‘Remarkable’: Bradford school celebrates century of history

While all subjects are important, one Bradford school has a special connection with history.

Students, faculty, family members and local dignitaries were all on hand to celebrate 100 years^th anniversary of the Fred C. Cook Public School at 20 Fletcher St., Tuesday afternoon, May 7.

Students and guests were greeted by various displays in the main hall, featuring artwork by current students, historic photographs of the school and past graduating classes, plus a tribute to the school’s namesake, the late Frederick C. Cook himself (1901-1975) – a well-known member of the community, the church, the local council and the county council.

Inside the gymnasium, students MC Kyle Lawson and Nicole Riman presented various presentations, including student-created slide shows and videos shown through a projector, as well as guest speakers and live performances from the school choir, led by teacher Helen Flannery on piano and sometimes accompanied. by students Bryce Williston and Sartaj Auklakh on guitar.

Those presentations each fall under one of the holiday’s three themes: where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.

The school’s current location opened in 2013, but originally, the elementary school opened in 1977 and operated out of the old Bradford High School building at 27 Queen St., which was built in 1923 and opened in 1924. That building still stands standing and is in the process of becoming a kindergarten.

Vice-principal Anne Wright noted the school’s “prestigious history” which was rediscovered by Year 4 and 5 classes as they worked with the Bradford Historical Society to find out more and share it with others the school.

“Mr. Frederick Christopher Cook had an amazing sense of humor, was kind, generous, and he and Mrs. Cook worked tirelessly to make our community the dynamic and welcoming city we call home,” Wright said.

Congratulating the school community on their milestone, Debbie Connors, Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) administrator for Bradford, emphasized the impact the school has on the students’ “learning journey.”

“From the first tentative steps of entering kindergarten to the confident steps of graduation, this school has been here for thousands of young minds,” she said.

This sentiment was echoed by John Dance, the council’s director of education, who noted that “the themes you have chosen are particularly appropriate” and suggested that the school could be considered “the home of public education”, in Bradford.

Matthew Webbe, the board’s superintendent of education, acknowledged the warmth and sense of family and community throughout the celebration.

“This culture and passion of the school community has risen again and again to contribute to the wonderful experiences of Bradford,” he said, comparing their positivity and drive to that of Cook himself.

School board co-chairs Nina Siddall and Jessica Brinkell said they were proud to be involved with a “long and distinguished list of volunteers” who have supported the school over the years and helped make the institution “one of great pride for our community”.

Although unable to attend in person, York-Simcoe MP Caroline Mulroney appeared in a recorded video saying the school’s symbol, the phoenix, is the “perfect example” of the “resilience the school has.”

“For 100 years, Fred C. Cook Public School has risen from the ashes and continued a legacy of educational excellence,” she said, sharing her appreciation for “Bradford’s oldest educational site” and its “rich history “.

Bradford Mayor James Leduc called it “truly remarkable” for a school in the community to reach “such a significant milestone,” which he called “a testament to the legacy of an institution dedicated to education, growth and community spirit.”

On behalf of the council and in tribute to the plaque given to the school when it reopened for Years 6-8 in 1977, following the opening of the new Bradford District High School, the Mayor presented a new plaque “so that this momentous occasion may be remembered and celebrated in years to come.”

To conclude the ceremony, Principal Greg Blakeley gave a closing speech acknowledging the growth of Bradford’s education landscape over the past two years, during which SCDSB opened two new schools: Harvest Hills Public School and Marshview Public School.

“We have one thing they don’t: we’re really, really old,” he joked, before noting the importance of a “dense history” and “solid traditions.”

“As the current trustees of Fred C. Cook Public School, we have a responsibility to honor the past in a way that respects the history and traditions of our school, but also in a way that represents modern and current times. We recognize that education, schools and students have changed dramatically,” he said.

Blakeley thanked everyone for celebrating the milestone while helping the school look forward to a “bright and prosperous future”.

Following the presentation, guests were welcomed to enjoy cake and refreshments.

Key data

As part of the celebration, students prepared and distributed printed programs that also included a timeline of school milestones, some of which include:

• 1923 – Building constructed at 27 Queen St. to replace the burned Bradford High School at a cost of $60,500
• 1924 – The building opened as Bradford High School
• 1950 – Building renamed Bradford District High School
• 1959-1960 — The high school built five new classrooms for manual instruction, home economics, an auditorium/gymnasium, and a cafeteria for $350,000
• 1972 — Proposal submitted for the new high school building
• 1976 – The new high school opened at 70 Professor Day Dr.
• 1977 – Fred C. Cook Senior Public School opened at 27 Queen St. for grades 6-8
• 1981 — The school began accepting 4th and 5th grade students
• 1995 — The school began offering extended French
• 2008 — The building at 27 Queen St. it has been nominated as a Bradford monument
• 2012 — The school stopped offering extended French
• 2012 – Fred C. Cook Senior Public School moved to Bradford Public School at 177 Church St. while the new school building was built
• 2013 — The school opened in its new location at 20 Fletcher St. and was renamed Fred C. Cook Public School as it began accepting students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
• 2016 — The City of Bradford West Gwillimbury purchased the 27 Queen St. location. for $501,000
• 2019 — The city sold that location to Eh to Zed Kindergarten
• 2023 — Fred C. Cook Public School achieved Platinum status of EcoSchools Canada certification
• 2023 — School achieves Ontario Physical Education and Health Association Gold status certification