified the opening of two classes, so creating a senior and junior classroom setup. Forty children are shown in these photos from the beginning of the school year. We finished nearly up to the agreed special programme cap of fifty children. The senior class of La Decouverte in 2022. The junior class of 2022.
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2021

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The class of 2021 near the beginning of the year included 26 children and finished the year with over 30 from memory. The second person to 'graduate' from the class was Zara Wesley, having been in the class since it first started. The French community came together for a 'school camp' at Woodend Christian Camp. This was all organised by Sue Pagoet. We also had a great article published in The Press promoting the class: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/124516650/allez-les-bleus-the-south-islands-only-officially-recognised-frenchenglish-bilingual-school-where-students-are-fluent-by-year-6
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2020

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The class continued to grow well with new kids always joining the class during the year. This class photo shows twenty children in total near the beginning of the year.  At the end of the year our first 'graduate' student was Shae, who had been in the class since the beginning.
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2019

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We found a new home for La Decouverte at Burnside Primary School, with the support of Matt Bateman the principal. Parents photo on the deck of the new classroom home for La Decouverte at Burnside Primary School. This was on a working day to clear the classroom and sort out some chairs and tables for the kids.
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2018

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Second year at Discovery School, and the only photo I can find is of Cairo checking out the classroom at the end of the year when we were packing up I think. We'd love to have a photo of the class if anyone can help at all with this. At the end of the year Discovery School decided there was no room for us in the new building being built in town, and so a frantic search was on for a new home. Some of the kids from the class helped check out the playground and sandpit of our new home, Burnside Primary School.
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2017

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The class opened at the beginning of the 2017 school year with six children from around Christchurch. We were hosted by Discovery School at their temporary site in Halswell. First Le Decouverte class: Front Row: Alba, Elise, Neema, Louka, Shae Middle Row: Teacher stagiaire Aurelia, Zara. Teacher Marie-Eve Back Row: Cairo, Apolline, Theodore  .
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2016

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The beginning of the Christchurch French bilingual class begins in Auckland really, where the first bilingual class was started in 1995 at Richmond Road School. Sonia Shaker came up with the vision of starting a class in Christchurch in the same way and began gathering a group of keen parents who would provide the backbone of a committee to advance the idea. The first school to host the class was Discovery School at its temporary site in Halswell (its original buildings being damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010). We gathered together to paint the classroom ready for the start of the new class at the beginning of the 2017 school year. Parents meet in the staff room of Discovery School to plan the setting up of the new school classroom.
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