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Calgary French & International School

Elementary

Individualized Learning and Strong Academics

At CFIS, we teach students, not subjects. Our teaching team cares about your child’s academic and emotional success. 

All Elementary subjects at CFIS are taught in a French-language immersion environment, and students function fully in French. The pedagogical approaches, intensity and exposure to French, and time in the program to graduation year leads students to be fluent and proficient in French. In addition to offering the same English Language Arts program as all other schools in Alberta, our students start Spanish Language Arts in grade 4. CFIS graduates have impressive abilities in all three languages, as demonstrated by their internationally-recognized certifications. To attend Elementary at CFIS, students must be currently attending a French immersion or francophone school, or be native French-language speakers.

Balancing student life and wellness, we:

  • Recognize students' need for a diverse and well-balanced program.

  • Allows students the opportunity to develop physically through cooperation, teamwork and the opportunity to play in physical education.

  • Focus on creativity,  critical thinking and taking risks and allow each student to be an artist through visual arts.

  • Foster musicality through rhythm, voice, and introduction to and playing of instruments.

  • Creating a sense of belonging, the ability to play together, and mastery of an instrument through the band program.

  • Develop a third language, Spanish, through cultural connections and learning language through dance, poem, play, and crafting.

  • Supporting students in leading philanthropic initiatives for their school and community.

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) is an exciting approach to student learning that encourages children to develop their critical thinking through inspired curiosity and wonder. The PYP is an authentic, inquiry-based learning and teaching programme that is engaging, challenging, and relevant. It promotes students’ learning by inquiry and reflecting on their own learning. PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, and skills to make a difference in their own lives and their communities, and beyond.

Calgary French & International School is a candidate school for the Primary Years Programme*. CFIS is pursuing authorization as an IB World School to be part of a network of schools that share a common philosophy — a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that CFIS believes is important for our students. *Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.

Our Elementary Division Education:

  • Provides each student with individualized attention.

  • Balanced approaches to teaching and learning.

  • Sets appropriate learning targets for each student and uses a small group and individualized approach.

  • Uses a team approach to support each student’s transition from grade to grade.

  • Works collaboratively with parents to ensure that each student thrives.

  • Enriches curriculum through the infusion of UNESCO themes and values.

  • Provides students with opportunities to connect with other students both locally and internationally.