Calgary French and International School

Calgary French & International School
Address
Map
700 77 Street S.W.

Calgary, Alberta
,
T3H 5R1

Canada
Coordinates51°04′01″N 114°11′56″W / 51.067°N 114.199°W / 51.067; -114.199
Information
School typePrivate Elementary and Junior high/High school
Founded1969
Head of SchoolNicole Camirand
GradespreK-12
LanguageEnglish, French immersion and Spanish
CampusSuburban
AreaWest Calgary
HousesThor, Baldur, Tyr and Heimdall
Colour(s)   Red and navy
Team nameVikings
Communities servedCougar Ridge
Public transit accessCalgary Transit Route 453
Websitewww.cfis.com

Calgary French & International School (CFIS) is a private French language immersion and International Baccalaureate[1] school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. All subjects are taught in French, except English and Spanish.[2]

According to the Fraser Institute Report Card on Alberta's Secondary and Elementary Schools 2019, CFIS achieved a top ranking of schools in Alberta.[3][4][5][6] It is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Associated School,[2][7][8] as well as Round Square affiliated,[9] and it is accredited by the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools.[10] However, The Fraser Institute Report Card fails to mention the ongoing criticism levelled at the school from previous students and families who have attended the school, of favouritism and elitism as well as ineffective policies when dealing with bullying within the school.

The $20 million 120,000 sq ft (11,000 m2) school facility was built in two phases, in 2003 and 2005.[11] The two-story school facility includes 45 classrooms, two library/resource areas, two science labs, dedicated music rooms, dedicated art studios, an outdoor classroom,2 dedicated cafeterias, double-court regulation gyms, a junior-sized baseball diamond, a running track and soccer pitch, and two theatre-style classrooms, as well as a stage also acting as a gym for early childhood education.[12]

History

The Calgary French School (the predecessor to the Calgary French and International School) was founded after the passing of the Official Languages Act in September 1969. Many mothers had practiced French on their own, and sought to establish an educational institution that could teach young in an all-French environment, called French immersion.[11]

Calgary French School began in church basements, and became a part of the Sacred Heart School in 1974. Throughout this time there was consistent growth in both student numbers and scholarly reputation. Over time, the community desired a space to call home. The CFIS Community is a figment of their imagination. In late 1999, the shared space was reclaimed by its owners, so the school sought its own building. A campaign began to raise funds to purchase land and to construct a new site for the growing school.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Calgary French and International School". International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Calgary French & International School - Calgary Private Day School". www.ourkids.net. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Calgary French & International School Calgary Alberta Academic school ranking". alberta.compareschoolrankings.org. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Two Calgary schools get top marks in Alberta school rankings - 660 NEWS". www.660citynews.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Calgary Schools Rate High in Provincial Rankings". Calgary Herald. 15 June 2019. pp. B1. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Ranking Alberta's high schools". Calgary Herald. 15 June 2019. pp. B3. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Smaller class sizes bring variety of benefits". Calgary Herald. 7 November 2018. pp. D2. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Challenging programs prep students". Calgary Herald. 27 February 2014. p. 56. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Embracing global ideals". Calgary Herald. 8 November 2017. p. 44. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  10. ^ "CAIS Canadian Accredited Independent Schools - Calgary French and International School". www.cais.ca. 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Our Story | Calgary French & International School". cfis.com. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  12. ^ "CFIS Prospectus" (PDF). Retrieved 11 July 2020.