New francophone school opens on Fredericton's northside

About 300 children from kindergarten to Grade 5 will start their education this year at anew school on Fredericton's northside, cole Les claireurs.

• PHOTO GALLERY: New Brunswick students head back to school

Marcel LeBlanc, the school'snew principal, along with teachers and volunteers were putting the finishing touches on the school last week.

LeBlanc said he expects the amount of students attending the school to double within the next three years.

As the school grows, it will also accommodate more grades. Within three years, LeBlanc saidthe school will be educating students up to Grade 8.

The city's other francophoneelementary school, cole des Btisseurs, was full three years after opening.

LeBlanc was the principal there until last December.

He saidthe new school will alleviate much of the pressure on cole des Btisseurs.

"There's going to be a lot of space, there are going to be advantages for both schools in the sense there's going to be more space and fewer kids in the same space," he said.

"These kids are going to have the opportunity to have new facilities, the new double gym, art room, playground and more."

The new school on Fredericton's northside is the latest example of francophone schools in New Brunswick's urban centres experiencing significant growth.

cole des Pionniers has opened in Quispamsis after parents in the Kennebecasis Valley lobbied for years for a school in the area.

The new Fredericton school will also be coming with several improvements.

For example, LeBlanc said, it's also highlyenergy efficient school.

"You might notice for example the windows the colours were chosen to have the maximum amount of light in the school," LeBlanc said.

Ekatrina Lysenko was registering two of her children for the new school last week.

Her family recently moved to Fredericton from Newfoundland and Labrador, but is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia.

"I think it's very important for them to learn as many languages as they can," she said.

"They speak English in sport activities and in the neighbourhood and I want them to learn French."