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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 14, 2009 · 12 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com New Central still new after 50 years N "When we were in school, if we were told to do ew Central Public School is something, we didn't actually quite old, but has question it." Kathy Blakelock Hogg, alumnus and current secretary, New Central Public School never had a problem putting on a new face and it is has, over the last 50 years, kept reinventing itself to remain as modern as ever. As the Balsam Road senior elementary school celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is preparing to do exactly the same again. Next fall it will reopen as a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 school with students from Brantwood Public School moving in. It will be the first time New Central will house junior elementary students in its storied history as it once again reinvents itself in the face of numerous school closures in the southeast end of town. "You had the right to pass?" queries Nadine Restom, 12, a current Grade 7 student when she and peer Matt Housen, 13, who's in Grade 8, met up with alumni. "You had what? Oh, no, no, if you didn't pass, you stayed behind in the grade and had to do it all over again," asserts Ian Blakelock, 62, whose great uncle was Thomas A. Blakelock. It was in a recent interview with The Oakville Beaver that living history met present day at New Central for Ian -- and his sister Kathy Blakelock Hogg, now the school secretary -- remember when New Central was Old Central. Ian and his older siblings attended the old Oakville School, the first school in the south end that made its home near what today is the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on the bank of the Sixteen Mile Creek. When that school was replaced -- many new ones had sprung up around town in other areas and it was indeed showing its age. New Central first opened its doors in 1959. Ian graduated from New Central in 1962 and Kathy in 1964. Today, upon entering those same doors, one finds the original Oakville School bell hanging just inside. That bell, moved from the original school is not used today, but does work and so it will be rung every day next week as New Central celebrates reaching the 50-year mark. While activities will be ongoing with students all week, the big party will come in the form of an open house that will take place on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24. "New Central has a wonderful past, active present, and bright future," said parent volunteer Alix Scott who has been letting former students, staff and others know of the celebration. Classes are being decorated in themes from the various decades, artwork will be on display, and the school bands will be performing music from across the decades. School memorabilia and photos will be on display. Light refreshments will be served in the gymnasium. There will also be tours of the school. New Central will be open on Friday, Oct. 23 from 4-8 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 24, it will be open from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for an informal breakfast, open house and school tours. While New Central remains much the same, Ian remembers games of Defend the Hill played out in the school's expansive playground. "In those days we used to make up our own games," said Ian. There were no basketball nets or NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER A MILESTONE: Above, New Central Public School Grade 8 student Matt Hausen, (clockwise from bottom left), Grade 7 student Nadine Restom, alumnus and school secretary Kathy Blakelock Hogg, alumnus Ian Blakelock,and vice principal Evelyn Quist prepare to celebrate New Central's 50th anniversary. At left, Ian Blakelock with the original Central School bell that now finds a home at New Central. much else in those days and Housen Balsam Drive Public School until their was the recorder. and Restom couldn't fathom students older sister was among those who "Today we have a Smart Board," tackling one another in games at mounted a petition to the Oakville said Quist, noting there are laptops recess as today there is a "no hands" school board to keep the school name. and LCD projectors whereas Ian and policy in place at schools. Instead of being Central School, it Kathy recall the advent of photoIt was teacher Harold Howald who became New Central, said Ian. copiers replacing the messy purple first organized sports at the school That was an achievement because ink of ditto machines. and today there is a plethora of in those old days, students did not "When we were in school, if we extracurricular activities from sports challenge teachers or principals. Ian were told to do something, we didn't to band, drama to art and more. recalled how the strap was kept in a question it," said Kathy. New Central does however, with glass case in the principal's office and "We did as we were told," said Ian, not quite 100 students in Grades 6, 7 students sentenced to that punish- noting however kids were still kids. and 8, remain a school with that ment were left to plead their case to "It didn't stop us from doing anysmall-town feel -- all the students secure a lesser punishment. thing," laughed Ian. still know one another much as they Lines were a popular alternative in Today students at New Central did when the school was in its early those days -- which saw many stu- remain involved in and committed to days and Oakville's population was dents go home for lunch in 90- their community as they participate around the 20,000 mark. minute lunch breaks, two recesses, in fundraisers, the annual Terry Fox Evelyn Quist is in her third year as morning and afternoon, and cloak Run, AIDS relief, food drives, read-avice principal of New Central while rooms instead of lockers. thons and more. the school's principal does double "We rarely had a snow day," said For information about the upcomduty from a main office at E.J. James Ian, remembering how kids all walked ing celebration, contact Kathy Public School. to school. There were Christmas con- Blakelock Hogg at 905 844-3081 or Kathy and Ian remember that the certs, not winter concerts and the hoggk@hdsb.ca or Quist at 905-844school was originally to be called musical instrument everyone recalled 3081 or quiste@hdsb.ca.