Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Aug 22/05) - The new French-language school in Hay River will be ready to welcome students later this month.

Gerard Lavigne, the superintendent of the Commission Scolaire in Yellowknife, says construction is substantially complete.

The new school is expected to welcome staff on Aug. 23, and about 65 students in kindergarten to Grade 8 on Aug. 30.

"Everybody has been working very co-operatively and very hard to get it done on time," he says.

An official opening of the $2.9-million school, which is on budget, is expected in early November.

Hay River's Gerry Goudreau, vice-chair of the Commission Scolaire, says the opening of the new Ecole Boreale will be an historic step for the community's francophones.

Ecole Boreale began in one classroom of another Hay River school in 1998 and then moved into portable classrooms.

Goudreau says the six-classroom school has turned out really well.

Its large central area is particularly impressive, he says. "I see all kinds of activities in there, both during and after school."

Six-year-old student Cordell Gagnier, who helped Goudreau turn the sod to launch construction last September, sees a different highlight.

"The lockers," Cordell says. "I like the ones that open and shut."

Last year in the portable classrooms, students only had pegs on the wall on which to hang their coats.

Goudreau hopes phase two of the school - a gym and a senior high wing - will be added in four or five years.