Benediction — Rev. D.H. Hamilton — The Queen —

Tour of the school

Chairman: Mr. Claude Jelley.

The original building was composed of an auditorium with seat- ing capacity of 700, six classrooms, laboratory, library, Principal’s and teachers’ rooms, washrooms and cloakrooms.

The first fifteen graduates of O.R.H.S. were Harriet Smith, Doreen Andrews, Janet MacPherson, Perley MacNeill, Ronald MacArthur, Winston Corcoran, Priscilla Gallant, Ellen Smallman, Audrey O’Meara, Judy Colwill, Carol MacLean, Gloria Arsenault, Carol Biggar, Daisy Reid and Lucy Anne Jelley. Gordon Bennett, a member of the faculty of Prince of Wales College, was the guest speaker at the closing exercises.

The official opening of the school was held on October 31, 1961. Board Chairman, Claude Jelley, cut the ribbon and Hon. Dr. L.G. Dewar laid the cornerstone.

The teachers at the time of the formal opening were Earle S. Jelley, B.A., B.Ed., Principal; Lewis MacKenzie; Donald LeClair, B.A.; John Winston Yeo; J. William Costain, B.Sc.; Mrs. Isabelle Campbell; Mrs. Edith Palmer; Miss Beverley Howard, B.Sc.; Miss Eleanor Craig, and Mrs. Harry Rogan. Earle S. Jelley was appointed the first principal - an office he held until his retirement in 1973. The first bus drivers were Elmer Smith, Paul Doyle, Wesley MacArthur, Roger Bulger and James Gard. The janitor was Arthur Harris. At the time of the open- ing the enrollment was 252 students representing twenty-five dis- tricts.

Two extensions were added, one in 1962 and another in 1968, to make the school one of the largest regional schools in P.E.l. The well equipped school had 26 classrooms, home economics and commer- cial departments, laboratories (physics and biology), library, auditori- um and staff facilities.

A great change in education occurred with the establishment of high school courses within the village school system. Prior to 1959 students from the area wishing to complete high school were forced to attend Alberton or Summerside High School. Students had to board and commute on week-ends thus demanding an extra finan- cial burden which many could not afford. With the opening of the regional high school in 1960-61, a high school education became a reality for many more children.

From 1960-1969 all Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 students from the

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