Inuvik - The Grade 5/6 French immersion class at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school is fundraising for a trip to Montreal in spring 2008.

The group of students has been working hard, with efforts at the recycling depot, bake sales and donations.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie school students Raven Firth and Ashley Gully have been fundraising for their French immersion class to travel to Montreal next year. The class will be working hard over the next few months to raise the rest of the money needed. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The students are being led by principal Janette Vlanich, teacher Hughes Latour and a few parents.

Vlanich said the efforts have been increasing lately.

"The group wants to leave in May of 2008," she said.

"So far, it looks like the trip will cost near $50,000."

There are 15 students and escorts that plan to make the long flight.

To prepare for the trip, the class in Inuvik has been writing back and forth with a class in Montreal.

"The students have been in contact with a group they will meet when they arrive in Quebec," said Vlanich.

The principal explained that plane tickets have been tentatively booked and deposits have come in from the parents.

"Each student required a $200 deposit, to hold their place on the trip," she said.

The school is looking to the francophone organization for some additional funding as well.

"The school has money for cultural events like this through ECE," said Vlanich.

She said there are two students who raised more than $4,000 on their own.

"They got the money with donations and through recycling bottles," she said.

All of the students have been in the French immersion program since kindergarten.

The Legion has stepped up to help organize a fundraising event.

Vlanich said that a Valentine's dinner and dance will be held at the Legion in February.

"The Legion has donated the space and food for the event," she said.

The school is also looking at getting a lottery licence for future events.

Raven Firth and Ashley Gully are the two students who raked in the $4,000.

Firth said she learned about the trip last year, when it was being planned by the former teacher.

Recycling got the girls nearly half of the money raised.

Gully said it took a lot of walking around and collecting from friends and family.

"We asked people and we also collected at our houses," said Gully.

"It took a few months to get it all together."

Firth said she is excited to meet with the pen pals they started communicating with.

"We're sending letters through the mail to them," she said.

The class is planning on sending the letters out shortly, once they are all collected from within the school.