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Robert F. Hall School celebrates 20 years in the community


By Bill Rea
It was a time for celebrating 20 years Saturday at Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East.
The school was decked out to mark the anniversary, as staff and students, both present and from the past, were on hand.
The events included a Mass, sporting events (pitting students against alumni), an open house, entertainment and a ceremony in the gym.
The highlight of that ceremony was the premier of a musical composition commissioned for the occasion by Ryan Meeboer, which was performed by a band made up of current members and alumni.
Head of Music Glyn Lloyd said the piece is called Into the Hills, and was aimed at reflecting the environment of the school and the Caledon hills, which is depicted on the school's crest
Principal Ed McMahon observed that Hall was “the founding Catholic School in the Caledon-Orangeville area.”
“We remember our motto, ‘To know, to love and to serve God.'”
The school was named after Bob Hall, who chaired the school board for many years, and was the long time trustee for Caledon and Dufferin. He died in 1989.
His oldest son Doug spoke, commenting that the opening of the school made his father's dream for local Catholic education a reality.
Trustee Frank DiCosola brought greetings from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.
“Twenty years seem to have passed very quickly,” he observed as he praised the committed relationship between home school and church for the successes over that time.
Superintendent Paul McMorrow was the first vice-principal at the school, and he recalled the time as “absolutely magical.”
He also said the first principal, Jon Austin, and the staff at the time were passionate about the students and Catholic education, and that commitment is still part of the school community.
“We're very, very proud of this community and very, very proud of the things it's done and things it will continue to do,” he declared.
Sheralyn Roman, representing the school council, thanked those parents who went before, serving on the council in the earlier days of the school. She said the involvement of parents adds up to student and school success.
“We're the country school that meets your big city aspirations,” she added.
Austin said he spent the last four years of his career in education at Hall.
The school actually started in 1992 with eight department heads and moved into the current facility in 1995.
Students were housed at Notre Dame Secondary School in Brampton, and many of them didn't want to head north when the new school opened. Austin said those who ended up making the trip had their best school experiences at Hall.
“It was a wonderful experience,” he said.
“Keep the faith,” he added. “Faith in people will get you a long way.”

Saturday saw plenty of celebrating and reminiscing at Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East, as the school marked it's 20th anniversary. Head of Music Glyn Lloyd was conducting this band, made up of current students and alumni in performing a piece commissioned for the occasion, entitled Into the Hills. Photo by Bill Rea

Saturday saw plenty of celebrating and reminiscing at Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East, as the school marked it's 20th anniversary. Head of Music Glyn Lloyd was conducting this band, made up of current students and alumni in performing a piece commissioned for the occasion, entitled Into the Hills.
Photo by Bill Rea



Jenny McMahon, Suzanne Ropitzky, Tausha Hanna and Teresa Culpeper made up the choir that performed the Liturgy.

Jenny McMahon, Suzanne Ropitzky, Tausha Hanna and Teresa Culpeper made up the choir that performed the Liturgy.



Doug Hall represented the Hall family at Saturday's celebration.

Doug Hall represented the Hall family at Saturday's celebration.



Displays of memorabilia were all over the halls of the school Saturday. Former Hall teachers Nicole Indelicate (also a graduate of the Class of ‘04) and Andrea Schrei (Class of ‘99) were looking over this display with current teacher Darren Morrison.

Displays of memorabilia were all over the halls of the school Saturday. Former Hall teachers Nicole Indelicate (also a graduate of the Class of ‘04) and Andrea Schrei (Class of ‘99) were looking over this display with current teacher Darren Morrison.



Trustee Frank DiCosola, Principal Ed McMahon and Superintendent Paul McMorrow helped unveil this model of the school building, which was created by the design class.

Trustee Frank DiCosola, Principal Ed McMahon and Superintendent Paul McMorrow helped unveil this model of the school building, which was created by the design class.
Post date: 2013-06-05 17:33:38
Post date GMT: 2013-06-05 21:33:38
Post modified date: 2013-06-05 17:33:38
Post modified date GMT: 2013-06-05 21:33:38
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