HomeMy WebLinkAbout551Hardbound book, 22 x 28 cm., 42 pages, prepared by Mr. Ian Bell and others in
Pickering Township School Area no. 2, as a Canada Centennial project in 1967.
TABLE OF CDNIENTS
beard Chairmm'a Remarks
2
Pest Beard Chairmen
3
Fo taard _ Mr. K. D. 'w- , Superintendent of Public
4
Schools
The Area Crest
5
:be Area Map
6
.0 General History
7
Teacher's Agrement 1367
13.
Schaal Histories:
Bas =ar
14
i btcn
16
Neat dcuge
1S
Rasga Rills
20
F=- vA Beach
22
Bay Pocd
25
Raeeback
26
nangrore
28
Vaughan Will and
30
Bayr_da Heights
31
Sir Jahn A. Macdonald (including the
cpemng a'..deea., of :be Right Honourable
vinceat Hassey)
32
Prom. az. Is Bay
36
No. G. fcvia
37
woodianda Centennial
39
Area Activities
40
Inspectors since 1872
43
Piotvres:
Yesteryears
10
School Crests 17,
29
Schools of Pickering Township School Area No. 2
Ha
Centennial Celebrations
38
Aroa Activities
41
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA NO. 2
BOARD CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS
This history of education in our community should not be read as if it were a chronology of
construction and a listing of worthy citizens, though in themselves these things are proper
and appropriate to record, rather, in this account of growth in educational thought and
action we should seek to grasp the hope and wish our forebears had for us and our time
and, against this, measure our own dreams and desires for tomorrow.
It is easy to look back and condemn, hard to look ahead and be certain that we see aright.
What we gain from reading this chronicle of education - so carefully and well prepared by
Mr. Ian Bell B.A., and others - can be our guide and inspiration to build upon the good
already done, that our children in later years, like us today, may be thankful for what has
been and benefit from it.
D. W. Quick,
Chairman, Board of Trustees.
"
"THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA NO. 2
INAUGURAL MEETING - JANUARY 11, 1956
CHAIRMEN:
1956 MR. M. V. WILLARD
1956 MR. C. J. DICK
1957 MR. J. S. DENNEY
1958 MR. M. W. COOK
1959 MR. F. G. HUNT
1960 MR. F. G. HUNT
1961 MR. F. G. HUNT
1962 MR. J. ADAMSON
1963 MR. J. ADAMSON
1964 MR. J. ADAMSON
1964 MR. T. R. VAN HOUTEN
1965 MR. T. R. VAN HOUTEN
1966 MR. T. R. VAN HOUTEN
1967 MR. D. W. QUICK
"
"FOREWORD
This booklet has been prepared to acquaint you and your families with the history of
education in Pickering Township.
History is a record of people; their hopes, ambitions, frustrations and achievements.
Plans to celebrate Canada's Centennial have included in every community an attempt to
provide for the cultural and leisure enjoyment of people. It is meaningful that such a
celebration, while emphasizing the past, should place such emphasis on people in the
present and generations to come.
The story of the schools in this district tells of the very rapid growth of recent years.
It also recalls the dedicated work of many people in past years who worked and planned to
fulfill the dreams of all parents for a quality education for their boys and girls.
The accounts of the growth of schools demonstrate the expanding role the school is
playing in the academic lives of our children and its increasing cultural impact.
May the next 100 years of Education's story in Pickering Township be as colourful and
dramatic.
K. D. Munroe,
Superintendent of Schools.
_4_
"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA No. 2
401 Friendship Avenue West Hill, Ontario
Telephone 282-5795
The Crest
The crest of the Board which appears in our masthead has significant meaning to everyone
in the Area. The following explanation of its parts is presented so that you may be oriented to
its symbolism.
The Inscription: Quisque Quantum
Faciat - translated it means ""That each (one) may achieve his fullest potential.”
We feel that this is consistent with our goal to stimulate individual teacher and pupil
development to a maximum.
The Symbols: 1. The lamp of learning symbolizes the continuing search for educational truth
and the love of learning. As such, it is the constant factor in our programme.
2. The arrow-head and headdress symbolise our dependency on the work of our forefathers.
The truths of historical fact have many
lessons to teach us about life and living to-day and in the future.
3. The circular lines in the left of the design symbolize the space age This serves to point
out the necessity in our educational programme to be liberal inventive, imaginative,
creative or experimental. It implies that in our search for truth, we cannot stand still.
4. The open book at the bottom of the design is a symbol of our goal of being free from
prejudice and bias. The ability to evaluate learning in the light of both truth,
consistency and morality is a worthy effort.
May the inscription ""Quisque, Quantum Faciat"" be applicable to
each one of us.
-5-
"
"THE DEVELOPMENT 0F PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA NO. 2
Canadians in the past decade became acutely aware of the vast amount of new knowledge
that man has acquired and the rapid pace at which this knowledge is accruing.
We also became aware of the gap between our school programme and the new knowledge.
It was glaringly apparent that new curricula had to be designed. It was just as evident to
educators that the necessary new curricula would not fit into the old modes of teaching.
Thus began an unprecedented period of change in educational practices and content that
may slow down but will never again became static.
Our courses of study have long been of an unchanging factual nature. Because this was the
case, a student could assimilate a fair sampling of the content of the courses of study,
memorize facts and do well on exams. Such a person was, however, often poorly educated.
He could not come to grips with a problem himself and thus his education stopped when he
left school.
We now know that our graduates must not be people who are crammed with a limited amount
of fact which, during their lifetime; may become obsolete or insufficient to meet their needs.
Rather, they must be people who have been taught how to find factual information and how to
use it to solve problems. They must be people with an insatiable desire to know more and
with an attitude that it will ever be necessary to seek knowledge to stay abreast of
developments in this world.
The emphasis then shifts from the ""what"" (fact) to ""how"". The teacher becomes a guide
or leader, not a dispenser of knowledge. The pupil becomes a seeker, not a container to be
filled with fact.
The results have been gratifying yet somewhat disquieting. The classroom is no longer a
place of quiet subservience and passive acceptance. It has a busy hum of activity as pupils
""discover"" for themselves.
Many aspects of the curriculum are exciting but strange and uncomfortable for the
traditionalists. The first and best known change is ""new mathematics"" wherein primary
children may be studying geometry figures and elementary algebra in a reasoned
""discovery"" approach. They enjoy it and find it easier than we who were trained in other
ways do. Many more changes are imminent.
Ungraded schools, continuous progress, senior public schools, team teaching; seminars,
research, learning centres, study carrels, flexible space, teacher librarians, and educational
television are only some of the terms that are indicative of the new approaches and
facilities that are part of our efforts to do the job of educating more interestingly,
more effectively and more efficiently.
Pickering Township School Area No. 2 was created to keep abreast of these
educational developments in an area of rapidly expanding population.
The avant garde architecture of the Wm. G. Davis Public School for example,
is not just eye catching - it is extremely practical to accommodate the programmes
intimated above. So it will be with our new senior public school.
-7-
"
"Although the existence of Pickering Township School Area No. 2 as an administration unit
spans only this decade, the beginning of education in the area dates back three centuries.
The first form of education, that of converting the Indians to Christian beliefs,
was commenced at Frenchman's Bay in the fall of 1669.
That summer, Senecas from the village of Ganatsekwygon,
located on the eastern bank of the Rouge River, had paddled to the Kente Mission,
on the shores of the Bay of Quinte, to ask for a black-robed teacher. L'Abbe Francois
Salagnac de la Motte Fenelon and Claude Trouve, Suplician missionaries,
were commissioned by Bishop Laval to undertake this venture.
The arduous life in this wilderness proved too much for these early ""teachers"",
and so due to failing health, they were forced to abandon their mission.
It is believed that others may, from time to time, have attempted to continue these early efforts,
but written records of such attempts do not exist. It is a fact, however, that the naming of the
inlet, ""Frenchman's Bay"", resulted from the arrival of the French missionaries who were also
the first white men known to reside in this area.
In 1809 the total population of Pickering Township was 180 persons -40 men, 35 women,
and 105 children. Municipal government was not founded until 1811, and it was then a part of
the County of York. Even Township records are fairly sketchy until 1851, when Pickering
Township became a part of the County of Ontario. Sixty years had passed since the area
had first been opened to settlement, for it was in 1791 that Surveyor Augustus Jones was
commissioned to survey and lay Township boundaries in Nassau District,
which was the name attached to the area from the east of York (Toronto) to the mouth of the
Trent River. The name given to our Township by Mr. Jones at that time was ""Glasgow""
but it somehow came out to be ""Pickering"". The population of the Township by 1851
had climbed to 6,345.
Very early settlers, in all parts of this country, had to depend for the most part on themselves
and their own resources to educate their children. Since the records show that the first settler
in Pickering, William Peak, established residence in 1799 at the mouth of Duffins Creek,
the need for education in the Pickering area until this time was non-existent.
Lieut. Governor Simcoe had recognized the need for provision of education since his
arrival in 1792, and finally in 1797 legislation was passed which provided for acreage to be
set aside for District Grammar Schools. Thus the first schools in Upper Canada were
established. These were mainly private and were supported financially by fees paid by the
parents and by private subscription.
In 1816, the Provincial Legislature passed an act establishing what was then called
Common Schools. The Home District, of which Pickering Township was then a part,
stretched from Port Hope on the east to Burlington on the west. In all it included forty-one
townships. A sum of 600 lbs. was provided for the payment of salaries and the purchase
of books. Construction of the building and hiring of a teacher was the responsibility of the
settlers, and this, plus agreement to pay a portion of the teacher's salary,
had to be met in order to receive the school grant. Each school was also to have a
minimum of twenty pupils.
*****
The first recorded Minutes of any Board in the area begins,
""Minutes of the Annual School Meeting of the Freeholders and Householders of
School Section No. 3 in the Township of Pickering held on the Second Wednesday in
January, 1859-——""
-8-
"
"The present Base Line, Dunbarton and West Rouge Schools in our area all have origins in
the early 1800's. The history of each of these schools is dealt with in detail later in this record
but it is important to note some of the events at this time to observe the historical sequence.
Base Line School (S.S.No. 2) had its origin on the Brock Road near the old Kingston Road
(Highway No. 2) in the early 1800's and was moved to the present site in 1852.
It is still used as a school today. Dunbarton (S.S. No. 3) School began in the early 1830's
on the second concession opposite the Erskine Church and Cemetry,
and in 1857 was relocated in the building atop the hill now used as a Community Hall.
This served as a school until 1924. A school located on the Pickering-Scarborough Town
Line in the 1830’s (in 1860 this became the Union School) was the forerunner of the present
West Rouge School. From these humble beginnings the early settlers launched the
educational patterns for Area 2 as we know it today.
General progress was made in education throughout Upper Canada which affected
Pickering Township as much as any other area at that time. The standards of teachers and
buildings improved somewhat, so that by 1860 the patterns of elementary education had
been reasonably established. With the dawn of Confederation in 1867,
The British North America Act, establishing our nation, decreed that Education was to
continue as a Provincial responsibility. Thus in 1871, further educational reform was brought
about in Upper Canada, in the area now called the Province of Ontario.
The inspection of schools, prior to this, was conducted by the local clergy appointed to this
duty by the County Council. Legislation at this time provided for such changes as
the abolition of student fees in ""public"" schools, the requirement of trustees to provide
adequate accommodation for all pupils, the appointment of a County Inspector
(the first in Ontario County was Mr. McBrien), and the establishment of a County Board of
Examiners.
By 1860, within the confines of the present Area 2. accommodation had shown change from
its original form and, as has been mentioned previously, in some cases from its original site.
To comment on other changes with respect to quality of education in general or the standards
of the teachers in the area at this time in comparison to earlier times or modern times,
would undoubtedly leave room for criticism. For who would believe that the educational
standards in this area, irrespective of the era, have ever been less than the best that could
be found anywhere?
Settlement continued but the pace was not alarming. No major accommodation changes
took place until 1924 when the initial two classrooms of the present Dunbarton School
were opened and the pupils moved from the top to the bottom of the hill.
Another quarter century passed before further expansion became necessary.
This came in 1939 in the form of the Rouge Hill School which was needed to relieve the
overcrowding at Dunbarton and to reduce the long walk for the pupils.
The great growth of the educational system in Pickering Township School Area 2 began
really less than two decades ago. On January 1, 1956, School Section No. 2 and School
Section No. 3 amalgamated to form Pickering Township School Area No.2.
At this time the Area schools were Base Line, Dunbarton, and West Rouge,
whose beginnings had all commenced more than a century before,
(West Rouge School had emerged in its present location in 1954),
plus the Rouge Hill School. The more recent ones were Bay Road School,
which had been an outgrowth of Baseline School in 1950, and Glengrove School,
which had emerged in 1955 as a further expansion in S.S.No. 2;
-9-
"
"Yester-Years
The shores of Frenchman’s bay – What a barren place it must have seemed to those early
black-robed teachers.
The second school in the Dunbarton area still standing a top the hill.
The bell in the tower at Dunbarton the only one in the present school area.
Corner Stone of Sir John A. Macdonald School
The initial two rooms of the present Dunbarton School built in 1924 to replace the one atop
the hill.
Base Line School prior to alterations.
The first Principal’s Council in the newly formed T.S.A. No. 2 hosted a banquet at Rouge Hill
School on Feb 18, 1957 to which the Board Members and Inspectors were invited.
Guest Speaker, was Mr. A. Blanchard, Principal of Toronto Teacher’s College.
The staff and Board members of Area 2 in the fall of 1957.
The number of Staff in the whole area at this time would barely be sufficient to staff the two
schools presently in Bay Ridges.
"
"Fairport Beach School, which had been an outgrowth from Dunbarton School in 1953,
and Rosebank Road School which had been a further outgrowth of the Rouge Hill School,
also in 1953, and was therefore related to Dunbarton as well. Planning for construction of the
Vaughan Willard School was one of the problems which confronted this newly formed Board
of Trustees. A list of School construction by Boards since then, which for new structures alone
would read as follows:
1964 - Sir John A., Macdonald School
1965 - Frenchman's Bay School
1967 - William G. Davis School
and hopefully -
1968 - Woodlands Centennial School
It would appear that planning for construction to accommodate pupils has been a major
function of Trustees ever since the Board was formed.
According to the Historical Atlas by Beer, written in 1877, ""The early school house was
constructed of logs, frequently unhewn, and contained a single room.
The furniture consisted chiefly of long pieces of deal supported by pins inserted in the wall
and used as desks, and along the side of which extended huge pieces of squared timbers
supported by logs, on which the pupils sat. The walls were absolutely blank except where
some enterprising youth had carved his initials. Maps and pictures as well as blackboards
were unknown. Slates were used in place of scribblers and much of the work was done by
recitation. The heat was supplied by a great fire-place where logs were burned.
Crude and destitute as these early schools were, they none the less cost the settler much in
labour and self-sacrifice. The men would build the school and supply the firewood to heat it
and the teacher would board at the homes in the community. Money would be scarce,
but some would be needed to pay the teacher in addition to the board supplied.
Most of the teachers were men, and many of them were of the class that had been unable to
succeed in other jobs, sometimes because of an addiction to the ""bottle”,
sometimes because they were dreamers and incapable of hard work.
An elderly native-born citizen of Area 2 on a tour of one of our most modern schools might
be recalling his school days as he compares the present shining furnishings,
the colourful walls and gleaming halls, the cheery lighting and cosy warmth,
a veritable Niagara in educational supplies, library treasures and texts,
a vast wealth of visual and audio aids, the stunning gymnatorium,
the exciting programme in vocal music, choirs and bands,
besides the many other wonderful things which make up present day
curriculum to the bone-aching elongated desks, the doleful windows,
the old box stove with its long string of smoke pipes, the many times handed-down texts
and cracked slates, the homemade baseball and chunk-of-a-limb bat of his times.
Our friend on tour might smile when he hears the teacher's take-home pay today as he
remembers his sister counting her two dollars per week as an assistant in times when
seemingly seventy pupils were a few too many for one room. The caretaker received fifty
dollars for the full year.
As a student of this area more than three-quarters of a century ago, he might compare the
wonders he now surveys in Area 2 to a time when his musical instrument was the willow
whistle made by the most apt tool of the day—his pocket knife; while his sisters studied
their sewing, cooking and scrubbing skills at home before and after their school day which
began and ended with a three mile hike.
Emerging to survey the spacious sports field and school grounds he feels as if he were
treading upon sacred soil; the value of school sites since a century ago has increased
more than twenty fold.
-11-
"
"The following is a copy of the minutes of an average Dunbarton Trustee Meeting
recorded one hundred years ago.
""Minutes of a meeting of the Trustees of School Section No. 3 in the Township of Pickering,
held on the twentieth day of September, 1867 in the house of
Mr. McConockie, Mr. John Parker was in the chair.
1. Resolved that the rateable property in the Section be assessed for the sum of
'Two Hundred and Sixty Dollars for the year 1867.
2. Resolved that a school bell be purchased for he school house.
3. Resolved that Thos. Henderson be employed to repair the school premises.
4. Resolved that Wm. Dunbar Sr. be auditor on behalf of the Trustees for the year 1867.
5. Resolved that Jonathan Holmes be re-engaged for the year 1868 at the same salary as
before, e.g. $440.
Signed (John Parker) Trustees (Wm. Anderson) of (Hugh McConockie) S.S, No. 3
At a later meeting these same gentlemen met to consider the purchase of new stove pipes
and hiring someone to whitewash the interior of the schools. If we studied a copy of an
average Board of Trustees meeting in 1967, we could find problems and decisions which
would parallel those of our forefathers, and possibly Trustees in 2067 will meet to resolve
similar matters.
As Canada moves into her second century as a nation, we have attempted to trace the
historical background for the geographical area of the educational unit known today as
Pickering Township School Area 2. For almost three hundred years the people of this area
have shown an active interest in education. Quality has always been maintained despite
increased quantities of both pupils and knowledge. May the educational aims and standards
of succeeding generations in Pickering Township School Area 2 continue to progress as
they have in the past and may the interest shown by those first Canadians so long ago be an
inspiration for all who follow.
*Longest record of service as a Trustee-—
""Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on Thursday, December 26th, 1889, ""
Moved by Mr. Geo. Parker, Secd. by Mr. John McIntosh that Mr. Wm. Anderson be paid with
a hearty vote of thanks for his services rendered S. S. No. 3 during his 25 years trusteeship.""
-12-
"
"TEACHER'S AGEEEMENT FOR THE YEAR 1867
We, the undersigned, Trustees of School Section No. 3, in the Township of Pickering,
by virtue of the Authority vested in us, by the eighth clause of the twenty seventh Section of
the Upper Canada Consolidated Common School Act, have chosen Jonathan Holmes,
who holds a first Class certificate of qualifications to be a Teacher in said School Section,
and we do hereby contract with, and employ such Teacher, at the rate of four hundred and
forty Dollars per Annum, commencing from the first day of January 1367, and we further bind
and oblige ourselves, and our successors in office, faithfully to employ the powers,
with which we are legally invested by the said act, to collect and pay the said Teacher,
during the continuance of this agreement, the sum for which we hereby become bound,
the said sum to be paid to the said Teacher, on or before the thirty first day of December 1867,
and the said Teacher hereby contracts with the Trustees herein named, and binds himself to
teach and conduct the said School, in said Section, according to the said School Act,
and the regulations which are in force under its authority.
This Agreement shall continue in force during the term of one year,
from the first day of January 1867, and shall include all lawful holidays and vacations
prescribed under the Authority of the said School Act.
Given under our hands and the seal of office, this Twenty first day of September in the year of
Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty six.
John Parker ----------- ---------Trustees, S.S. No 3, Pickering
Wm. Anderson -----------------
Hugh McConochie -----------------
Jon. Holmes – Teacher-------------------
-13-
"
"HISTORY OF BASE PUBLIC SCHOOL
The records show that it was not until the early 1800's that the first school was built to serve
the settlement bordered by Duffins Creek on the East and North side and Frenchman's Bay
on the West. This school was situated on the Brock Road, on what was known as the Sleep
farm, and where they are presently building the Commuter Station.
When construction started on the Grand Trunk Railway which was to link Montreal to Toronto
and Sarnia, the school was replaced by the present Base Line School, which was built in
1852 (of red brick with Gothic windows) on the south-east corner of Base Line and Brock
Roads.
The records in the registrar's Office in Whitby indicate that the school board paid Mr. John
Greig $80.00 in 1858 for the ¼ acre on which Base Line School stood. The land had been
measured in degrees, chains and links. An additional ¼ acre was purchased in 1873.
Some of the early teachers were Mr. J. W. Palmer, who taught in 1846; Mr. J. D. O'Sullivan in
1849; Mr. B. Bunting, who received 50, and Archie Toms, who received $300.00.
The first inspector, or superintendent of schools for the township was George Barclay,
who reported in 1844 that Pickering had 15 school districts and 893 school pupils and that
there were 1703 children in the township.
The Canadian Countryman ran an article, Serving the Section"", by Louise Richardson Rorke,
in their edition of January 22, 1927, which stated that Base Line School was having trouble in
keeping teachers in the country.
However, that year it was proclaimed that the first woman ever to serve on a Canadian school
board had been was Mrs. Lorne Squires of Squires Beach, and her influence resulted in a
great improvement in school conditions.
Miss Kime, the teacher at that time at Base Line School had this to say:
""I have always praise for my trustees and school section. During the three
years that I spent at S.S. No. 2 no teacher could have been given more
loyal support and co-operation than I have received. Each year there is at
least one woman trustee, and each year some improvement is made to add to the comfort
of the school. We have now hot lunches served every day owing to the fact that our school is
equipped with a three-burner kerosene stove attachment. How we enjoy a dish of steaming
soup at noon when the wind is howling around the corner and driving the snow against the
windowpanes. And how appetizing is a panful of choice apples just lifted from the oven.""
This kitchen, so described, was added in 1928 and such a homey atmosphere would be
hard to find in today’s modern schools.
In 1938 the seats were set to face west, and teachers' room and library was built at the
east side, the walls were stuccoed and the windows replaced with square topped ones.
In 1953 a second classroom was added, as the change in 1947 of using
"
"the teachers’ room and library as a second classroom was inadequate.
A new heating system, water system and lighting was also installed at that time and an
extra acre of land was purchased for $500.00 from Dr. William McKay present owner of
adjoining property.
This two-roomed school which served S.S. No. 2 Pickering for the many years is still a
part of the Area school system today. In 1955 Glengrove School was built to relieve crowded
conditions both at Bay Road School, which was built in 1950, and Base Line.
In 1954 the Base Line Home and School Association, discovering that the school was over
one hundred years old, organized a centennial celebration.
This was held on June 26th, 1975. The Master of Ceremonies was Rev. Dr. Wm. McKay and
guest speakers were Mr. Gregory Clarke, a former pupil, Mr. Tommy Thomas,
M.L.A. Mr. Michael Starr, M.P., Mr. W. Fertile, school trustee, and Dr. Stewart,
a former teacher.
S.S. No. 2 Pickering was dissolved when the township passed a By-Law to form the
present School Area No. 2.
In 1960 Consolidated Building Corporation purchased the Don Annan and James Mitchell
properties and the Bay Ridges subdivision began to grow rapidly.
It was then that Base Line School began to lose some of its unique identity.
Beginning in September 1961, it operated as a part of the Bayview Heights School during
construction of that building. In 1963 Base Line School served the Sir John A. Macdonald
staff and was used, at least a part of each succeeding year until 1967, to accommodate
pupils who now attend that school since the constructions of additions to it were completed.
At present the future of this historical landmark, Base Line School, which has served
generations of older residents is uncharted. It is certain that it will live vividly in the memories
of those who attended this fine school.
-15-
"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
Dunbarton Public School
Dunbarton, Ontario
Telephone 839-1541
Bruce D. Cornwall, B.A. B.Ed., Principal
Mailing ADDRESS:
R.R. 3. PICKERING, ONTARIO
The first school was built of logs in the early thirties of the ninteenth century, on lot 28,
second concession, south-east corner opposite the White Church.
The teacher was Mr. Ferguson, whose salary was three hundred and seventy-five dollars per
annum. This school served the community until 1854.
The brick school, which is now the Community Hall, located on the hill beside the Anglican
Church, was completed in 1857, and is still vividly
remembered by many of our older residents who attended. Interesting tales could be told by
them of the schooling they received in this bygone era.
A memo at the back of an old register declares that an honoured and greatly respected
gentleman by the name of Jonathan Holmes taught at the little red school house for
twenty-nine years. During his first eight years of teaching, Jonathan's pay increased forty
dollars. In 1362 he received $440.00 and enjoyed six weeks vacation. In the
""Good Old Days"" school commenced in mid-August.
The metamorphosis of Dunbarton School began during 1922 when the then existing
Board of Trustees was urged by the Inspector, the late Mr.R.H. Hutchinson,
to consider providing roomier accommodations. Several ratepayers meetings were held
before the citizens decided to build a two-room structure, which was completed in 1924,
on the site where the present Dunbarton School now proudly stands.
With the advent of the Rouge Hill School, in 1939, no further construction was required at
Dunbarton until 1946, when an additional two classrooms were built, giving the community
a four-room school.
However, the population continued to increase until it was necessary in the early 1950's,
to provide four more classrooms, it was wisely decided to incorporate these into an entirely
new school south of the CNR line and the two dangerous highways.
Thus the girls and boys in the southern portion of School Section No. 3 were provided with
the Fairport Beach School.
In 1953, the final phase of four classrooms was added to the Dunbarton School,
making it the eight room school it is today. Located in the geographical centre of an
expanding system of education, it is a reminder to all of the inspirational educational
past in Pickering Township.
School Pin-Crests:
Designed by Wallace MacDonald, a former graduate*
Presented annually to the Graduates by the Home and School Association.
School Colours: Yellow and Gold.
-16-
"
"Pickering Township School, AREA 2
West Rouge Public School
4O1 FRIENDSHIP AVENUE
WEST HILL, ONTARIO
Robert C. Weaver, Principal
Telephone AT.2-2161
As far back as 1836 children of this district attended school.
This school was of a log block construction and was situated on the land which the
Port Union Cloverleaf presently occupies. The school house was built by a Mr. Tom Adams
and the first teacher was Miss Campbell who lived in the school house.
In 1860 the building was replaced by a stone school which was a Union school with two
trustees from Scarborough Towhship and one from Pickering Township.
It took many years of persuasion on the part of the teachers to convince the people that
such a building should be erected. The main issue at this time was sanitation.
This stone building was used until 1948 and in 1949 it was demolished to make room for the
new highway. By 1945 there were 60 pupils attending the school and two teachers were
employed. Miss White, now Mrs. Levi Annis of Port Union, was a former teacher of this
school. Mrs. Annis taught in 1909 for a salary of $300.00. Schools opened for the Fall term in
the third week of August. Her son, Claire Annis, who was a graduate of the 'Stone' school was
the Air Vice Marshall of Canada.
In 1944 the total population of West Rouge was twenty-one. In 1948
the children were transferred from the stone school to the new Scarborough Centennial Road
School. The numbers were so few that they could be transported by car. Attendance at this
school continued until 1954 when in September of that year the first West Rouge School was
built. The school consisted of 4 rooms and 3 teachers were employed for the 90 children that
registered.
The enrolment continued to increased and by June 1958 there were 212 students.
With the population still on the increase, four rooms were added to the school for the 303
students attending in September 1958.
An 8 classroom addition brought the total to 16 rooms by January 1960.
The school population had grown to 428 - over four times that of the number in 1954.
The Official Opening of the new addition took place on February 24, 1960 with
Mr., G. L. Duffin of the Ontario Department of Education as Guest Speaker.
Since 1960 an Auditorium and four other classrooms have been added. 0ne of these
classrooms serves as Library. The West Rouge Home and School Association has
worked diligently over the years both to increase the number
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"
"of books and to encourage the children to read.
The school reached its highest registration in June 1966 with a population of 675 students
and 22 teachers.
In September 1966, the William G. Davis School was organized for pupils in southern part of
West Rouge.
The unchanging aim of the School is to adjust the child to the ever-changing environment of
society and to encourage his learning in every way possible to the limit of his capacity.
-19-
"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
Rouge Hill Public School
Altona ROAD R.R. 2 Pickering,
Ontario
Telephone 282-1391
NORMAN J. GAINER, B.A., B.ED, Principal
Prior to 1939 the boys and girls who lived on Altona Road were in the Union School Section.
The little stone building on the Scarborough side of the town line was demolished when
Highway 401 was built. Over the Rouge
bridge and up the Rouge Hill was a very hazardous route for the children walking to school.
By mutual consent the pupils from Altona Road were allowed to attend the two-room school at
Dunbarton.
This building became too crowded and in October 1938 the parents were advised that their
children must attend school in their own section.
The overcrowded Union School and the dangerous walk made the parents realize that action
should be taken. A meeting of the ratepayers was called on
Feb. 27, 1939 to discuss the forming of a new school section.
The notices for such a meeting had not been properly posted so Mr. R. A. Hutchison,
the Inspector, ruled out that election of trustees. At the second ratepayers meeting on
March 20, 1939, Messrs. Ben Lotton, John Usaty and George Toyne were duly elected as
trustees. Mr. Ben Lotton gave continuous service on the Board until 1952 and upon retirement
was presented with a suitably engraved silver salver.
School Section No. 3 West Pickering was formed bounded on the north, by the centre of the
Second Concession; on the west by the town line; on the south by
Lake Ontario and on the east, 40 rods west, of White's Side Road.
The site chosen for the new school was lot l4, plan 288 at the corner of Pine Grove Avenue
and Altona Road. Woodlands Rd. was not cut through to Altona and the short dead-end
street was Pine Grove Ave. “This being considered the most suitable and central site for said
S.S. No. 3 ""West Township of Pickering.""
A small white building (the maids quarters) at the rear of Orchard Inn (northwest corner) was
rented and Mr. R. G. Green was the teacher there in September 1939.
Mr. Chester Wood was the architect, W. J. Trick Co., Oshawa, was the
contractor. The building was a two room, brick-wall school house with a basement room
suitably finished for as auditorium. Many parents gave time, labor and the use of their horses
to level the school yard so that the total cost of the school would not exceed $12,000.
Under the tutorship of Mr. Green and Miss Latta, the pupils moved into their new school on
January 3, 1940. Among the first ten names recorded in the old brown register are
Mary MacFarlane, June Wells, Herman Bell, Phyllis Grigsby and Olga Usaty.
On January 12, 1940, Mr. Wm. Moore, M.P. was the guest speaker at the Official opening.
It is recorded in the minutes that ""it was a very happy and joyful event"".
Mrs. Fisher was the first music teacher who spent one half hour per week in each
classroom at a salary of $12.00 a month.
Miss Jessie Dickson was librarian for several years for the public library
-20-
"
"within the school. This library used only by adults. In 1950 the Home and School Association
received permission from the Board to equip a School Library for the use of the pupils.
In 1944 the principal of the school was also the caretaker and received
an annual salary of $1,718.00.
In 1948 the Home and School Fall Fair was held in the school grounds and the exhibits were
displayed in the unfinished rooms of the first four-room addition on the east side of the
original building. Nearly all residents in the community participated in this event.
Overcrowding made it evident that either an addition or another school was necessary.
Since many of the pupils came across No. 2 Highway from Rosebank,
it was decided to build the Rosebank Road School which was officially opened in June 1953
with
Mr. Wm. Moore as guest speaker.
Again the increase in Rouge Hill School population necessitated a four-room addition on the
south end of the school in 1956. The official opening was on June 27th with
Mr. Wm. McMaster as guest speaker. The Pickering Township School Area No. 2
was formed in January 1956 and the chairman of No. 3 West, Mr. Vaughan Willard was
appointed chairman of the newly formed Area Board. Mr. Willard died in Easter week of that
year so it was fitting that at the official opening of the addition to the Rouge Hill School,
a memorial table, a gift from the staff, was unveiled in memory of Mr. V. Willard and
Mr. R. B. Wells.
Over the years the pupils of the Rouge Hill School enjoyed participating in many operettas
and concerts. The crowning theatrical experience was the production of a Circus in
Pentland's Barn, put on by the combined effort of Rouge Hill and Rosebank Road schools.
This was truly a community effort as the parents made the costumes, loaned ponies and
strung the ropes for the trapeze artist. The elephant, giraffe and lion frames, the costumes
for the fat lady and thin man, both bank costumes and the too-toos for the dancers were
destroyed two years later when the barn burned down.
The C.B.C. televised the Acts, used part of the film on the News that evening and on the
re-cap, at midnight, used the complete film.
Many members of the Home and School Association felt that some recognition should be
made to the graduates of Grade 8.
The 1949-50 class and their parents enjoyed a turkey dinner. Each 'grad' received a
sterling silver school pin.
This event was continued each year until 1965-66 class. This was the last banquet as
Rouge Hill became a Junior School in September 1966.
During the intervening years Mrs. Willard gave a Citizenship Trophy in memory of her
husband. Other trophies were given by Rouge Hill Lions Club for English; by Home and
School for Proficiency and also a Bursary of $50.00 for the most deserving student.
In 1964 the Peter Bradbury Award was given by his parents in memory of Peter who
received the Proficiency Award posthumously.
Many outstanding speakers, to mention a few - Messrs. David Clee. Wm.
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"
"McMaster, K. D. Munroe, W. G. Chatterton, J. C. Richardson and Miss P. Bainbridge,
inspired the now young men and women to higher goals in education and citizenship.
Pickering Township School Area No. 2
Fairport Beach Public School
754 Oklahoma Drive
Bay Ridges, Ontario
Telephone 839-1451
G. N. Charles, B.A., M.ED. Principal
Official Opening
Fairport Beach
Public School
Friday, May 28, 1954
At 7:30 O’clock p.m.
The Board of Trustees
of School Section No. 3, East, Township of Pickering
Walter R. Lynde, Chairman
John S. Denney ---- John E. Hewson
John Forgie, Secretary-Treasurer
A. Archibald, P.S. Inspector
Architects: Parrot, Tambling & Witmer, Toronto
General Contractor: John & Alex Scott, Whitby
"
"In April 1953 the Public School Board of S.S. No. 3 East Pickering
planned a new four room school for Fairport Beach.
The population of this area had grown from 5 to about 145 in five years.
Rather than have the children cross the railroads, highways No. 401 and No. 2,
to an enlarged Dunbarton School, it was decided to build south of the highways.
The site which had the greatest potential was on the hill to the west of the Fairport Beach
Community, at that time an unused field. This land had several advantages.
It had a marvelous view of Frenchman's Bay and the lake, drainage would be excellent,
and the provincial government promised to build a paved road from Moore's Road east to
join the existing road.
Construction of the school was completed is 1953. The Principal appointed was
Mr. M. Parkinson and the staff members were Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Vanderwater and
Mrs. Jean Jones, a part-time caretaker.
At the May 1954 official opening Mr. W. H. Moore of Mooreland Ave. gave the main address.
Mr. A. A. Archibald, Inspector of Public Schools spoke briefly.
Water was scarce at Fairport Beach School and the waterman dumped his 1000 gallon tank
into the school tank often. Two wells were dug in order to locate water.
There was some cause for alarm one bright May morning in 1955,
when the weather-beaten veteran of many drillings, an inveterate tobacco chewer,
calmy informed the principal at 11:30 that there ""might be some noise within a few minutes
as he was going to drop two cases of dynamite down the well hole to blast the water up""
and this, at a time when kindergarten pupils were being dismissed for home. However,
""the blasting operation"" was postponed until 12:15 giving all homeward going pupils an
opportunity of clearing the yard and all lunch eaters a chance to get close to inside walls away
from the windows. At 12:17 after a great noise and much trembling of the building,
the well driller entered, disappointed that no water gushed forth from the efforts.
About two weeks later, after ""witching"" sessions and days of the steady pounding of the
driller rig, water was struck at about 125' deep. The water was pure but an explosive gas also
came from the well. However, the well could be capped and used.
Community spirit grew and the huge Christmas Dinner of 1954 was a memorable experience
for the teachers, 150 pupils and the community that provided it.
Soon after moving into the school in January of 1954 it became apparent that there were a
few problems to overcome in the school, the biggest of which was the furnace.
The School Board having much foresight as to the growth of Fairport Beach installed a
mammoth furnace large enough to heat twelve classrooms. One cold January day about two
weeks after the initial opening of the school, ""smoke"" was observed coming from under
the steel fire door which led to the boiler room. There was also a rather loud hissing
sound emanating from behind that door. Suspecting a ""blow up"" any minute the fire
alarm was rung and pupils and teachers were orderly cleared and the fire department
called. What excitement there was when masks were donned and that boiler room door
was opened! The firemen pulled the electrical switch which stopped the furnace.
The outside furnace-room door was opened and the “smoke"" which turned out to be
steam subsided. What a wet mess there was in the furnace room! The firemen said that
""the shut-off"" controls must have stuck and the ""pop valve"" blew. Furnace men were
called in and the controls were adjusted.
-23-
"
"11
1. Baseline
2. Bayview Heights
3. Bay Road
4. Dunbarton
5. Frenchman's Bay
6. Fairport Beach
7. Rosebank Road
8. Rouge Hill
9. Glengrove
10. Sir John A. Macdonald
11. Vaughan Willard
12. West Rouge
13. William G. Davis
14. Woodlands Centennial-Model
-24-
"
"In April of 1957, tenders were called for a four-room, addition to the school to include a
kindergarten, a large storeroom for cleaning supplies and a library.
By 1965 the housing developments of Dover-by-the-Bay and the Bayshore
Town Houses were well under way and it became obvious that the existing 8 rooms could not
accommodate the children moving into the Fairport Beach area.
The Board of Trustees therefore commissioned Mr. T. W. Beddall, an architect resident in
Area 2 to design extension of the existing facilities. The 8 new classrooms, a gymnatorium,
offices and an extended boiler room plus storage areas were occupied in September 1966.
Fairport Beach was designated a Junior School (Grades Kindergarten to Six.).
In its first year of operation as a 16 classroom school, Fairport Beach saw an enrolment
jump from 258 to 581. An experience, never to be forgotten was the chaos on the opening
day when 323 pupils and their parents presented themselves for registration while tradesmen
struggled to complete work in the corridors and ancillary areas.
In September 1951 a two room school was opened by the school trustees of S.S. No. 2 on
Liverpool Road, south of Highway No. 40l and the Old Kingston Road or Highway No. 2.
This school now referred to as Bay Road School was commonly known as the Frenchman's
Bay School. The two acres of land were purchased from Mr. Don Annan for $2,000.
The original school consisted of the two north rooms.
The history of Bay Road School had its beginnings, however, prior to September 1951.
Due to the crowded conditions of Base Line School it was found necessary to establish a
class at Fairport Church after Easter in 1951. Ethel Graham was appointed to teach this
class.
Although, both rooms were ready in September there were not enough pupils.
This meant opening only one room. The pupils front Fairport Church joined with other
pupils to form a class comprising of pupils of Grades 1 to 5. In January 1952 the other room
was opened as there were too many pupils at Base Line. Mrs. Willoughby came to teach
Grades 6, 7, and 8 at a salary of $2,200 per annum.
By the spring of 1953 crowded conditions prevailed again.
There were 86 pupils at Bay Road and 71 at Base Line.
The trustees decided to add two additional rooms.
During the completion of the new section Grades 1 and 2 were taught by
Nancy Montgomery at Fairport Church Hall.
Over the years it has served the community well. Not only has it played an important role in
the education of children but it has been used for a variety of social functions.
Since 1961 Bay Road School has not functioned as an independent school.
During the construction of Bayview Heights School the office of the principal,
Mr. John Tickle, was located here. Some of the pupils of the new Bayview Heights School
attended classes here.
-25-
"
"Since 1964 the school has been a part of Sir John A. Macdonald Public
School.
Bay Road School is presently serving Pickering Township School Area No. 2 in a very
vital way. The department of audiovisual aids has been operating out of this school.
PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
ROSEBANK ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL
Rosebank Road
R.R.3, PICKERING, ONTARIO
Telephone: 282-0843
Harry M. Brindza, B.A. Principal
The population explosion brought on by the Second World War munitions plant in Ajax
and the post-war marriages created many problems in providing adequate schooling for the
influx of children who walked two to three miles to the Rouge Hill School from the Rosebank
Road area. There were no school buses and parents remember with gratitude,
the kindly neighbors who packed the rosy-cheeked youngsters into their cars on many a c
old morning. In one short year, enrolment leaped from seventy-six to two hundred students,
until by 1952, Rouge Hill School was bursting at the seams.
As part of School Section No. 3 West, the major cost of a new school would have to be
borne by its residents. How to balance supply and demand seemed impossible,
but the combined efforts of an over-worked School Board and a new Ratepayers
Association, set the challenge head on. On June 6, 1953, the new Rosebank Road
Public School was officially opened:
""A large number of friends, pupils, etc of School Section No. 3
West attended the official opening of the beautiful new Rosebank
Rd. School, located south of No. 2 Highway on the east side of the
Old Rosebank Rd.
A strictly modern, one-storey building, erected at a cost of
$87,000. embodies all the new, known principles of school and classroom consturction.......
A prayer of Dedication was given by Rev. E. G. Robinson, B.D.,
followed by the corner-stone ceremony carried out by Board
Sect'y., A. W. Tyas, who deposited the documents in the copper
box; the introduction of former Inspector R. A. Hutchinson by
Inspector A. Archibald; a presentation of the silver trowel by
Architect Harold Carter to Mr. Hutchinson who laid the corner stone.
Mr.Lionel Cragg, President of the Lions Club made the official
presentation of a handsome flag pole and flag. He was assisted in the flag-raising by
two young pupils of the school. A bronze
-26-
"
"plaque was placed at the foot of the pole by and from the Lions.
It was again a pleasure to listen to Ontario County's Mr. W. H. Morre,
the ceremony speaker.......
The school's classes sang several selections under the leadership of Music Supervisor,
Mr. Hugh Martin....Short addresses were given by Reeve Geo. Todd, Trustee M. V. Willard,
Kiwanis President H. McClement, Trustee John Usaty and Home and School President
Mrs. Jean Tyas.
The Lions Club also presented the school with & piano, through 1st. Vice-President
P. Rowett. Mrs. E. B. Phin introduced the staff names. This was followed by
""Cutting the Ribbon and Handing Over the Keys"" by former Board Member
Ben. W. Lotton Board Chairman R. B. Wells addressed the visitors, thanking the Architect,
the Contractor Thos. MacDonald, etc., for their aid in bringing to a conclusion the erection of
this beautiful school.
Following the Benediction by Rev. A. F. Bamford, refreshments
were served in the school by ladies of the district.
To commemorate the Official Opening of the school and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
each pupil in the Section is being presented with a suitably decorated mug.""
The new school with bright, airy rooms, was a joy to teachers and pupils alike. Some of the
students had known nothing but overcrowded conditions from their first day of school,
while the Teaching Staff had worked uncounted hours above and beyond the call of duty.
Highway crossings along with heavy truck traffic on Altona Road, had been a source of worry
and parents too breathed a sigh of relief. Although the original school was only large
enough to accommodate the junior grades, it had been designed with future growth in mind.
In 1958 the balance of the classrooms were added, together with Adminsitration Offices,
a Board Room and a Library.
Today's affluent society is inclined to take schools for granted, only grumbling a little when the
tax bill comes in. But Rosebank Road School was not just a school, to those who had a hand
in its beginning. Fought for and wrangled over through interminable meetings,
in an era when the dollar bill had some significance, it represented the culmination of a
dream, the fitting symbol of a better way of life.
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"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA No. 2
GLENGROVE Public School
1934 GLEGROVE Road
Pickering. Ontario
Telephone 839-1771
J. H. LADD. B.A. Principal
The history of Glengrove School predates the formation of Pickering Township School Area
No. 2. In 1954 there was, and still is, a school on Liverpool Road south of Highway No. 401
and the old Kingston Road or Highway No. 2. This school was situated at the northeast corner
of Frenchman's Bay and was known as School Section No. 2, but commonly referred to as
Frenchman's Bay School. The present structure is known as Bay Road School to distinguish
it from the new modern school of Frenchman's Bay built near the southwest corner of that
body of water in 1965. S.S. No. 2 also operated the Base Line School.
In 1954 School Section No. 2 required additional rooms to meet the increased enrolment of
pupils. The Board of Trustees, which consisted of Mr. M. Miller, Dr. W. McKay, Mr. Baldson,
and Mr. J. Gorton, recommended after much debate that two rooms be added to the
Bay Road structure and that a two-roomed school be built north of Highway No. 2.
Thus Glengrove School became a reality in September of 1955 with Mr. H. Brindza as
principal and Mrs. T. Bodnaryk as his assistant teacher.
Glengrove School became a part of Pickering Township School Area No. 2 in 1956,
and in 1958 four more rooms were added to the building. The teachers on staff were
Mr. H. Brindza, Mrs. C. Rogers, Mrs. N. Denney, Miss K. Cunningham, Mrs. Spring and
Mr. A. Bean. The Board of Trustees for the new school area consisted of Mr. V. Willard,
Mr. A. Fortier, Mr. W. Cooney, Mr. C. Dick and Mr. J. Denney. This Board was ably
assisted by Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. A. Teas, and by the Inspector of Schools,
Mr. A. Archibald.
Mr. R. Huebert, Mr. W. Fairburn and Mr. G. Clarke were Principals who served this
school faithfully between 1962 and 1966 after the departure of Mr. H. Brindza in 1962.
In September 1966 Mr. J. Ladd became principal of Glengrove and at the same time it
was converted to a junior school. Two Special Education classes filled the vacancies left
by the departed grades seven and eight.
It is difficult to predict the philosophy of education or its methodology one hundred years
from now. However, we sincerely hope that the necessary alterations and innovations at
Glengrove will be made to keep it in the forefront of education, and that the readers of this
brief history in 2067 will note with pride that many of their present leaders had their humble
beginnings in this schools
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"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
VAUGHAN WILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOL
DIXIE ROAD
R.R. 3, Pickering, Ontario TELEPHONE 839-1931
Donald B. Hopkins, Principal
Many people who travel regularly along the dusty Dixie Road may think back and remember
seeing cattle and horses roaming the fields that now give way to 250 rambling children every
school recess in the Vaughan Willard Public
School grounds. Even on occasions one might still see horses migrating across the school
grounds after school hours.
The School Board chose this site because looking into the future they foresaw houses
springing up all around, developing into a large community. Then Vaughan Willard would be
ready to accommodate the expanding population of school children.
The 6.28 acres of sandy farm land were purchased by the School Board at $2,000.
per acre on the 21st. of June, 1956.
The school was named in honour of Mr. Vaughan Willard, a former Trustee
and Chairman of Pickering S.S. No. 3 East, one of the sections which were formed into the
new School Area. Mr. Willard was the first Chairman of the new School Area Board elected
January 6, 1956, and in April of that year he succumbed to a heart attack.
It was as a token of esteem for the work that Mr. Willard had accomplished that the
Area Board by unanimous consent decided to name the first school constructed in his honour.
Construction of the new 6 room school commenced in March of 1957 and the school was
opened for classes for the fall term is September 1957 but not before bankruptcy problems
developed with the Contractor almost at completion date.
Mr. John Tickle, was appointed as Principal and did much to get the school rolling smoothly.
On the opening day, 250 eager pupils, some of whom had watched with anticipation the
building and final preparations of the school, settled comfortably in their respective
classrooms. Most of the pupils of the graduation class of 1964-65 year had started their
education on opening day of Vaughan
Willard, and had spent eight long but happy years at this school.
Vaughan Willard is the scene of much activity. All schools in the Area have come to
compete in the annual Field Bay at this site which is presently one of the few not yet
encircled by a housing development.
In March of 1966 the official opening of the new entrance and playroom took place.
For future——those pupils who received all or a part of their education here may recall the
many interesting events in which they were involved.
They will begin to understand the school crest: Itineris Stabilitas Sanitas"",
Work - Stability - Health.
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"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA No. 2
BAYVIEW HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL
JAMES E. FOX. B.A., B.Ed.
Principal
14O0 Garvolin Avenue
Bay Ridges Ontario
Telephone 839-1146
When plans for Bay Ridges subdivision, which was commenced in 1960,
were approved, it was obvious that school accommodation, which at that time consisted of
six classrooms (2 at Base Line School and 4 at Bay Road School) would be inadequate.
In the subdivision plans two sites had been provided for Public School use.
The Board of Trustees therefore initiated the procedures to provide accommodation on the
northern site designated for an elementary school. Thus, in 1962, construction was
commenced on Garvolin Avenue which resulted in the Bayviev Heights School.
The corner stone ceremony was held on May 25, 1962 with Michael Starr M.P. for the riding,
as guest speaker. The official opening of the twenty-six classrooms, $500,000.00 school,
serving this new community was performed by William G. Davis, Minister of Education,
in January 1963.
During the school year of 1961-62, while Bayview Heights School was being built,
classes were held at Bay Road School (headquarters), Base Line, and West Rouge
Schools in the area, Lord Elgin School in Ajax, and the old Church Street School in
Pickering Village. (which has since been demolished having been condemned prior to this
occupation) The monumental task of moving so many pupils to such varied accommodations
and locations will undoubtedly live long in the memories of many of the pupils and staff,
who under the leadership of Principal John Tickle, managed somehow to survive that year.
September 1962 found pupils in the actual Bayview Heights School, occupying twelve
classrooms, the library, the gymnasium, the Home Economics and Industrial Arts rooms
and the two kindergarten classrooms. Some outposts were still in operation, however,
while construction of twelve additional classrooms, which
had already been commenced, was completed.
In the spring of 1963, with Bayview Heights School bursting at the seems,
and construction of houses and occupancy taking place almost simultaneously,
it was deemed necessary to begin plans for use of the second land site designated
for use by the Public School Board in the area. Organization of the Sir John A. Macdonald
School, thereby relieving the pupil population at Bayview Heights School,
was commenced.
Although the history of Bayview Heights School spans a short period of time its creation
and the need for it has had a lasting influence on the educational system in the Area,
Besides the introduction of specialized facilities in the form of Home Economics and
Industrial Arts rooms, a library and a
-31-
"
"gymnatorium, which have continued to be a part of new plans and are being added to
older schools, the Bayview Heights School had alone increased by half again the number
of existing classrooms in the area before that time. The development which commenced in
this area and created the need for this school has through its growth required further
expansion of both educational facilities and services to today's proportions.
Bayview Heights might therefore be termed the corner stone of Area 2 in its present form.
PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
Sir John A. MacDonald Public School
R H. HUEBERT, B.A.
777 Balaton Avenue
Bay Ridges, Ontario
Principal
TELEPHONE 839-3029
Sir John A. Macdonald Public School already has considerable history and tradition
although its roots reach back only to 1964 when the southward expansion of Bay Ridges
took place. During that time it grew dramatically from l70 pupils and 6 teachers to 900 pupils
and 32 teachers.
Originally the school was to be called Balaton School, being named after the street upon
which it is situated. However, the name of Canada's first Prime Minister was felt to be a fitting
memento to the one man most responsible for Confederation and more appropriate for the
school name. An unsuccessful attempt was made to get an appropriate phone number for the
school; either
TE 9-1867 to commemorate the date of Confederation, or TE 9-1815 to commemorate
Macdonald's birthday.
The cornerstone for the building came from the quarries of Wallace Sandstone in
Picto County, Nova Scotia. It was the same type of stone as was used to construct the
Provincial Building in Charlottetown where the delegates from the various Provinces of
British North America met September 1, 1864 to discuss & Federal Union of British North
America. A ceremony observed by all the pupils of the school was held on June 17, 1965,
when the Commemorative Stone was set into the foundation of the building.
Behind this cornerstone a vault was placed into which had been inserted a local newspaper,
a set of coins from 1965, the names of all the pupils enrolled at the school, and the names of
all the teachers.
The Official Opening of Sir John A. Macdonald School took place on June 26, 1965,
when The Right Honourable Vincent Massey officially laid the Commemorative
Cornerstone. An honour guard comprised of Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Cubs,
Girl Guides and Brownies received Mr. Massey and his party. The youngsters
were inspected by Mr. Massey, who chatted with some of them as the party moved
along under the varied flags and banners.
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"
"Mr. Massey spoke as follows:
""First of all I want to say how touched I was to be invited to be with
you on this most important and really historic occasion. Secondly,
I wish to thank Mr. van Houten for his most generous introduction.
I am told that there are about 600 boys and girls in this school - this school alone -
and about 4,000 in the school area (I am very glad that some of you are here today).
I am told that Pickering Township now stretches to the limits of Metropolitan Toronto on the
West and almost joins the city of Oshawa on the east; everywhere are highways,
railways and communications of all kinds. In short, there is evidence whichever way we
look of the immense growth of civilization, as we know it today. I can't help contrasting this
contemporary scene with pictures drawn for us by historians of the district.
I have recently read a description of how this same countryside, untouched, almost primeval,
must have appeared to the Abbe Fenelon who was, as you no doubt know,
a French priest who established a Mission here in 1669. He had come, as I have today,
nearly 300 years later, from what is now Port Hope (and one can imagine how long and
painful the journey must have been for him) to bring Christianity to the Seneca Indians,
whose village overlooked the waters of what is now called Frenchman's Bay,
An early writer speaks glowingly of the bay. I must quote a sentence or two:-
..The village looked out upon a wide and land-locked mere which every summer was fringed
anew with floating milfoil and embroidered with pond-lilies. This peaceful bayou was so little
moved by the great lake that the stormiest wrath outside awoke but a soft response within. '
But the land itself was cruel and the winters bitter. Of Fenelon's winter it is written that 'food
became so scarce that he was thankful for a squirrel or a chipmunk that came his way and
sometimes was reduced to gnawing the fungi which grew at the base of the pine trees.'
To the settlers who followed him, French and English, the wilderness was the enemy -
an enemy finally defeated by their skill, determination and an unbreakable faith in the future.
Trees were the foes which had to be subdued, cut down, rooted up and the land made fit for
cultivation. That has given rise in our communities - not after all, so very far from the pioneer
days - to a habit of regarding the tree as still an enemy, and I need not remind you of the
lamentable sacrifice of trees in our cities and towns each year, and our failure when they
do go, to replace them. So much for a digression.
The scattering of pioneers here in Upper Canada was joined by ever-swelling numbers.
Settlements became villages, municipal government was
established and churches and schools were erected. The first schools in Pickering were
built of logs, with plank floors and benches standing around the walls.
Usually a box stove was placed in the centre of the room to heat the building,
and pupils often contributed firewood to help pay for their tuition - a most economical
arrangement! This is a far cry from the 1965 school we see before as today;
but schools old and new have the same objects.
As Pickering was growing, so, of course, was the country as a whole.
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"
"In 1815 was born the man whose name we honour a century and a half later in this school -
a man, incidentally, who lived on these same shores of Lake Ontario and dearly loved them.
As you know, just 98 years ago next Thursday the Dominion of Canada came into being.
This was very largely as a result of the vision and faith of John Alexander Macdonald,
who foresaw a nation in the making, helped to make it and kept it a living thing over the
first few difficult years. This is the nation of which you and I are the proud inheritors.
In 1864 Sir John played the leading part in the Quebec Conference, of which it has been said
that it 'proclaimed the fact that within the British empire evolution had taken the place of
revolution as the path of political development.' In introducing into Parliament in 1865,
the resolutions adopted at Quebec, Macdonald concluded his speech with these words -and I
make no apology for quoting them on this day:-
I would again implore the House not to let this opportunity
pass. It is an opportunity which may never recur. If we do
not take advantage of the time; if we show ourselves unequal
to the occasions, it may never return, and we shall hereafter bitterly
and unavailingly regret having failed to embrace the happy opportunity now afforded of
founding a great nation under
the fostering care of Great Britain, and our Sovereign Lady, Queen Victoria.'
Sir John's impassioned plea was not lost upon Parliament. Confederation was achieved and
while it had, of course, many Fathers, it is true that 'to one man alone is it mainly due that the
child took a vigorous hold of life.' (Perhaps you will forgive me if I say that the author of that
remark was my father-in-law, Sir George Parkin, who wrote one of the many lives of Sir John
Macdonald.)
On November 26, 1857, Macdonald had become Premier of the Province of Canada.
Thirty-three years later he was still Prime Minister of Canada, but of a Canada which,
stretching by now from sea to sea had become a great Dominion. When Sir John died in
June, 1891, one of his ablest successors and for years his political opponent,
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in the course of a long address to the House of Commons, said this:-
'..It is in every respect a great national loss, for he is no more who was, in many respects,
Canada's most illustrious son, and in every sense Canada's foremost citizen and
statesman...
'As to his statesmanship, it is written, in the history of Canada. It may be said without any
exaggeration whatever, that the life of Sir John Macdonald, from the date he entered
parliament, is the history of Canada…’
Could you have a worthier namesake for your schools than Sir John A.Macdonald?
Boys and girls, you (and the thousands of pupils who will follow you within these walls)
will spend a very important part of your life in this school. What you learn here will greatly
influence not only your individual future, it will have a bearing on the future of our nation.
But the future can only grow from knowledge of the past, from learning about and fully
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"
"appreciating the rich heritage of tradition and history with which we are fortunate enough to
be endowed; so I earnestly ask this of each one of you--that you value to the full the privilege
of attending this splendid school; learn everything you can while you are here: cherish the
history of this place, remembering that Indian, Frenchman and Englishman alike gave to this
soil all that each had, were he fisherman, sailor, trader, explorer, teacher, missionary,
settler or statesman, in order that you, here, today, in 1965 could benefit and, in your turn,
give of your best to our country in the years ahead.
I am told that the second largest nuclear power plant in the world is about to be built a mile or
two away from where we are assembled this after-noon. That will be concerned with physical
power, but there is another kind of power which is generated in a building like this -
the power that comes from the pupils, as their hidden resources are developed - imagination,
enterprise, integrity - and turns them into citizens. This is your power plant.
Ladles and gentlemen, you are aware that last year Her Majesty The Queen opened the fine
new buildings in Charlottetown, commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the Conference
which led to Confederation, and in which Sir John A. Mcdonald played so vital a part.
It is fitting, therefore, that the foundation stone which I am about to lay should have been hewn
from the same quarry as the fabric of the Charlottetown buildings. On this stone you will see
the words 'Providence being their Guide, They builded better than they knew.'
How true this has been - and the truth of this is testified by our presence here today.
I pray that it may be equally true of those who built the Sir John A. Macdonald Public School -
may it prosper.
I have great pleasure now, in carrying out the task you have asked me here to perform.""
After Mr. Massey cut the ribbon to officially open the school, all guests proceeded to
inspect the school and thereafter sign the register of visitors for this special day.
The gold key presented by the Architect and the Bible presented by Mrs. Isabel Ross,
who represented the Trustees and Ratepayers Association, are in the display cabinet
next to a bust of Sir John A. Macdonald. The photograph
of Sir John A. Macdonald in the school's front hall was presented by Michael Starr, M.P.
Many schools in the Area were used by pupils of Sir John A. Macdonald during
construction periods:
Bay Road --- 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
Fairport --- 1964, 1966
Glengrove --- 1964, 1965
Bayview Heights --- 1964 1965, 1966
Base Line --- 1964, 1965, 1966.
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"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
FRENCHMAN'S BAY PUBLIC SCHOOL
920 OKLAHOMA DRIVE
Bay Ridges. Ontario
Telephone 839-1331
R. A. MARTIN. B.A., M.ED, PRINCIPAL
Frenchman's Bay School, while located on a site rich in history, is very-much a part of the
present. At our official opening, December 6, 1965, Mr. A. R. W. Plumptre, the Principal of
Scarborough College, spoke to us about our place in the past and our responsibilities for the
future. This appreciation and pride in our historical antecedents and our trust in developments
for the future are symbolic of the growth of our school and our area.
Since its beginning in 1965 with 12 classes, ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 8,
Frenchman's Bay has become the first Senior School in this area. Offering a partial rotary
programme, a library, special shop and home economics rooms, and other facilities tailored
to meet the needs of more mature students, we have all worked, staff and students,
to accomplish our aim--a sound educational programme in a free and enjoyable environment.
When Mr. Plumptre wished us every success, we were struck by one phrase which, in many
ways, describes our school:
""The past should be appreciated, the future anticipated, and the present savoured.""
In this spirit, one of our area's newest schools looks forward to a bright future as we look
back on our short, but vibrant, past.
School Colours: Gray on maroon.
Special Events and Dates:
1. Opening of school at Fairport Beach — temporary quarters — Sept. 7/65.
2. Classes begin in new building — November 3, 1965.
3. Official Opening — December 6, 1965.
4. Opening of Senior School -- September 6, 1966.
5. Classes begin in new wing — November 4, 1966.
6. Home and School Association formed — March 6, 1967.
7. First Student Council Meeting — April 3, 1967.
8. Graduation Exercises — June 23, 1967.
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"
"PICKERING TOWNSHIP SCHOOL AREA 2
WILLIAM G. DAVIS PUBLIC SCHOOL
128 East Avenue
West Hill, Ontario
Telephone 282-2821
Mrs. E. B. Phin. Principal
With the advent of the Rougedale Acres subdivision in the southern part of West Rouge,
it soon became apparent that further school accommodation in the area would be a
necessity. However, as construction work on homes slowed almost to a halt,
it was decided to meet the pressing needs with further additions to the existing West Rouge
School.
In 1965, subdivision building ""began again, in earnest, in this same area and once again
brought forth the question of school accommodation. A site of approximately five acres of
farm land was purchased from Mr. Shipley. The location - the west side of East Avenue
adjacent to the present subdivision boundary and across the road from the back portion of
the Rouge Hills Golf Course, which rumors had it was soon destined to become a
subdivision.
Architect William Saccoccio was engaged by the Board to design for this site a school which
would meet the needs of modern teaching techniques and would have such built in flexibility
as to meet the demands of the future. Thus the basic design - a cluster of pentagonal classroom
units surrounding a central core of auditorium and administrative area -
(the first school of its kind in the Province of Ontario) - came into being in Pickering
Township School Area 2. Even before construction was completed inquires were
received from many sources regarding this new design concept in school architecture
and it is to be expected that modified versions of it will be appearing in communities near
and far in the immediate future.
The Board of Trustees thought that it would be fitting to have such a school bear the name of
the individual, who at the time was most responsible for influencing and implementing
tremendous advances in educational programmes which required this type of facility, -
the Minister of Education for the Province of Ontario - William G. Davis.
In the school's organizational year of operation, under the leadership of Principal,
Mrs. E. B. Phin, the pupils were necessarily scattered about
the area in various available accommodations while the seemingly slow job of construction
was completed. Occupancy of the school will take place in
September 1967. The official opening by The Honourable William G. Davis,
inister of Education, will take place on Monday, October 16, 1967.
There are three divisions in the school - Kindergarten, Primary and Junior -
which will cover the work up to Grade 6 plus. Ideally there would be individual instruction
but the pupils will be divided into small groups with the range of pupil ability being considered.
The teacher, as motivator and guide, will strive to bring each child to the optimum of his
capacity by having him progress at his own rate. No child should experience failure or
frustration. Educational growth is continuous and children are promoted at any time of
year to the next level of work. Daily records of pupils' progress are kept and short tests,
oral or written, are given to
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"
"Centennial Parade-Oct 15, 1966 - All schools participated and even the rain did not
dampen the tremendous enthusiasm.
Centennial Dress-Up Week in the spring of /67. Three schools hosted area Centennial
Dances.
Centennial Celebrations
This vast musical ensemble was only part of the pageant.
""A Reason to be Proud""
Scenes from the mammoth spring /67 production by staff and pupils - held May 31,
June 1 and 2 at Pickering High.
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"determine whether the child has mastered the concept or if he needs guidance and help.
Parent-Teacher Interview is the method of reporting to parents. A
close contact between the home and the school assures the best understanding of the
child and is a stimulant to his progress.
The cluster of pentagonal rooms with folding walls lends itself to team teaching in Literature,
Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, etc. where the teacher most interested and capable,
presents a master lesson to many children. The follow-up application and recording is
done by the other teachers of the team.
W 0 0 D L A NDS C E NT E N NIA L
PUBLIC SCHOOL
The Woodlands Centennial Senior School which will open in 1968, will be the first school
specifically designed for senior students to be constructed by this Board.
Located near Dunbarton High School, the building will be unique in design and will be
centered around a Library Learning Centre. Free standing stacks, study carols,
and an Audio Visual room make up this part of the school.
Much of the programme will be of the Team Teaching nature taking place in a large room
with folding walls. Other classrooms are designed for specific subjects, such as music,
science, art, home economics and industrial arts.
The programme will be designed to make full use of all types of audio visual equipment
including a video tape recorder. The structure of the programme will be flexible in nature in
keeping with the physical construction of the building.
This new philosophy both in teaching and administration will meet the needs of the individual
pupil and bring each child to the optimum of his capabilities.
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"
"GRADE EIGHT GRADUATION EXERCISES,which at one time saw guests out-number the
graduates at their banquet, have changed in recent years due to the growth of larger schools.
Increase in the number of graduates has lead to the more formal type exercises
(sans Banquet) followed by a dance. A greater concentration of graduates in one school as
provided by a Senior School System is causing this to change so that formal exercises
might be held on one evening with a dance being held at a different time.
AREA SPORTS HONOURS are keenly sought annually. Soccer, Volleyball and Baseball
keep staff and students busy practising playing both inter-class competitions and interschool
games. Football is receiving new emphasis in recent years. Track and field practising and
competition; in the Spring sometimes make the completion date of the baseball schedule a
little dubious. The weather has often forced an extension of completing dates. Basketball and
Badminton have been possible since gymnatoriums have been added to the schools.
Indoor tournaments of an interclass variety are popular. Exhibition games on an area
basis may lead to stronger competition when all schools are able to enjoy the facilities
afforded by a gymnatorium at their own school.
EXCURSIONS used to involve only the senior pupils because of the financial problems of
getting transportation. Now with our own buses short excursions add much to the educational
programme. A park within walking distance (not more than 2 miles) usually meant the
difference between a year end school picnic at or away from the school grounds.
These were often attended by mothers with preschool children joining in.
Now a June excursion of 2 or 3 classes at the same grade level may take a
picnic lunch to eat at a park near the main point of their visit but the day of the full
school picnic is no longer possible.
FIELD DAY, this year divided into a Junior and a Senior day and was held in June.
It evolved from one which used to be held in conjunction with the Danbarton Kiwanis Fall Fair.
In the spring of each year the Kiwanians distributed seeds to the children and in the fall they
held the Fair at which time the plants grows from the seed were judged. Cooking and
woodworking, writing and art work, pets and decorated bicycles, were all a part of this activity.
The Fair has since been discontinued but the Kiwanis still provide the crests for the Area
Field Day and support achievement trophies in some of the schools in the area.
Interested staff provide an added incentive for the area track stars mow by taking them to
other meets for further competition.
PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTESTS have been
held annually in February on an area basis since its inception. Senior winner
(1967-Terry Quinney) recipent of the Miles Cook Trophy,
represents the area at the county level of the Ontario Hydro Contest.
In the Junior Contest sponsored by the Principal's Council,
the winner receives the Principal's Trophy. (1967-Joanne Gainer)
TEACHERS' ACTIVITIES have ranged from a Teachers' Choir to staff Bowling Leagues
and more recently,
"
"Activities in the Area
Bus Drivers Win Safety Awards
Field Day
Public Speaking Champions
Centennial Essay Contest Winners
Softball Excitement
Instrumental Music
Cheers Are Important
Excustion To A Sugar Bush
Clubs
Graduation Scholarship Trophy Winner
-41-"
"Curling Leagues. Board Dinners and
Teas and area-wide Dances and Socials have also seen their day in Area 2.
After school hours staff participation in extra-curricular activities for students, professional
development meetings and school programmes such as Open House, Home and School,
Concerts etc., has been extensive. While programme planning and preparations must
continue, Staff have always shown an avid interest and willingness to participate in
community affairs.
PARENT-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES have included Fun Fairs to raise money for school
libraries and equipment. Operation of these libraries has been greatly enhanced by the
volunteer librarian service of interested parents. Active parent groups have always given a
willing hand for school functions be it to serve tea or to help supervise or transport children on
outings. May this interest and assistance continue.
TRANSPORTATION Buses seen rarely in the area a decade ago are a common sight
today. At that time a few children were transported on rented services. Presently the Board
owns 4 buses to provide the services required by the much larger population and even then
rented services are sometimes needed for peak periods. Besides an improved educational
programme (i.e. Home Economics sad Shop Classes, Instrumental Music, special education,
senior school programmes) which centralized accommodation can provide additional
programmes of benefit can be provided more economically and excursions can be made to
local points of interest. Increased safety for very young children is also a benefit in these days
of increased numbers and speeds of cars in areas where sidewalks do not exist.
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"
"INSPECTORS IN THIS AREA
SINCE 1872
INSPECTORS OF ONTARIO, SOUTH
James McBrien - appointed for whole county in 1872. County was
divided in 1900 when Mr. McBrien was relieved of South part.
John Waugh - appointed in 1900 for Ontario, South, He was
principal of Whitby Collegiate Institute before 1900 and was appointed Chief Inspector of
Province in 1910.
Robert Walks - appointed in 1910 for Ontario, South. In 1913 became a Master in Toronto
Normal School.
Robert A. Hutchison: — transferred from Ontario North to inspectorate of Ontario South in
1913: retired in 1943.
Arthur Archibald - transferred from Inspectorate of Haldimand to Ontario South: retired in
1959.
T. H. Houghton - Assistant Inspector, 1956-1959.
J. C. McClelland, 1959-1962 - Inspector of Schools Ontario
No. 4 - Mr. J. C. McClelland, B.A., M.Ed. records that ""When Mr. Archibald retired,
I was transferred from Timmins to take his place. Since Mr. Archibald had been assisted by
Mr. Houghton, it was decided to create two Inspectorates in what was formerly Ontario South.
I was given the western part of the county called Ontario No. 4 which consisted of Pickering
Township and the Village of Pickering. By 1961 the enrolment had increased to 2,529,
and the Board wisely decided to ask the Minister to create a municipal Inspectorate with
Mr. K. D. Munroe as Superintendent of Schools. This request was approved and on
August, 1962, Pickering T.S.A. No. 2 was removed from my Inspectorate.
I enjoyed my three years of service to Pickering T.S.A. No. 2. I found the principals most
cooperative and the teachers dedicated to their work.""
1962 - 1967
Superintendent of Schools
Municipal Inspectorate Ontario No.5 Mr. K. D. Munroe,
B.A., M.Ed.
1966-1967 605009
Inspector of Schools Ontario No. 5 Mr. R. J. Linton,
B.A., M.Ed.
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"