JBS school is a modern facility with a range of environments designed to meet the needs of our students. JBS school offers programs for students from Primary Readiness through grade twelve.   JBS school serves a students population of approximately 600. JBS School History  The first attempt to establish a school for the Little Red River Cree Nation was in 1950 - 1951. The Hutterites who lived at Little Red River hired a Catholic school teacher. This attempt lasted a year and was phased out due to lack of students.  In 1952 of 127 children of school age, 62 went to residential or mission schools in Fort Vermilion, Grouard, Joussard, Demarais or Wabasca. Between 1952 and 1973, when the residential schools were closed, children continued to attend these schools. In the early years the journey to school was a long and difficult one. As there were 7 settlements scattered over a large area, the children came as far as 90 miles to gather at Little Red River. From here the children were taken by horse and wagon to Upper Landing where they transferred to boats for the trip to Fort Vermilion. The children spent ten long months away from home and in the summer the process was reversed for the return home.  In 1957 contractors were hired to build two red log buildings in Fox Lake for the sisters from the order of St. Chretienne. One of these buildings was used as the school which was called Little Flower School. The school opened on October 24, 1957 with 27 students enrolled and Sister Gertrude Girardin as principal. These first students were John, Phillip, Melvin, Bertha, Doris and Gloria Loonskin; John, Alma, William, Emile, Alec, Warren and Victoria Metsikassus; Daniel, Absalom, Mary Louise, Jean Baptiste, Celestine and Delia Nanooch; Albina, Mali, Raymond and Celestine Noskiye; Fredrick, Florence and Roy Tallcree; and Celine Wapoose. School desks and materials arrived at Upper Landing and were hauled by horse and wagon to Fox Lake. The Sisters offered grades 1 to 6 in a one room school until 1958 when the house was used as another classroom and a new two room building was added. These buildings exist today; one is part of the current Kayas Center and the other has been used as a classroom for the grade 9 and senior high classes during the construction of the new school, and as a Youth Center in the summers.  In September 1964, Northland School Division #61 took control of Little Flower School with the sisters continuing to teach. Sister John became principal and Sister Jeanette Desorcy became vice-principal in 1970. In 1965 a barge brought portables which added three classrooms allowing the school to offer grades 1 to 9.  The first field trip was made to Edmonton, January 1st 1966 returning January 10 by Bombardier from Fort Vermilion. This first field trip consisted of William Metsikassus, Emily Metsikassus, Delia Nanooch, Delia Ladouceur, Rena Loonskin and Florestine Laboucan. This was the first of many. In 1992 a group of students travelled to Victoria, British Columbia. In 1993, after a year of fundraising a group of 11 travelled to London, England for a 10 day visit. More than a year of planning and fundraising went into the February, 1995 trip to Los Angeles and San Diego which involved 19 students and supervisors. During the 1994 - 1995 year the school Volleyball team travelled to Edmonton and around Northern Alberta to compete in a number of tournaments.  The first E.C.S. class was offered in 1973. Sometime in the early 70's the first male principal, Mr. Ed Whitenett, came to work at Little Flower School. In 1977 Jean Baptiste Sewepagaham School opened with Mr. Wayne Hampton as principal and Mr. Colin Kelly as vice-principal.  During the early 80's the Little Red River Tribal Council prepared a feasibility study involving local control of education. Negotiations with the Department of Indian Affairs, Northland School Division #61 and the Little Red River Tribal Council began in 1984. This culminated with the Little Red River Tribal Council assuming control for the education system in John D'or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River. in the fall of 1985.  Enrollment has steadily risen bringing about the need for a larger school. In 1991 work began on an extension of the existing school. In March of 1992 the children were moved from the existing school to the new extension to facilitate the renovations to the old school. The renovations were completed in July, 1992. The official opening of the reconstituted Jean Baptiste Sewepagaham School occurred during the Thirty-Fifth anniversary of schooling in the community of Fox Lake. It has been a long and exciting history for education in Fox Lake and we look forward to continuing in this historic tradition. (modified from an original by C. R. Ribbonleg) Main | School | Students | Programs | Community | Contact | Calendar