Tiny school plays huge role in community

August 11, 2025

As the first Gaelic immersion school in North America wraps up its fourth year, its connection to the surrounding community has never been stronger.

Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide, located behind the Beinn Mhàbu campus of Colaisde na Gàidhlig, was opened in September 2021, and may have a hit on its hands with its recent Gaelic Café events at the college.

This spring, the tiny school, which is comprised of 11 students, held three such events, welcoming the community in for a cup of coffee, a bit of cake, and a whole lot of Gaelic. Seonag Buxton, who teaches grades primary and one, says the café grew each time it was held.

“It was more than I anticipated by miles,” Buxton says. “The first time we did it, we set out four tables, but we quickly found we had to set more tables up. We were blown away by the support of the community.”

“Every time it grew bigger,” she adds. “And every time the children got more efficient.”

Students operated every facet of the café, from baking the cakes and making the coffee, to taking the orders and handling money. Buxton says events such as this are extremely important to the school.

“A massive part of any school is community links and that was something that tied in nicely,” she says, noting that the students appear keen to continue the cafés when they return in the fall.

“They did so well, keeping in mind they’re five and six years old,” Buxton explains. “They made videos to teach a lot of the Gaelic phrases you might need if you came to our Gaelic café, and they were taking their orders in Gaelic.”

“A lot of Gaelic people from the community came and it gave them an opportunity to speak Gaelic.”

The Gaelic cafés are just part of the school’s goal to integrate fully into the local community. In recent months, the school has hosted visitors who’ve shared their musical and spiritual influences, they’ve visited a local maple syrup farm, and they’ve shared their knowledge with children outside the school during their weekly play groups.

“It’s showing the students the relevance of their learning and their sense of belonging within the culture and the community,” Buxton explains. “It’s helping them understand their identity, being a Gael and what that is.”

“There’s so much learning that goes on. It’s nice to see the practical application of what they’re learning.”

Buxton only arrived in Mabou last fall from Scotland and says the familiarity of her new home is probably what has surprised her the most.

“I’m from the highlands of Scotland, so it’s a very similar community feeling, it’s very similar musically,” she says. “It surprises me to be in a different country and still find it so similar to home.”

Buxton says it was big news in Scotland when the school first opened four years ago. In the spring of 2024, she saw an ad looking for a teacher to join the tiny staff, which consists of another teacher and a class support person. The ad was advertised heavily in Scotland, so she jumped at the chance to apply.

“I very much like my job,” she says. “Workwise, I couldn’t ask for a better school to work in.”

“The community is incredible. They’re so supportive and involved, the wider community as well as the school community. It’s an incredible place to live, and music-wise and Gaelic-wise, it’s so vibrant.”