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![]() ![]() No matter which course they are taking, Island students today have the opportunity to learn something about Prince Edward Island and its place in the world. Classes in English, French, history, geography, science, environmental studies, law, political science, business, physical education, and music, as well as extracurricular activities in theatre, sport, student government, or student organizations provide young Islanders with the opportunity to learn about how they fit into their community, their culture, and the political system. This, of course, is a characteristic true of schools anywhere in Canada. In Prince Edward Island, we get the very real sense that we do have a place; we belong to Prince Edward Island and it belongs to us. In an expanding global community, that anchor of home may be the one thing that stays constant. In the early 1970s, Prince Edward Islands small local boards were dissolved to make way for larger administrative units. Today, three regional school boards manage the elementary and secondary schools of the province. Privately operated nursery schools and kindergartens start many Island children on their scholastic careers. Grades 1 through 6 are generally spent at an elementary school, grades 7 through 9 at an intermediate school, and grades 10 through 12 at a high school. Beginning first grade at age 5 or 6, students complete their studies at 17 or 18 years of age. Kensington area students attend Queen Elizabeth Elementary, which teaches grades 1 through 6 and has an enrolment of 470. Kensington Intermediate-Senior High incorporates grades 7 through 12 and has a student population of 456. All 66 schools and 24 public libraries on the Island are electronically linked to the province-wide broadband network with direct access to the Internet. The availability of this resource opens an unprecedented array of research, exploration, and extra-curricular opportunities. The French Immersion program, in which the language of instruction is French, began in Prince Edward Island in 1975. This program creates the opportunity for students to learn conversational French in a more concentrated way than the regular core French classes offered as part of the curriculum. Students enrolled in French Immersion can follow the program from grades 1 through 12 or from grades 7 through 12. Admirably, the University of Prince Edward Island (U.P.E.I.) offers a rich blend of academic programs in the arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, music, and veterinary medicine. It Police | Fire | Health | Waste Management | Government |