O'Leary Consolidated Elementary School

Prior to consolidation of the one-room schools in 1971, O’Leary Public School assisted many districts from outside the village ty admitting many students from over-crowded conditions. For mary years a classroom was equipped in the basement of the school and a room was rented in the regional high school for accommodation of such students. In some districts such as Mill River and Hebron, enrollments had declined and all students attended the O'Lea:y School. No doubt it would be interesting to research when and what grades were removed form the one-room schools in the area. Also, it would be of interest to account for the dates when such schools were actually closed out. Naturally it would not be very practical to do so in this historical account.

By an order of His Honor the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council

effective 1971 July 1, the following twenty-one school districts were amalgamated to form O'Leary Consolidated School District: Alaska, Brae, Carleton, Coleman, Derby, Dunblane, Glenwood, Haliburton, Hebron, Howlan, Knutsford, Milburn, Milo, Mount Royal, O’Leary, Springfield West, Unionvale, West Cape, West Devon, West Point, and Woodstock.

On September 3, 1975, all elementary students of the said district moved into the present facility. During the next four years between 1975-79, O’Leary Consolidated Elementary School shared the facility with the O'Leary Regional High School. In addition, seven mobile classrooms were provided, four of which were used by elementary students.

In September 1979, the entire facility became O'Leary Consolidated Elementary School and the mobile classrooms were removed from the school property.

The elementary system of teaching was changed somewhat dur- ing the 1970’s. Alden E. Weeks, Principal of the school and his dedi- cated staff over the years have endeavoured to keep pace with change and innovation. Much effort was generated to provide skill programs in language arts and mathematics so that students from the one- room schools would adjust to the larger school with ease. Teaching strategies and styles were developed to improve the quality of instruction. Music, physical education, social studies, and health/sci- ence programs have been added or improved upon to supplement the three R’s of reading, writing, and arithmetic. A sophisticated sys- tem of grOuping by ability and achievement had been put in place for reading instruction. An average of three homogeneous reading groups were established in each class. Letter grades instead of per-

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