Books on bugs, trucks, superheroes and dinosaurs ‘ what more could a boy want?

At least that’s the way Declan Barber, a Grade 2 student taking part in the inaugural year of the Calgary Board of Education’s all-boys program, sees it.

“It’s really cool here,” he says, while thumbing through a graphic novel. “I kind of like it because there’s no girls…. I have a sister that always bugs me at home.”

The school opened with questions surrounding its future viability in September.

Critics were quick to note the 80 students enrolled was only a slight improvement on the total number attending classes at the school when it was known as Sir James Lougheed.

Citing low enrolment, trustees voted to close that program the prior spring.

Principal Garry Jones concedes that promoting a new, gender-specific program is a challenge ‘ the Calgary Catholic School District had long struggled to get a gender-specific program off the ground before succeeding with the opening of Sacred Heart school in 2010.

Nevertheless, he deems the program a worthwhile effort and said early enrolment projections indicate more students will be in attendance for Year 2 this fall.

“We are already seeing such positive things in just four months,” Jones said. “The caring for each other, the sense of community ‘ that’s a really big thing for these boys.”

The school has certainly made an impact on young Declan. His mother Jaida Green-Barber says she has noticed the difference.

“Just last night he said to me, ‘Mom, I really like my school,’” she said.

For Declan, the difference is simple.

“They didn’t have much cool stuff at my old school,” he said.