Inflation has finally taken a toll on our Extended French PTO budget. To pay for ALL our increased program expenses, dues need to be increased to $125/student.
Collecting in the spring allows us to set our budget to determine if we need any additional fundraising. To secure our French interns and enrichment opportunities, we are requesting $125 for each Extended French student (6 – 12 grade). As a parent you are wondering, what do I get for my $125?
Here are just a few of the highlights:
Classroom French Interns – Edina High School and Valley View are scheduled to have three interns each for a total of SIX for 2023/2024 school year. Although we don’t have final costs, it will be at over $8,000/French intern, which is covered 100% by parent dues. The school district does NOT cover any French intern expenses.
No Carnival - NO more volunteer Carnival shifts!!! Unless you want to volunteer your time to help Normandale!
No Intern Gifts - NO extra French intern holiday and end-of-the-year gifts. The high school and Valley View interns receive holiday and end-of-the-year gifts funded by the Extended French PTO.
Celebrations - End of the year celebrations for French interns and teachers. No need to sign-up to bring a dish to pass.
French Intern Experiences – The Extended French interns participate and enjoy American experiences like the holiday themed dinners, sporting, and cultural events.
French Enrichment – French enrichment opportunities both inside and outside the classroom for your child, including French speakers, French proficiency testing (paid for by the Extended French PTO, not Edina Public Schools), and a robust digital French library.
New for 2023/24
VV & EHS Crepe Days – A test pilot was conducted to offer crepe days during the day in Valley View and Edina High School classrooms. Many students have activities or transportation issues making it difficult for all students to participate. It was so well received, VV and EHS teachers requested we add it to our annual budget.
6th Grade Testing – Just like the 8th grade STAMP testing, it is our goal to assist with the 6th grade testing as well. Extended PTO paid for it this year; it was very well received by VV staff. Our goal is continuing to pay for the testing as the district does not have funds to support it.
Thank you for paying your $125/Extended French student so we can continue to maintain and expand our amazing program!!!
We ask that you pay your 2023-24 dues as soon as possible to help us accurately plan for the 2023-24 school year. Summer is coming but your Extended French PTO is hard at work!
If you are interested in becoming more involved with the Extended French Booster Club (Grades 6 – 12), please email Tracy Schaefer, extendedfrenchpto@gmail.com, for more details.
Valley View Middle School has received LabelFrancÉducation, a quality seal granted by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to schools that offer students enhanced instruction in the French language while also teaching other subjects in French.
Valley View offers Extended French, a continuation of the French Immersion program at Normandale Elementary. Students in the program receive language arts and social studies instruction in French, allowing students to improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking in French while covering the curriculum standards at each grade level.
587 schools from all over the world have received LabelFrancÉducation. The only other school in Minnesota to receive this seal is Normandale Elementary.
Launched in 2012, LabelFrancÉducation is granted by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on the advice of an inter-ministerial advisory committee composed of representatives from the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), the French institute (IF) and Mission Laïque Française, a non-profit organization.