LOG BOOK
Note: Entries in this log book shall be confined to:
1.  A concise history of the origin of the school
2.  Events worthy of record for future reference, such as additions to the buildings, extensions of school grounds, losses by fire or other causes, introduction of new departures in organization, visits of officials and representatives of the Provincial or Federal Government, prominent citizens or visitors from other lands, social or educational functions in connection with the school and other significant events.
3.  The name and addresses of the Chairman and the Secretary-Treasurer in office at the close of the year.



The first school in town was a small building near the post office now being used as a Library (corner of Sheppard and Spruce Streets, south side).  As the town grew this building was found too small and the board made a three roomed school out of a vacant store.  This building served as a temporary quarters, pending the erection and completion of our present Public School

This present structure was completed in nineteen, nineteen, as a one story building.  Some two years later a second story was added making room for the Continuation School.  In connection with the old school and the new a night school was conducted.  Those attending were employees of the Company and others who were unable to attend Day School.

When the Mill was open, prior to the depression there were seven Public School rooms and three Continuation.  Later, when the mill closed down the Public School Staff was decreased each year until at present there are three teachers.

During 1942 and 1943 while there was a prison camp in Espanola the influx of the guards’ families increased our school enrolment considerably and the staff was raised to four teachers.  When the Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company bought over the mill and townsite early in 1943 the enrolment received a further slight increase.  This last increase made it necessary to retain four teachers during 1943-44 even though the prison camp and guards left Espanola in the summer of 1943.  In Sept/45 five teachers were employed.  In Sept/46 six teachers were employed.  In Sept/47 seven teachers were employed and another added in Nov/47 because of increased numbers of pupils (the enrolment then being a little over two hundred and fifty).  The numbers of families in town had kept increasing as the old houses and newly built ones were ready for renting.  January, 1948 a ninth teacher was hired to help handle the enlarging enrolment.   At the annual meeting in December 1947 a discussion took place planning the building of a new school for the High School pupils so as to allow the whole of the Public School for elementary education.  This discussion was brought on by the rising need for more and more space.  In Sept. 1947 one classroom was in the balcony of the Community Hall.  Besides this, four classes were on the stagger system by January 1948.  Those on the School Board at this busy time were Mr. C. Shamess, D. Gray, and R. Pugh.  The secretary was Dr. W. E. Boyd who later left town in June 1948.

During the early spring of 1948 two large wooden buildings were pulled into the school yard to be made into four classrooms for the high school use so the Public School could reoccupy some of the four classrooms being used by the High School.  Already the possibility of erecting a new High School had been investigated but it seemed as though it would  take two years to realize these hopes.  ?? Sept 1951?????? (unreadable)

In 1952 the High School pupils started classes in September in their new brick school situated at the corner of Meade Blvd. and Spruce Street.  The Public School building was then used entirely by Public School classes, there being ten classes (Kindergarten included).  The Kindergarten was just held in the morning.  In 1953 there were two kindergarten classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon; there were ten other classrooms in use (a total of eleven).  One of the classrooms used in 1953 was in the old High School Science room in the basement of this building.  It was improved considerably in preparation for classroom use.  An additional teacher was added each year for several years and by September 1957 the staff numbered sixteen teachers (principal included).  In the fall of 1957 the old annex buildings were removed and a new six-room addition started.  The kindergarten classes were held in Landry’s Furniture store during the building of the new addition.  The other classes were all moved into the old school.

September 1958 the new six-room addition was occupied.  The total number of teachers was eighteen (principal  included).  Enrollment 541.  Espanola became an incorporated town in 1958.  Jan. 1959 one class started in basement

Sept. 1959 Oral French was introduced in the school (Grade II to Grade VIII inclusive).  There were twenty teachers on the staff, principal included.  One of the teachers taught afternoons only while the teacher being relieved of classroom duties taught music throughout the school Grades I to VIII.

Sept. 1960 the eighteenth classroom opened (a small class in the small school library).  In Sept. 1961, the nineteenth classroom opened (the girls’ basement).

Sept. 1962 the Oral French classes included Grade One pupils.  During Fall of 1963 and Spring of 1964 plans were drawn up to add four new classrooms to the present structure, one of these rooms to be a playroom.

Sept. 1964 - Plans have been completed and approval expected to go ahead with a four-room addition (three classrooms and a playroom plus two new washrooms, one for the boys on the first floor and one for the girls on the second level.)  The project commenced with excavating in preparation for the footing on Nov. 2, 1964.  This extension will take care of three classes now in makeshift conditions, two are in the basement and one class is crowded in the small library room.  The enrolment for January 1965 was around 526 pupils.  There are twenty-two teachers, principal included.

Feb. 15/65   At noon today the Red Ensign was lowered and the new Canadian Flag raised in its place.

Sept. 7/65   The four-room addition was used for the first time.  A third Kindergarten class was formed; it comes in the mornings and uses the playroom. 
 
October, 1966, a school secretary was hired to work each morning in the school.

Sept. 1967, the school Centennial Library was opened - a basement room in the old building on Spruce Street.  Summer of 1967 five classrooms in original building on Spruce Street were renovated.  This completed renovation of classrooms in that part.

October, 1967, playroom was taken over as a Grade Seven classroom

October, 1967, three Kindergarten classes were rearranged to form two classes (A.M. and P.M. classes) and a third Grade Two was formed.  This is the largest number of classes for the history of this school, twenty-one classrooms.  The Board is now considering the building of another school (the rest of this sentence is difficult to read but it might say) probably a senior public school.

Sept. 1968 the pupils from Whitefish Falls and Willisville were registered in this school (St. Augustine’s Anglican Mission School at Whitefish Falls was closed).  Total enrolment of Espanola P. S. in Sept. 1968 was 631, number of teachers - 26 (one teacher was employed only half days).  Remedial teacher hired Sept. 1969.

Sept. 1970 a third Grade One class was formed.  A classroom was made out of the basement room at the S.E. corner of the building.  Total number of rooms is now twenty-two.  Total staff for 1970-71 was 28 teachers.

May 12, 1971   foreman moved in to start new addition.  Our plans are:  library, gymnasium with showers and stage, new offices, a science room, classroom, double special education classroom, and a small lunch room.  Present enrolment 683.  The enrolment went up when we started taking Kindergarten pupils in January 3 and April 1st as well as in September.  There will be 29 teachers on staff in September 1971.

The pupils and teachers moved into the new addition December 16th, 1971.  The official opening of the new part took place January 25th, 1972.

September, 1973, a Pre-Kindergarten was started, pupils come half time. One class comes in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  Volunteers assist the Pre-Kgn teacher.  There are also some volunteers working with the two special education teachers.  Total staff is thirty teachers, three teachers’ aides and a secretary.  There are five care-takers.