Yellowknife (Dec 12/03) - Parents struggling to help children with their French immersion homework are being thrown a lifeline, as a once-popular organization has been resurrected.

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) has a history in the public school system as an on again, off again group.

Yellowknife Catholic schools operate a successful CPF chapter in the city.

Last spring, Guy Paradis decided to bring the defunct organization back to the public district and reform CPF with a core group of five parent volunteers.

This time it looks like it might stick, Paradis said, as more than 50 parents have already joined.

They've signed up for pottery nights and world wide web workshops to learn a bit more about the French language.

"The main idea is to provide occasions for parents and students to come together to share the French language," said Paradis, the supervisor of French culture and languages with the public school district.

Many parents don't speak the language and are at a loss when it comes to helping their French immersion children.

Paradis hopes parents and students learn more about the French culture during events as well.

Good turnout

CPF held a French web workshop at William McDonald school on Dec. 4.

Nearly 20 parents and kids signed up to learn to navigate the Internet in French.

Cameron McGurk brought his son and daughter to the event in an attempt to relearn the language he used to speak.

"I'm re-learning my French again," he said.

His son Fraser, 7, will be enroled in an immersion program once he's old enough. McGurk's daughter Caitlin, 9, is already studying French at J.H. Sissons school.

Caitlin was happy to spend the night learning about her second langauge.

"It's fun because I really want to learn a lot more French," she said.