Bishop Mark Hagemoen visited the newly-opened Cree bilingual Catholic school in Saskatoon on Sept. 19.
The Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) building on 7th Street East opened its doors to students at the start of the 2025-26 school year: LINK to ARTICLE.
GSCS Education Superintendent Kelley Cardinal, Bishop Mark Hagemoenof the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, GSCS Board of Education Chair, and François Rivard, GSCS Director of Education (l-r) on the playground of the new school Sept. 19, 2025. (Submitted photo)
More information from the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools website:
Located at 2010 7th Street East (the former location of St. Charles School, then of Sion Middle School), the new school brings together students in pre-kindergarten to Grade 9 who previously learned in two different Saskatoon locations (McPherson Avenue and Bateman Crescent) to accommodate growth of the Cree language and cultural program.
The exterior of the building features Cree syllabics to encourage language learning and to serve as a form of outreach to, and teaching for, the broader community. Prefabricated modular panels give the “curved” look of the building that is meant to represent the dancing movement of the northern lights.
Extensive consultation with Elders, knowledge keepers, students, families and staff means all aspects of the school are culturally aware. Classroom signs in English and Cree, colour schemes on each of the three floors that represent different natural elements (1st floor: Rock; 2nd floor: Earth; 3rd floor: Human), a bulkhead installation that that depicts the constellations of the night sky during the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876 at Fort Pitt, and artwork throughout the building—including a portrait of the school’s namesake St. Francis of Assisi—demonstrate commitment to treaty education, reclamation of Cree language and culture, and the Catholic faith.
An official opening is planned for October 3. Open houses for the public to see the school and learn more will be planned for the future.
A brief overview of Cree language and cultural education at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools:
- 2007: language and cultural program begins at St. Frances School on McPherson Avenue
- Adding one grade per year, the program grew from 40 to over 600 students from over 50 Saskatoon neighbourhoods in 12 years.
- 2016-17: A replacement school became the top priority for the division’s capital plan.
- 2017: The Cree language program received the SSBA’s Premier’s Board of Education Award for ni ahkwatonâmonân: An Indigenous Language Pathway to Improved Student Learning Outcomes at St. Frances Cree Bilingual School.
- 2018: The Bateman Crescent location (former St. Patrick School) was added to host grades 6 – 8 because there was no more space to expand at the McPherson Ave. location.
- 2019: Grade 9 was added at the Bateman Cres. location.
- March 2020: The Government of Saskatchewan announced planning and design funding for a replacement school.
- Fall 2021: The former Sion Middle School is demolished to prepare for the new school.
- Spring 2022: Design and planning—guided by Elders and informed by students, parents, family members and staff—began.
- June 2023: A construction ceremony and blessing of the land event kicked-off construction.
- December 2024: The new name—awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School—was announced. (Link to ARTICLE)
- September 2, 2025: The new school welcomes students!
Select features of awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School:
- All aspects of the school are culturally-aware through consultation with Elders and knowledge keepers. There was extensive involvement of students, families and staff.
- The modular panel “curved” design is inspired by the northern lights. A “boxy brick” structure was purposefully avoided because it could provoke possible trauma related to residential schools.
- Cree syllabics on the exterior encourage language learning and are a form of outreach to, and teaching for, the broader community.
- The welcoming front entrance faces east, representing creation and a new beginning.
- The Saskatoon Tribal Council 72-space early learning centre is in the east end of the 1st floor.
- The “pod” structure for classroom spaces will encourage collaborative learning.
- Colour schemes and design elements on each floor represent different elements: 1st floor Rock; 2nd Earth; 3rd floor Human.
- A bulkhead installation on the 1st floor contains lights depicting the constellations of the night sky during the signing of Treaty 6, at Fort Pitt, in 1876.
- Beams from St. Charles/Sion Middle School have been repurposed in the new school to honour the history of the school and location.
- The back alley will be used as the bus drop-off and pick-up loop to alleviate traffic congestion on the streets.
