French school opens in Kennebecasis Valley

New Brunswick students are preparing for a return toclasses in two weeks, but for some children in southern New Brunswick, the new school year is bringing a new school.

The new satellite French school will open in the Kennebecasis Valley in September, allowing the children to be educated in their community even though the kindergarten and Grade 1 students will officially be part of Saint John's cole Samuel de Champlain.

There are high hopes in the community that the satellite school will turn into a full-fledged school in a few years.

Michelle Robichaud is one of the parents who led the push to bring a French school to the valley.

Robichaud said it is the realization of a dream that she will be able to walk her twin daughters to school instead of sending them on a long bus ride into the city.

"They will have that much more time [at home],to not be so tired and do their homework quietly. So it's not going to be the 'Hurry up, get your homework done, we've got to have [a] bath,' " she said.

"Where they want to go out and play with their friends, they might actually be able to now."

Robichaud and others hope another grade will be added each year until a complete new school can be built.

Permanent school planned for 2012

Area students looking for a French education are now sent on buses to Saint John.That can mean as much as a90-minute commute each way for some students.

Anne-Marie Leblanc, the District 1 superintendentwho isresponsible for francophone schools across southern New Brunswick, said the district has already put in a request for the school in the valley.

"We're anticipating the school will be open in 2012. That's what we're asking government and it is our third priority," she said.

The top priority, LeBlanc said, is a new school in Moncton.

LeBlanc said the Kennebecasis Valleyschool could extend as far as Grade 8.

It is estimated there are more than 150 students from the Kennebecasis region busing to Saint John for kindergarten to Grade 5.

Along with the new satellite school, a francophone after-school program and daycare centrewill open its doors in the Kennebecasis Valley in two weeks.

After-school centre opening

ARC-F, the local French community association, will run the centre in tandem with the new French satellite school.

Michel Cote, the executive director of ARC-F, said the after-school program is ideal for valley children taking French immersion.

"After 2 or 3 p.m., there's no more French immersion. So if they can come to our after-school program, they will be immersed in French for another two or three hours," Cote said.

"And if you add all that time throughout the year, it is a considerable amount of time to [speak]French and not just the language, they will have exposure to French culture as well."