From 1845 - 77, French was the language of instruction in the French Acadian schools of the area. From 1850, English was also taught in an ever increasing amount. With the adoption of the Public School Act in 1877, the Acadian schools were discontinued and all schools were placed on a standardized basis. From then on, the official textbooks were in English. The only French text permitted was a French reading book. As the years passed, a series of French readers for the Acadian school was tolerated. Each school district was obligated to raise money through levied taxes in order to pay a portion of the teacher's salary. A supplement was paid twice yearly - January and June. The school district was also responsible for the construction of the school. The balance of the money raised was used to pay expenses for the operation of the school. Each dis¬ trict had a Board of three trustees and a secretary-treasurer. Students in Grades 1 - X were accommodated in the schools. Throughout the years, the Women 's Institute of each district was very preoccupied with the welfare of the children. The maintenance of the school was of prime importance. In those early years, the wooden floors were scrubbed at least twice a year. Windows were cleaned and window blinds were provided. Cocoa and hot soup were provided for the mid-day lunch and prepared on the pot-belly stove. organizations were in most schools. Regular meetings were usually held on a Friday afternoon once the lessons had been taken. Valentine parties, Christmas concerts, end of the year picnics and various other activities were all part of school life. Until 1965, the schools were operated by each district Board. At the beginning of the 1965 - 66 school year, six districts were operating as one in the new St. Ann 's Consolidated School. BRIEF HISTORIES OF ST. ANN 'S, ST. IGNATIUS, ST. MARY 'S, ST. PATRICK 'S, MILLVALE AND TORONTO ROAD During the years, 1965 - 90, some students from the following school districts attended classes at St. Ann 's Consolidated. A short histo¬ ry of each of these schools is contained in this report. We thank the peo¬ ple of these districts for their contribution to our school and those who have supplied information for our History of St. Ann 's. 32