SD64 Gulf Islands

Southern Gulf Islands Schools

french immersion

Independent Directed Studies Presentations

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Grade 11 French Immersion students at GISS presented their Independent Directed Studies projects to SIMS French Immersion students, parents and francophone community members.

Below is a letter from a parent who was in attendance, followed by a response from a community member:

Parent letter:

Bonsoir, I just wanted to say what a fantastic job your students did on their projects today. The kids I talked to all knew their subjects in great depth and some even took their research and applied it. Many had mentoring from community or family members, and all of them provided a window into what can be accomplished for the middle school students who are preparing to enter high school. When I got home there was a handwritten letter in the mail from my niece in Vancouver who is in grade 4. She told me her favourite part about school this year was the passion project that she got to do about ocean animals. These types of self-directed projects are so valuable for kids of all ages and they learn so much from them. I know Thomas is already looking forward to what he might do in grade 11. Thank you for encouraging the kids to explore and for guiding them through the process. 

Community member:

I was so impressed by the projects I saw this morning. I only had time to see 7 in real depth- Zama’s of course, Keila’s, the project of making the bow and arrow, the fashion and the dietary projects. the hydrogenated fats and the cloak-making project. Everyone was able to explain with clarity and enthusiasm and the results – wow! 


One interesting thing I noticed was that for the dietary, fashion, bow and arrow and cloak-making projects students reported that they had had some help from a parent or grandparent and in 3 of those they commented on how this was a new and special relationship..! (Of course I always have an ear for the intergenerational connections!!)


I will be seeing Zama again at Writers’ Group after school and I hope that we can plant the seed for an Independent Study next year. I can see how she could explore all sorts of exciting scientific theories through her creative writing of science fiction…

Photos above: Media Arts student Aspen Erlandsson

Photo: Media Arts student Jamie Frith

Learning Story: Louise Doucet, French Immersion, Gulf Islands Secondary School

GISS Students Offer Advice to BC Legislators

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In October the grade 10 social studies class of Louise Doucet from the Gulf Islands Secondary School visited the Legislature.

In a statement to the House on November 29th, MLA Adam Olsen reports out to Members of the Legislature excerpts of advice offered by Gulf Islands students to his colleagues in the Legislature.

Learning Experiences in GISS French Immersion

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Over 140 Socials 9 and 10 students from GISS viewed and assessed a primary source exhibit called ‘The Uprooting’. The collection was assembled last year for the 75th Anniversary of the Japanese Internment and provides a pictorial timeline of Japanese culture and life on the west coast with an emphasis on Salt Spring Island families. We would like to thank the Japanese Historical Society as well as Salt Spring Archives for lending these sources to us for the day. Students wore white gloves, as real historians would when handling artifacts, and truly engaged with this important story.

Math Playground
Students from GISS Grade 9 Mathématiques class welcomed their French Immersion buddies from SIMS for a morning of engaged Math playground.

MLA Letters
After attending and viewing Question Period at the Victoria Legislature, Grade 10 Socials students wrote to their local MLA to comment on the oppositional and non-productive nature of the legislative session. They also suggested various methods through which members of the legislature could improve their communication and collaboration skills during these important sessions.

Story and Photos: Louise Doucet