Explosion of registrations in reception classes in Greater Montreal

The largest school service center in Quebec is used to welcoming newcomers throughout the school year, but for the past two years, the pandemic had somewhat slowed down the flow of registrations.

As soon as there is a recovery at Roxham Road, we feel it a few days, even a few weeks later. Of the 210 children we received in March, a third of them came from four countries: Mexico, Haiti, Colombia and Brazilexplains the director of the school organization department of the CSSDMMontreal School Service CenterMatthew Desjardins.

The report by Anne-Louise Despatie

In all, there have been over 750 new CSSDM registrations since the start of 2022.

The number of new allophone students in Montérégie is also increasing. The Center de services scolaire Marie-Victorin has reception classes in several schools in Longueuil and Brossard. 2019 was a record year. Since the reopening of Roxham Road, it feels like we’re picking up where we left off before the pandemicnotes Marie-Hélène Mathieu, intercultural mediator.

The Center de services scolaire Marie-Victorin has set up a clothing depot for families who have fled their country. This is often one of the many needs of new students.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Anne-Louise Despatie

The staff of the reception service observes a greater fragility of the families whose members have refugee status. The pandemic has imposed detours and stops.

With the pandemic, they are doubly vulnerable by the fact that they have been out of school for several months. Like many refugees, they have not had time to prepare their migratory journey. Often they didn’t choose the country either. When they get here they don’t expect such a cold winterobserves Chantale Boutet, assistant director of educational services at the CSSMVMarie-Victorin School Service Center.

Marie-Hélène Mathieu, intercultural mediator, and Chantale Boutet, assistant director of educational services at the Center de services scolaire Marie-Victorin

Photo: Radio-Canada / Anne-Louise Despatie

With a growing number of pupils with an immigrant background, the CSSMVMarie-Victorin School Service Center wanted to refine its reception network. Depending on the age of the children, a hybrid approach makes it possible to welcome more children directly into regular classes, especially at the beginning of elementary school.

Learning a second language, francization is much more favored by being in a regular class, explains Mari-Hélène Mathieu. Older children often need more time to learn French before joining a regular class.

For decades, reception classes have enabled thousands of students to learn French. For those who spend a year or two in a reception class, for our students who arrive in primary school, it’s fascinating how quickly they learn. And that’s our role with Law 101, it’s a duty that we accomplish every yearproudly says Réginald Fleury, educational advisor at the Center de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île.

In this center in the northeast of the island of Montreal, the influx of refugees is also increasing.

Valuable expertise

Like the entire school network, the reception classes have also borne the brunt of the scarcity of labour. During the pandemic, teachers have been called upon to lend a hand in other classes.

However, their expertise is invaluable, according to teacher Isabelle Bujold, who believes that it should not be lost. She hopes teachers who left reception classes for regular classes will come back.

Like the other students who join the reception classes, Rabine, whose family immigrated from the Ivory Coast, must take an exam to assess his level of knowledge in French.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Anne-Louise Despatie

Isabelle Bujold is in her 13th year of teaching in the reception class. Among those who have walked the benches of her class, she notably includes Syrians, Afghans and Haitians who lived through the 2010 earthquake.

We had students who arrived via Roxham Road, who crossed America on foot, who left Brazil. Students who have lost family members along the waygives the example of the teacher at Anjou secondary school.

We have some experience with students who have experienced traumashe adds.

In mid-April, she received a first Ukrainian student in her class.