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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Enrolment numbers are up at Ecole Allain St. Cyr, a trend principal Yvonne Careen says she expects will continue.

She said since 2009 enrolment has grown to 122 from 103 students this year, an increase of 14 per cent, with a goal of having that number up to 150 students by 2016.

"Just by the sheer numbers going up, it means somebody, somewhere is recognizing that we're doing well with their children and they are encouraging others to bring their children here," Careen said.

She attributes the increases, in part, to programming at the school, low teacher-to-student ratios, and an increase in military families in the city who choose French as the language of instruction for their children.

Careen said the population of the school's daycare gives her reason to be optimistic that the school will meet the enrolment goal by 2016. There are currently 37 children in the school's daycare program, and Careen said they typically end up attending school at Ecole Allain St. Cyr once they reach kindergarten age.

"That's because we've done projections based on numbers at the daycare, and numbers of francophones that we know are in Yellowknife, and we feel confident that we will get there," said Careen.

She said she's also optimistic that a ruling in a case between the French school board and the GNWT will go in their favor, allowing the school to construct a gym.

"We feel confident also that when the judge's decision does finally come down that it will be a positive decision for us and that it will help increase the numbers," said Careen.

As well, she attributes their success to reaching out to members of the community with events such as the school concert held at the school last Friday afternoon. The school brought in Sylvain-Henri Simard, a musician and educator from Quebec, to work with the students throughout Education Week, from Feb. 20 to 24, and put on the student concert.

"Doing one of these community-building activities, we saw lots of parents were here as well in support of the activity, and what it did is it helped us as a community come together and realize 'you know, we can do great things,'" said Careen.

Simard spoke with students about their francophone culture, their identities as students of Ecole Allain St. Cyr and their identities as Northerners. In the end, approximately 115 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 participated in the performance of 13 songs in the school's music room.

"With the school's mascot, the fox is there, it is part of their identity. So, what are the qualities of the fox? The fox is wise, he can find things," said Simard about teaching students a song about the fox.

"Everybody is in the show. It's not only the show that you watch, but it's the show that you are inside."

He said he had a good time working with the kids, and the feeling seems to be mutual.

Chloe Malin, a Grade 4 student at Ecole Allain St. Cyr, had the chance to take to the stage and perform with Simard during the concert.

"It actually was really fun because he had a lot of good ideas. He was a lot of fun. He would always talk about how they invented a new song about the animals and stuff like that."

Grade 10 student Austin Smith has been at Ecole Allain St. Cyr since preschool. He said he enjoyed working with Simard and also couldn't think of attending another school.

"He taught us about music and how to teach younger kids how to be good role models," said Smith.

"I want to go through school and university in French. I've known most of these teachers since I was really young, so it makes for a good one-on-one experience."

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