branston

Hi I wonder if anyone could tell me a little about Mission BC. We are thinking of moving from Alberta in the spring, we really liked chilliwack but it has no early french immersion schools - hence Mission, we feel Abbortsford is a little to big as we are looking for semi rural.
Any info would be great - many thanks

Danny B

Drugs and Hells Angels, that's all I hear of the place.

Aviator

The people I know in Mission are trying to leave. Chilliwack is much nicer. If you want to school in Mission, there are lots of rural communities, Matsqui, Clayburn, North Abbotsford. Mission has some nice rural locations further out, such as Miracle Valley, Silverdale, Whonock, however if you want amenities or shopping Mission does not have it. Not sure what the schools are like. You may want to visit before deciding.

branston

Many thanks - we are hoping to go this weekend for a look. We really liked chilliwack, shame about the schools. Thanks again we will check out the rural communities.

JonboyE

Post #13 on this thread is by a current resident of Mission, and I think he is spot on.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hlight=mission

branston

Many thanks for that - really appreciate it

Aviator

There are two French immersion schools in Chilliwack, Strathcona and Sardis Elementary. Strathcona is on the North side of the freeway, on Fairfield Island, nice area, in Chilliwack proper. Sardis is on the south side of the freeway.

branston

Many thanks Aviator, chilliwack does indeed have two french immersion schools but these are late french immersion which doesnt start until grade 6 - we need early french immersion as my son is in grade 3, but many thanks for the info

Aviator

Watson do from grade 4, that is the earliest in Chilliwack.
http://www.sd33.bc.ca/pages/onramp/31

branston

Many thanks, I have just spoken to them, they introduce french into the curriculum at grade 4 but it isn't french immersion.
French immersion is where the student is taught purely in french, english is introduced in grade 3 and above. The difficulty is that now he would behind in english ( it usually evens itself out by grade 5/6) so we really need to follow through in french immersion - and he really enjoys it.
Many thanks for your help though, I really appreciate it

Aviator

Enjoy your trip to Chilliwack, probably going be down the the airport partaking of the excellent pie at the cafe this weekend.

lousid

Why, thank you very much, old boy. I just re-read my post and I agree with myself wholeheartedly.

As for the OP's question about schooling, my grade 2er is currently enrolled in one of the three full French Immersion elementary schools here. There's Christine Morrison, Ecole Mission Central (which my son attends) and Ecole de Deux Rives, which is only accessible if you are French speakers yourself - it's got exclusivity built in. We opted for the French because it will eventually open up a world of future possibilities and his English won;t be compromised because we are both English speakers (and teachers) and he's a confident reader per se.

I'm in a rush so I'll leave it there, but feel free to PM for more info, should you want to ask any more personal questions.

Cheers all.