would remain alive and intact. One room schools underwent struggles before consolidation

because enrollments were fluctuating and, in some cases, becoming too low. This was a problem because small enrollments affected school bud- gets and with smaller student populations, it was an added burden to the annual budgets of the one room schools. As difficult as it must have been to accept the move to consolidate, parents believed in the significance of keeping the education of their students as close to home as possible. Thus consolidation was adopted and the construction of St. Ann's Elementary School began in the Spring of 1965. According to Father Denis Gallant, land was donated by Jack O'Connor of St. Ann's. Mr. O'Connor gave St. Ann's Elementary three acres of property on which to build a new school. The architect was Alfred J. Hennessey and RE. Gallant was responsible for the construction of the building. (Page 32, St. Ann's School History 1848-1988; Noella Reid, 1988). In mid-Fall of 1965, St. Ann's Elementary School was ready for service.

This newly painted structure stood two stories high overlooking the valleys and hills of St. Ann's. St. Ann's Catholic Church no longer sat alone on the breezy hill, as St. Ann's Elementary School became its neighbour on the opposite side of the road... Standing on the school prop- erty and looking as far as the eye could see, your View was the captivat- ing coastline of the North Shore and the sand dunes of Cavendish.

St. Ann's Elementary School had to delay its opening in the new school year of 1965 until October 10 when the last touches of construc- tion were complete. In the meantime, the school children had to be scat- tered to different locations to accommodate their schooling. Following is a list of the teachers, the grades they taught and the schools that were used while the new school was being completed. (Information provided

by school records kept by Marion Murphy). September, 1965

Teacher Grade School Miss Ann Peters 1, II Basement of St. Ann's Church Mrs. Eunice Cullen III, IV St. Mary's School Mrs. Marion Murphy IV, V St. Ann's School Mrs. Yvonne Gallant VIII St. Patrick's School Mr. Ronald Bolger VI, VII Principal Basement of St. Ann's Church Mrs. Edna Gallant Remedial

Sr. Marie Anne Ethier Music

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