6 Friday, September 11, 2020 brooklintowncrier.com Brooklin Heritage Society The Little School That Could By Jennifer Hudgins There were no Catholic schools in Brooklin until 1964 when Saint Leos School opened. This despite reference to a Catholic presence in Brooklin dating as far back as 1834 when priests from St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Oshawa travelled to celebrate mass with Brooklin parishioners. Saint Leos was a small brown, four-room building with a tiny office and staff room and just 81 students. Without shelves, cupboards, kindergarten furniture, and few textbooks, the school operated with six teachers under the direction of Principal Noel Woods. A year after opening, it ceased offering kindergarten and grade 8 classes due to the high cost of busing. Instead, these grades attended St. John the Evangelist in Whitby. Outdoors time Students and teachers regularly walked to the Brooklin Public Library to enhance learning as Saint Leos did not have one. As well, with no gymnasium, students spent much of their class and assembly time outdoors, in all seasons, utilizing fields owned by the Sorichetti family. For the first few years, the Brooklin fire department kindly flooded and maintained an outdoor skating rink. Later, students and teachers walked to the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena to skate and play hockey and each Remembrance Day, they made their way to the Veterans Cenotaph at Vipond where they sang the national anthem and recited John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Fields. The lack of indoor facilities did not hinder students from excelling in science, many of whom won gold medals at Durham Science and Technology competitions. All the walking and time spent outdoors must have benefited students who also won banners for soccer and cross country runs. Graduates went on to higher education and some earned honours as members of Canadian rowing, mountain biking and lacrosse teams. Former student John Fusco was named to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2010. Extra time There was a time when the threat of closure compelled staff to make sacrifices to keep the school operational. Custodial services were available only after 3:00 pm; the school secretary worked part time and the Principal taught classes in addition to administrative duties. Due to Brooklin's extraordinary growth, the "little school" was unable to accommodate the burgeoning student population. The time to tear it down had come. On April 7, 1995, the Catholic School Board of Trustees approved a plan to build a new school and, in 1998, teachers with students moved from its North St. to its current home at 120 Watford Street. Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown Back-to-school traditions changing During the week before school returns each September, I normally join throngs of parents in a mad dash to get school supplies. The shopping list usually includes: a new backpack and lunch bag, two pairs of runners, and colouring pencils, among other things. It's indeed strange how the new normal is messing with our traditions. While back-to-school shopping is something many kids look forward to, it looks quite differently this year. With some families opting for online schooling, many of the usual supplies aren't needed. For them, technology is replacing pens and paper. Then there's that first day of school, often a family affair with Mom and/or Dad accompanying kids to the playground who run around catching up with friends they've missed over the summer. The boys romp on the field in impromptu soccer games while the girls hug each other and squeal. Empty yards This year though, with staggered start times, there'll be fewer kids and parents in the schoolyard. This means no hugs or games. Recognizing friends in masks may be a challenge. It's also unclear if parents will be able to stay as we used to for the bell to ring. As to the virtual classroom, going back will be very different. With no backpack or lunch bag to pack, the main issue will centre on navigating the tech setup and ensuring it works. Another tradition we'll certainly miss is the start of fall sports and activities. The Lakeridge cross country meet, football, and auditioning for the school musical are a few that come to mind. Many of these make school a focal point in the community as are fundraisers like fall fairs and the Terry Fox Run, which children also looked forward to. New approaches But as much as we'll miss particular back-to-school traditions, it's also a time to see how new ideas for the old way of doing things emerge. For the past six months online clubs, activities, and fundraisers have been succeeding. Perhaps schools can move clubs like choir and band online. This way kids learning in person and at home can participate safely. In the end, while many traditions have changed, some will remain. We'll still be able to see happy faces on those first day of school porch photos shared on Facebook. I'm really looking forward to children's smiley faces hidden behind the masks. Next Paper: September 25th Deadline: September 18th