Big celebration marks Macville Public School’s 50th anniversary

October 31, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
There was a packed house Saturday to celebrate 50 years of educating children at Macville Public School.
The festivities included rooms set to themes of the various decades, entertainment by the school’s Glee Club and a formal program, highlighted by an entertaining address by former Ontario premier bill Davis, who was Minister of Education when the school opened.
“Fifty years ago, there was an honest debate as to whether this school would be where it is, and whether or not it would be treated the way is has been because of the proximity of Bolton,” he commented. “”I have to confess to you that I was somewhat on the side of preserving the history and the opportunity for the school to be involved with not only an urban centre, but the rural parts.”
“Nothing is as important as having a first-class educational system,” he remarked, adding people need to understand the importance of being competitive with other nations.
“I can say without fear of contradiction the Province of Ontario probably has one of the finest educational systems in North America.
In her comments, Macville Principal Kelly Kawabe called it “the little magical school in the north.”
“Tradition is a huge part of Macville’s story,” she added.
Mayor Marolyn Morrison also commented on the urban and rural mix at Macville, with children from both backgrounds seeing the farm fields as they play and understanding the history of the community.
“Do you know that in 50 years, you’ll be coming back here with your children?” she said to the students on hand.
“You have much to celebrate today,” Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson told the audience, as he praised the school for fostering an environment for all students to reach their potential.
He also read greetings from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson chatted with former premier Bill Davis prior to the start of Saturday’s ceremonies.

Graduates Rhonda (Tennant) Seed and Kathy (Gage) Teune, who attended Macville in the ‘60s, were looking through some of the memorabilia on display.

Macville Principal Kelly Kawabe accepted this plaque from Mayor Marolyn Morrison in recognition of the school’s 50th anniversary.

The Macville Glee Club, led by Jeanette White, Mary-Ann Dacres-French and Karyn Davies, performed during Saturday’s celebrations at the school.

Trustee Stan Cameron brought greetings from the Peel District School Board, as well as this plaque that he presented to Principal Kelly Kawabe.

Former student Leanne Capiello and former principal Terry Griffiths opened a time capsule that had been created for Macville’s 40th anniversary 10 years ago. Among the items it contained was a copy of the Citizen from the time.

Former Ontario premier Bill Davis was on hand Saturday for the 50th anniversary celebrations of Macville Public School. Davis was Education Minister when the school opened in 1963.