Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School is a Canadian elementary school in the Orleans
area of Ottawa
, Ontario
.
The school officially opened its doors on September 4, 1972 and was the first English Roman Catholic School in Orleans. The school’s first principal was Gerard Leclair. During its first year of operation, it was known as Queenswood Catholic School and was housed in portables
on the property of Reine-des-Bois French Catholic School on Duford Road at Amiens Street. At the time, both schools were part of the Carleton Roman Catholic School Board which had been formed in 1969.
In September 1973, construction of a permanent school building costing $640,000 and situated at 1565 St. Georges Street in Queenswood Heights was completed and the school adopted the Our Lady of Wisdom name. The official opening/naming ceremony for the new school was held on May 26, 1974.
The school originally had a student population spanning from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Eight. As the area's population and student enrollment grew, Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School absorbed the two higher grades while Our Lady of Wisdom had its curriculum reduced to end at Grade Six.
from 1981 to 1991. Prior to 1981, graduates would move on to Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School.
The school quickly became over-crowded as Orleans
expanded its boundaries. Originally designed to house 432 students, by the mid-1980s the school population was well over 700 students and it was not uncommon to see as many as 10 or 12 portables
on the school grounds during this period. In 1984 an eight room permanent port-a-pak
was added to the school to ease some of the overcrowding and through the 1980s several new schools were built in the area to further relieve some of the school's enrollment pressures. Convent Glen, Divine Infant, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
and St. Francis of Assisi schools were all opened during this period of tremendous population growth in the region.
Similarly, the school office was situated in an open area in the main hallway near the center point of the school. By 1980 it too had walls erected. In 1996, the school's administrative offices were moved to reclaimed classroom space at the front entrance of the school thus providing much needed administrative space and enhancing security for students.
, the 13th Prime Minister of Canada
(1957–1963), visited Our Lady of Wisdom School. He spoke to the staff and students and signed a copy of the Canadian Bill of Rights
(one of his major accomplishments in office) which was framed and placed on a hallway wall. He shared with the children his hopes and dreams for Canada.
(Mayor, Cumberland Township), Ron Larkin (Chairperson, Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board), Philip Rocco (Director, Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board) and Angela DiGiacomo (Chairperson, Our Lady of Wisdom School Council).
, held the swearing in of new Canadians at Our Lady of Wisdom School. Students were given an insight into the workings of the Citizenship Court.
Orléans, Ontario
Orleans , also written Orléans, is a suburban area within the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the eastern part of the city along the Ottawa River, about from downtown Ottawa. The Canada 2006 Census gave Orleans a population of 95,491. It became a ward of the City of Ottawa in 2001...
area of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, 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....
.
School history
Portable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
on the property of Reine-des-Bois French Catholic School on Duford Road at Amiens Street. At the time, both schools were part of the Carleton Roman Catholic School Board which had been formed in 1969.
In September 1973, construction of a permanent school building costing $640,000 and situated at 1565 St. Georges Street in Queenswood Heights was completed and the school adopted the Our Lady of Wisdom name. The official opening/naming ceremony for the new school was held on May 26, 1974.
The school originally had a student population spanning from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Eight. As the area's population and student enrollment grew, Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School absorbed the two higher grades while Our Lady of Wisdom had its curriculum reduced to end at Grade Six.
High school affiliation
Students graduating from Grade Six at Our Lady of Wisdom continue their education at St. Peter Catholic High School. Prior to that school's opening in 1992, students graduated to St. Matthew Catholic High SchoolSt. Matthew High School (Orleans, Ontario)
St. Matthew Catholic High School is located at 6550 Bilberry Drive in Orléans, Ontario, Canada. The current principal is Christopher Mes. The school offers grades 7-12. The current school population rests at about 1400 students with about 120 staff members....
from 1981 to 1991. Prior to 1981, graduates would move on to Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School.
Expansion
Orléans, Ontario
Orleans , also written Orléans, is a suburban area within the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the eastern part of the city along the Ottawa River, about from downtown Ottawa. The Canada 2006 Census gave Orleans a population of 95,491. It became a ward of the City of Ottawa in 2001...
expanded its boundaries. Originally designed to house 432 students, by the mid-1980s the school population was well over 700 students and it was not uncommon to see as many as 10 or 12 portables
Portable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
on the school grounds during this period. In 1984 an eight room permanent port-a-pak
Portable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
was added to the school to ease some of the overcrowding and through the 1980s several new schools were built in the area to further relieve some of the school's enrollment pressures. Convent Glen, Divine Infant, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School is an elementary school located in Orléans, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Ottawa Catholic School Board...
and St. Francis of Assisi schools were all opened during this period of tremendous population growth in the region.
Open concept experiment
When the school first opened, it was as an experimental “open concept” school meaning that there were no walls separating the classrooms which were established in a semicircle around a central library. The kindergarten children had a segregated space due to their unique needs, but all of the other children in grades one to eight were situated in the open area. It was chaotic and students had to learn to listen only to their classroom teacher and not pay attention to what was happening next to them. The open concept formula quickly proved to be a very ineffective method for operating a school. By the fourth year of operation, semi walls had been built to separate the classes from each other and the library. Very soon thereafter, permanent walls were erected.Similarly, the school office was situated in an open area in the main hallway near the center point of the school. By 1980 it too had walls erected. In 1996, the school's administrative offices were moved to reclaimed classroom space at the front entrance of the school thus providing much needed administrative space and enhancing security for students.
Notable events
Visit by former Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker
In April 1976, The Rt. Hon. John G. DiefenbakerJohn Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
, the 13th Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
(1957–1963), visited Our Lady of Wisdom School. He spoke to the staff and students and signed a copy of the Canadian Bill of Rights
Canadian Bill of Rights
The Canadian Bill of Rights is a federal statute and bill of rights enacted by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's government on August 10, 1960. It provides Canadians with certain quasi-constitutional rights in relation to other federal statutes...
(one of his major accomplishments in office) which was framed and placed on a hallway wall. He shared with the children his hopes and dreams for Canada.
25th-anniversary celebration
On May 7, 1999, Our Lady of Wisdom School celebrated its 25th year of operation (counted from the official naming ceremony for the school in 1974). The celebrant for the mass was Archbishop Marcel Gervais and Monsignor Leonard Lunney (Pastor, Divine Infant Parish). Speakers at the celebration included John Power (Principal), Brian CoburnBrian Coburn
Brian Coburn is not to be confused with the person of the same name who represents the same area on the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School BoardBrian Coburn is a politician in Ontario, Canada...
(Mayor, Cumberland Township), Ron Larkin (Chairperson, Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board), Philip Rocco (Director, Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board) and Angela DiGiacomo (Chairperson, Our Lady of Wisdom School Council).
Citizenship Court
In 1996, Citizenship Court Judge Suzanne PinelSuzanne Pinel
Suzanne Pinel, CM is a Canadian children's entertainer and citizenship judge.Using the stage name Marie-Soleil, Pinel performed for twenty years, using stories and songs to teach the French language to kids. She recorded albums, releasing her first disc in 1976, and starred in the television series...
, held the swearing in of new Canadians at Our Lady of Wisdom School. Students were given an insight into the workings of the Citizenship Court.