Remembering 50 Years At Clarendon Central PS

Apr 11, 2013

It is no surprise that the plans for a 50-year anniversary celebration at Clarendon Central Public School (CCPS) in Plevna began with two women who both have had a long and rich history there.

Heather White, an early graduate and former caretaker at the school, and Brenda Martin, one of the school's former principals, began thinking about a 50-year anniversary celebration close to a year and a half ago. The two formed a committee to organize the event, which is open to everyone and will take place at the school on Saturday, April 13 from 10am - 4pm.

The event is to remember and celebrate the beloved community school whose motto continues to be “Working Together, Learning Together, Growing Together”. Construction began on the school in 1961 and was completed in 1963 when it was officially opened. Clarendon Central would end up replacing 14 smaller schools in the surrounding area, including the Ardoch, Plevna, Fernleigh and Ompah school houses. John Walton was the school's first principal and its first teachers were Elinor (Burke) Black, Gail Wilson and Ernest Young. In 1988 plans were underway to add a gymnasium to the school, which was completed in 1992.

To this day the school continues to serve students and their families with a continued dedication to the arts, new technology, and hands on skills.

Brenda Martin was school principal from 1984-88 and headed up the silver anniversary celebrations in 1988. She spoke of what the school has meant to her over the years. “I was always impressed by the many talented students who attended the school over the years. So many of them were incredibly talented in the arts and technology areas and they really benefited from the many artists who came to the school to teach them a number of different skills, like wood working, tie-dying and mask making.” Many of those objects will be on display at the event.

Martin also spoke of the intimacy of the school because of its size, which is just under 100 students in total from kindergarten to grade 8. “Clarendon Central is a very unique little country school and teaching there was always been such a joy because the curriculum for the entire school could be so easily integrated.”

She recalled some of her favorite memories, which included bringing the students to her cottage where they learned about outdoor education: ice fishing, snow shoeing, native traditions and more. "I remember when the students paddled canoes down the Mississippi River to pick wild rice; it was such an intimate experience and I'm sure some of those students still carry with them some of those memories to this day.”

Martin is hoping to re-ignite some of those memories at the upcoming anniversary celebrations, where classrooms will designated by the various decades and special activities and events will be taking place in each location. Visitors will see displays of old photos and will be invited to participate in a number of special activities like trivia challenges, sock hops and other events from school days gone by.

In the '60s room pictures of the various old schoolhouses that CCPS replaced along with examples of furniture and school equipment from that era will be on display. The later years of the school will focus on new technology at the school including its smart boards and computers. Hungry visitors will be able to enjoy a '60s style cafe with hotdogs, hamburgs and sodas. There will also be a raffle for a number of special hand made items by former students, which include an oak blanket box by Brian Lemke, an original painting by Gleva Lemke and an original sketch by Carrie White.

At noon, a ceremony will take place with a welcome by current school principal Dave Allison, LDSB trustee Ann Goodfellow and North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton. There will also be available for purchase a 50th Anniversary year book titled "Remember When" and orders will be taken for a special DVD recording of the day's events.

Organizers hope to see everyone come out to help celebrate this special event at CCPS.