St. Anne's School Home Page

History

School #1

Governor McGregor visiting Conne River in 1908 wrote :
They have a small school open since 17th January last....... There are 34 on the roll, and the winter attendance was from 25 to 30. They are divided into three classes, the highest which could read slowly in English words of three or four letters.... The teacher is a woman of partly Micmac origin. She receives some small allowance from the parish priest.

School #2

In the early 1900's a new school was built. It was a one room with a porch. Also included was a small apartment used by the parish priest on his visits to the community. It had no electricity or running water. As the school population grew another classroom was added and the original classroom was divided . Classes continued in this school until 1966. After the first Mi’kmaq teacher in 1908 all other teachers until 1960 were non-native. Students who reached grade eleven( very few) had to attend high school across the bay in St.Albans.

School #3

In 1965 - 66 a new school was built in Conne River. It had electricity , running water and was heated by an oil furnace. It also had a principal’s office , a small library and four classrooms. As the school population grew more classrooms were added. In 1968 all students from grade seven up had to attend school in St. Albans. This meant boarding in private homes during the week and boating home for the weekend. This continued until mid 1970's. Once again through the demands of parents students began to return one grade at a time.

School #4

As students began returning the school population began to grow again. In 1977 a new high school was built. In 1979 Conne River held its first high school graduation of 10 students. Since then well over two hundred students have gone on and graduated to become lawyers, nurses, teachers, accountants, pilots, secretaries, and skilled trades persons.

In 1985 Conne River was officially recognized as a reserve and took full control of its education system. Please visit the rest of our site to see who we are and what we offer.