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A Brief History of Armour Heights Public School , Peterborough - up to about 1966

Armour Heights School was opened for classes in September, 1953. Up until then, King George School , three blocks away, had been the only Public School in the Ashburnham part of Peterborough . Because of increased building of homes in this area after World War II (e.g. the Nicholls Park Subdivision) the school population had increased to the point where King George was overcrowded, so more accommodation was a necessity.

The cornerstone of the new school was laid in the early spring of 1953 by G. Wilson Craw, Chairman of the Board of Education. The building had a Kindergarten room and eight regular classrooms which housed Grades 1 to 6. Under the Kindergarten was a basement room used as a general purpose room. The September enrolment was 333 pupils. Grades 7 and 8 pupils continued to attend King George.

The first principal was Leonard McNeil, who had been vice-principal at Queen Mary School . After two years, he left to become an inspector in another part of the province. Clayton Bullock, vice-principal of Queen Mary, then became principal and remained as head until his retirement in June, 1973. At that time, Dennis Winch, principal of Lakefield Junior School , was transferred to Armour Heights .

Because of Board of Education policy, Armour Heights has had ten different vice-principals. There have been nearly one hundred regular classroom teachers plus specialists such as itinerant Remedial Reading Teachers, Speech Therapists, Librarians, teachers of stringed instruments, and later, brass and percussion, teachers of Oral French. Nurses, doctors, and, for a time, dentists, have ministered to the health needs of the pupils on a regular basis.

After three years of operation, the enrolment of Armour Heights had increased to the point where the school could accommodate pupils to the end of Grade 5 only, so a six-room addition was planned. For the first time in planning school buildings, the Peterborough Board of Education sought suggestions from the teachers. The Staff of the school submitted a number of proposals all of which were incorporated in the building to produce more functional classrooms. In September, 1958, the new classrooms were opened, thus enabling Armour Heights to serve all the pupils

With the establishment of Trent University in the early 1960's land from Douro Township was annexed to the city. This land, which extended north from the city along the river to a point beyond Nassau , became part of Armour Heights School area. The pupils from this new part were transported to and from school by bus,--the first time busing was necessary in this area. This helped to swell the school population in the 1960's so that it reached 500 pupils,--the highest number this school has had to date.

To properly serve this larger number, with the changing ideas in education, a larger general purpose room was needed. In 1968 this room was added, together with a new kitchen area, storage room and small seminar room. The addition allowed a better physical education programme and conversion of the room under the Kindergarten to a school library.

The school playground at first was rather poor, being uneven with a low wet spot in it. After some years, two retaining walls were built, levelling, filling and draining were done so that it was made more suitable for outdoor activities.

In 1966, Armour Heights and King George inaugurated a co-operative arrangement whereby all Grade 5 and 6 pupils from both areas went to King George and all Grades 7 and 8 pupils attended Armour Heights . With this arrangement a rotary style for some subjects could be established in the four grades named, thus permitting some specialized teaching to be done and helping to prepare pupils for Secondary School where this rotary arrangement is universal.

Early in the life of Armour Heights, a Home and School Association was formed to aid in fostering co-operation between the two groups whose chief interest in the pupils was their educational welfare. This organization flourished for many years serving well in promoting good relations and understanding between parents and teachers. It used the monthly meeting to present information about the school curriculum and topics of special interest to those dealing with the upbringing of children. In a material way, it helped to provide some useful and needed equipment

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ARMOUR HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL -summarized from the earlier version and updated to 1991

Armour Heights School was opened for classes in September 1953. Up until then, King George School had been the only public school in the Ashburnham part of Peterborough . Because of increased building of homes in this area after World War II the school population had increased to the point where King George was overcrowded; hence more accommodation was a necessity.

After three years of operation, the enrolment of Armour Heights had increased to the point where the school could accommodate pupils to the end of Grade 5 only, so a six-room addition was planned. In

September 1958 the new classrooms were opened, thus enabling Armour Heights to serve all the pupils from its area, Kindergarten to Grade 8.

During the 1960's the school boundaries changed and this helped to swell the school population so that it reached 500 pupils. To properly serve this number of students a larger general purpose room was added in 1968, together with a new kitchen area, storage room and small seminar room.

Throughout the 1970's and 1980's there were further changes in boundaries, and during the years from 1989-1991 three portables were added.

The school presently serves approximately 400 students (the Kindergarten to Grade 8 students in the Armour Heights School area and the Grade 7 and 8 students from the King George School area). The Kindergartens, Grades 1-3 and 7-8 children are in the main building while most Grade 4's, all the 5's and 6's are in the portables.

Early in the life of Armour Heights a Home and School Association was formed and this organization, now called the Armour Heights Community School Association, has flourished for many years serving well in promoting good relations and understanding between parents and teachers. It has used the monthly meeting to present information about the school curriculum and topics of special interest to those dealing with the upbringing of children. In a material way, it has helped to provide some useful and needed equipment.