New French school in Clare to welcome students Sept. 4

École Baie Sainte-Marie principal Monique Tufts and Clare MLA Ryan Robichaud take a look around a new classroom in the new school prior to its Sept. 4 opening. PHOTO BY PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA Acadian and francophone students in Clare will begin the school year in a new school when École Baie Sainte-Marie opens its doors Sept. 4. The new Conseil scolaire acadien provincial school in Saulnierville will serve students from pre-primary to Grade 6. It brings together students, families, and staff from École Joseph-Dugas and École Stella-Maris. “This is an exciting new chapter for French-language education in the Clare region,” said Ryan Robicheau, MLA for Clare. Robicheau said the new school will bring the community together while supporting the future of French-language education in the region. “Generations of students have learned at Joseph-Dugas, Stella-Maris, Saint Albert, and Jean-Marie Gay and now we have a new school where the next generation will learn, build friendships, and celebrate their Acadian identity and culture,” he said. École Baie Sainte-Marie is a new pre-primary to Grade 6 school in Saulnierville. PHOTO BY PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA The new facility also includes a child-care centre and community centre, which were made possible through federal funding. Diane Racette, president of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, called the opening an important moment for the school board and the families it serves. “A modern school designed to meet the needs of today’s learners creates new opportunities for students to thrive in French, both academically and personally,” Racette said. A classroom at the new École Baie Sainte-Marie in Saulnierville. PHOTO BY PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA The new consolidated school was announced in 2018. Read More Logo unveiled for new CSAP school in Clare that is set to open in September Prepping for school start in southwestern N.S., new CSAP school opening in Clare École Stella-Maris was built in Meteghan in 1965, while École Joseph-Dugas was built in Church Point in 1974. The new school was built on the former École Jean-Marie Gay site in Saulnierville. École Jean-Marie Gay and École Saint Albert in Rivière aux Saumons closed several years ago. While the school year for most Nova Scotia students begins Sept. 3, staff at École Baie Sainte-Marie were given an additional day to set up classrooms and become familiar with the new facility. An official opening event is expected to be held at the school…