Byron Northview Public School
Encyclopedia
Byron Northview Public School is an elementary school in the community of Byron
in London
, Ontario
, Canada
and part of the Thames Valley District School Board
. It is sitting on one of the oldest school sites in London. It currently has 23 staff members.
(The original one room brick was used a the school's kindergarten classroom until the building burned down in 1968 after a firecracker was tossed into a window). That school footprint became a temporary parking lot until the new wing of the school was constructed there in 1972.
A two Room Byron Public School Built in 1937 with a five room addition added in 1952. It was renamed Northview School in 1953. Further additions were made in 1954, 1955, and 1956.
In 1961 the village of Byron was annexed to the City of London
with the school officially known as Byron Northview from that point.
In 1972 a new building to replace the 1937 building that was demolished in the summer of 1971. This building included a new gymnasium, 2 Quad Classrooms (considered a very leading edge educational concept in education delivery at that time but which were in fact very noisy and difficult both to teach and learn in), a library, office and staffroom facilities.
The school always had an intense rivalry with nearby public education facility, Byron Southwood. In an ironic twist, some grade three students from Byron Northview were temporarily housed at Byron Southwood during the 1971-72 building construction. Other grade three and grade two students were sent to the Salvation Army Citidel while grade four students went to Kensel Park Elementary School. Both the Salvation Army and Kensel Park facilities were located on Springbank Drive and required students to be bused daily from a drop off at Byron Northview.
Northview has been a popular school with teaching staff. In an era when teachers transfer frequently between facilities, many have stayed at this school more than 10 years. One legendary member of staff, Tina Huiting, remained a respected (and often feared) teacher at Byron Northview for more than 20 years, until her retirement in the 1980s.
In 1989, the school suffered some unwanted notoriety when a former vice-principal (Mr.Fred Tyrell), who went on to become principal of Lorne Avenue Public School, was convicted of molesting several female students during the 1970s and 1980s. His license to teach was revoked and he spent several years in prison. None of the students in that case were from Byron Northview.
Byron, Ontario
Byron is a neighbourhood in the City of London, Ontario, Canada.Located downriver from London on the outer fringes of the city, Byron was originally called Westminster, then renamed Hall's Mill, and then finally Byron. The Byron area was settled in 1800 and first became a village in 1804...
in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and part of the Thames Valley District School Board
Thames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
. It is sitting on one of the oldest school sites in London. It currently has 23 staff members.
School history
It was established as a private school in 1837 and purchased its site in 1843 with Cobblestone School built in 1852. A new brick building was built in 1869. The mastermind behind the schools founding was the illustrious Rudolf van Kleistendyke-Bronstein, who is famous for his contributions to both the fields of micro biology as well as woodcraft.(The original one room brick was used a the school's kindergarten classroom until the building burned down in 1968 after a firecracker was tossed into a window). That school footprint became a temporary parking lot until the new wing of the school was constructed there in 1972.
A two Room Byron Public School Built in 1937 with a five room addition added in 1952. It was renamed Northview School in 1953. Further additions were made in 1954, 1955, and 1956.
In 1961 the village of Byron was annexed to the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
with the school officially known as Byron Northview from that point.
In 1972 a new building to replace the 1937 building that was demolished in the summer of 1971. This building included a new gymnasium, 2 Quad Classrooms (considered a very leading edge educational concept in education delivery at that time but which were in fact very noisy and difficult both to teach and learn in), a library, office and staffroom facilities.
The school always had an intense rivalry with nearby public education facility, Byron Southwood. In an ironic twist, some grade three students from Byron Northview were temporarily housed at Byron Southwood during the 1971-72 building construction. Other grade three and grade two students were sent to the Salvation Army Citidel while grade four students went to Kensel Park Elementary School. Both the Salvation Army and Kensel Park facilities were located on Springbank Drive and required students to be bused daily from a drop off at Byron Northview.
Northview has been a popular school with teaching staff. In an era when teachers transfer frequently between facilities, many have stayed at this school more than 10 years. One legendary member of staff, Tina Huiting, remained a respected (and often feared) teacher at Byron Northview for more than 20 years, until her retirement in the 1980s.
In 1989, the school suffered some unwanted notoriety when a former vice-principal (Mr.Fred Tyrell), who went on to become principal of Lorne Avenue Public School, was convicted of molesting several female students during the 1970s and 1980s. His license to teach was revoked and he spent several years in prison. None of the students in that case were from Byron Northview.