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Welcome to Prince Albert's École Valois

École Valois is the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF) school in Prince Albert -- the only Francophone school in the city. Our French school serves families from Prince Albert and surrounding communities that seek quality Francophone education for their children at the elementary and high school levels. The French first language education offered at École Valois is delivered by teachers who are inspired by best practices in use across Canada. And it all starts with our free prekindergarden program.

By registering your children at Prince Albert's École Valois, you are ensuring they will have access to the very best education available anywhere. Every new day at school will help them acquire new academic skills. They will develop their Francophone identity through enhanced, tailored programming. You will discover a world of learning opportunities for your children and possibly yourself. École Valois' qualified teachers and educators, with the support the local francophone community, all contribute to students' success and the school's in delivering exceptional educational services.

A story of courage and determination

École Valois came into being as a result of Prince Albert Francophone parents, in 1979, joining their effort to seek more appropriate education for their children than what was available at the time. The parents first obtained a Type A immersions school in 1980. From milestone to milestone, the school grew its enrollment until École Valois inaugurated its "Centre Scolaire and Communautaire" in 1995. The rest is history.

Through the years, Francophone educational self governance evolved, thanks in part to École Valois becoming a critical building block in assembling what would eventually become the provincial Francophone school division : the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises.

Francophone education at École Valois

Studies have shown that Francophone schools are the best place for francophone students to get an education -- and they will have the advantage being fully bilingual at the end. Enrollment in French first language education will lead to students self-identifying more readily as bilingual Francophones than if they attend immersion school. Francophone students spend the school day in an environment where day-to-day life occurs predominently in French. This includes school interaction with parents, between teachers and ultimately with the community at large. Students experience French as a language not only for going to school, but for their future workplace and life in general. Their proficiency in French will remain longer. It will be part of who they are.

Incidentally, because of the nature of the environment in which we live, proficiency in English is easily acquired by our students. They learn French first, but they acquire English just as fast. Our Francophone students end up developing as good a command of the English language as native English-speakers.

French first language education prepares students for today's life journey

Upon graduation, our students' proficiency in both French and English tends to broaden the scope of choices available to them through advanced education at technical institute and college levels. Their Francophone school years are sure to influence the careers paths they will follow. The family decisions our graduates eventually make as adults are more likely to reflect the Francophone experiences at the heart of the Fransaskois school foundations. Perhaps they will be compelled to give the gift of Francophone education to their own children. This cycle of life is intricately woven through education, culture and community.

École Valois is an essential ingredient in helping ensure the Fransaskois contribution to the shaping of Saskatchewan society remains vibrant in the years to come.