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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 4, 1986 Immaculate Conception Catholic School is just bursting with pride. So much so, it's a wonder the walls aren't . Thankfully, though, the new walls of Port Perry's newest school are built strong and tough, able to withstand pride, classrooms full of kids, and even an Principal thoroughly impressed with the con- struction of the school, pointing out that it can even stand up to the rigours of an earthquake. "Not that we have that type of thing around here, but it's nice to know how strong the school really is," he told the Star last week. During a nearly two hour tour of e. Noel - Woods is Principal Noel Woods with a young student, all dressed up for Immaculate Conception Catholic School open the school, Mr. Woods, teachers and students alike displayed an im- mense pride in their new home. And it's no wonder. The school was a long time coming, and for some parents, it seemed like it would never be built. "They really had to fight," Mr. Woods says. In the fall of 1980, Father Geoffrey Raymakers of the Dutch Order of the Sacred Heart Fathers, formed a six member parish council com- posed of Frank Baxter, Allan Frank, Martin Kuypers, Neil Leer- ing, Charles O'Connor and Janet Smith, with the objective of establishing a Catholic School in Port Perry. 4d > gl & ' » =F $1 A ¥ 3 + - W i Halloween, pose in front of the new Immaculate Conception Senior teacher and librarian Brenda Catholic School building, the pride and joy of all who attend. O'Donahue pours through a book in the schools' In the spring of 1981, 120 applica- tions were filled out by parents to enroll their children in the separate school system. Following -this, Father Raymakers and Frank Bax- ter met with Dr. Earl Lagroix to discuss a presentation before the board of trustees. At this presenta- tion, Father Raymakers and Mr. Baxter présented the application for enrollment and pledged the full sup- port of the parish by offering the use of the parish hall. With the backing of trustees, especially Tia Wood- croft and Sally Longo, the board commissioned the opening of a Catholic School in Port Perry, for September of 1981, to be called the Immaculate Conception Catholic School. In June of 1981, Father Alfred Grima became the new pastor and gave the parish council his full support. : The school, consisting of the parish hall and four portables open- ed in September of 1981 with John Quinn as principal, who was later succeeded by Mr. Woods in . September 1984. On May 8, 1984, official approval from the Ministry of Education was granted for a new school building in Port Perry. Final approval for con- struction was granted September 24, 1985. From September 1985 until June 1986, the pupils were bused to temporary premises in Raglan. while construction of a new school building took place. And finally, on September 2 of this year, the doors to the new building were opened. oo In the years of the school's opera- tion prior to the new building, hard- ship was a key word. One hundred and thirty-three students were signed up in the first year, crammed inside the parish hall and four portables. Washroom accommodations were unsatisfac- tory, crowded, and not built to withs- tand the constant use of students and staff. Gym facilities were non- existant and the library would fill a small corner of a variety story book rack. Still the students and staff perservered with true pioneering - gpirit. The hopeful attitudes of all in- volved brought true school spirit to the small group, bringing each stu- dent and teacher closer than other- wise possible in a larger school. Even parents jumped in to help out. "When you're suffering and deprived, the parents come to the fore to help out. There was much et BB Ll pride and joy, the new resource centre. support and help from everyone in those days," Mr. Woods says. 'Everyone worked closely together." According to Mr. Woods, the year in Raglan was a major improve- ment with real washrooms and five or six acres for students to play in. "It was most enjoyable," he recalls. "I think it was the sense of space that attracted the kids." Possibly, it's that same "sense of space' that's thrilling the students in the new school (which was built for exactly 220 students and now has exactly that many registered. Mr. Woods says there is room for addi- tional relocatable classrooms). The gymnasium is a massive room with a huge stage, spacious change rooms, showers, and even a kitchenette The resource centre (library) rivals the gym in size, and is a quiet, restful place filled with Two happy goblins perch atop the climbing equipment in the School bursts with lots of pride light and soft colours. The entire school is painted in muted tones of burgundy and grey, a colour scheme picked out by the staff. : » Mr. Woods was surprised at how much input the staff, and even parents, had in the design of the school. "All the collective teachers' ex- perience went into this school," he said. "It is a school that both teachers and students can work easily in." Like everyone who visits the new building on a daily or occasional basis, he can't say enough good things about the school, which was constructed close to its original budget at $1.7 million. "It's a joy. And it's a very happy community. That makes a dif- ference,"" he says. '"We're the luckiest people in Ontario." Kindergarten -- a far cry from the days when Kindergarten was a temporary part of the Immaculate Conception parish hall. Two youngsters peek out from the Cabbage Patch Club House, part of the playtime gear in the Kindergarten room of the new school.