Local school board now has Belgian connection

NEWS RELEASE

CONSEIL SCOLAIRE CATHOLIQUE DU NOUVEL-ONTARIO

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On February 20, the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario participated in the signing agreement in Spa, Belgium, between the eight Ontario French language Catholic school boards and four Belgian Diocesan educational institutions. This important partnership seeks to develop a set of educational activities and to facilitate the sharing of experience, knowledge, teaching and learning methods, and pedagogical materials.

“The CSCNO is pleased to build relationships that will strengthen French language Catholic in Ontario and in Belgium,” stated Mrs.Lyse-Anne Papineau, CSCNO Director of Education. “Our students, staff and school communities will benefit from the partnership opportunities that will favour the sharing of expertise and contribute to the internationalization of CSCNO schools.”

“This partnership confirms the educational leadership of Ontario French language Catholic school boards. It also recognizes the importance of French as a language of communications, in economic, educational, scientific and cultural information exchange. All of the participating institutions are motivated by the desire to strengthen links among Catholic educational communities and cooperate in actions taken by each partner institution. By building ties with Belgian Catholic educational partners will encourage all parties to promote shared Catholic values,” explained CSCNO President André Bidal.

The partnership, which is directed towards French language Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Ontario, has the following concrete goals:

• support French language Catholic learning and teaching and facilitate understanding of the partners’ respective cultures;
• promote improved knowledge and understanding of the partners’ respective systems of education;
• provide staff at Ontario French language Catholic school boards and Belgian educational institutions with opportunities to enrich their professional development;
• foster the sharing of expertise, consulting support and management, as well as curriculum and service delivery to students; and
• provide students with opportunities for study abroad as international students

The partnership will encourage teachers to take part in existing international mobility programs or to develop same-position exchange arrangements. Teachers will also be able to participate in training activities and share their thoughts on topics related to pedagogy, academic results and innovative practices. In addition, as much as possible, the use of new technologies such as Internet sharing and videoconferencing between the two countries will be given preference.

Moreover, the partnership will encourage students from participating Ontario and Belgian French language Catholic institutions to benefit from stays. These educational visits will encourage a better mastery of the official languages of each country, enable students to broaden their experience and their professional and intercultural skills and acquire a better understanding of the world around them.

In summary, the agreement will widen the horizons of French-language education while improving its quality.

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