Today was the last day of school. Not the usual last day of school, with relaxed classes, signing of yearbooks, and goodbyes for the summer. The state of the world has had students and teachers doing their thing from home for the last few months. Everyone’s made the best of it, but it must suck for those who are saying goodbye to their school, graduating to Junior High, or High School, or leaving High School behind. It’s especially a kick-in-the-pants for the teachers, students, and alum of Agnew and Edgewater. Today was the last day for those two classics, before the students move into the new Ecole Elsie MacGill Public School which is expected to be ready for the next school year to begin in September. Agnew opened in 1970 and, much like Thunder Bay, turned 50 this year. I was really hoping for a send-off similar to Churchill’s when it closed, with a chance for people to go back into Agnew and look around for one last time, but the pandemic put a stop to that.
I was an Agnew kid from coast-to-coast. Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8. Mrs. Paddington to Mr. Fish. I was lucky to have a fantastic experience all through school, and to have made life-long best friends. I’m still really close with a bunch of people I met when I was four-years-old, and others who joined the Agnew crew over the years. There’s no friends like old friends.
(I appreciate these performances more now that I’ve got a Kindergartener of my own. My two wing-women Milly and Savs are, of course, side-by-side here while Milly almost karate chops Bates in the face. Meanwhile Ku is gazing off in the distance and Donny O looks like he’s up to something!)
Here are some random thoughts that pop into my head when remembering AHJ. (Apologies to the teachers whose names I’m likely misspelling.)
Riding the Big Wheels with Jo Jo during outside play in Kindergarten.
Playing with the Charlie Brown baseball game in the Kindergarten classroom.
Open concept! I think they eventually closed it off but it was wide open on the main floor back in the day (except when Mrs. P rolled the portable blackboards around to form makeshift walls.)
The quilt we made in Grade 1. I had no clue what to put on my patch so I was asked “What do you love?” and I said “My house.” So that was my contribution. The news came to interview us about it and I got to be interviewed. AND THEY NEVER SHOWED IT! I was so disappointed. I think that was one of the reasons I went into broadcasting, the other being not included in …
Lights, Camera, Agnew! A production put on by the school that aired on TV!
Singing songs like “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I’m going to the garden to eat worms!” Not sure that one would fly today.
Mrs. Neely teaching us that “a little dab will do ya” about glue (I still haven’t fully learned that lesson) and being an awesome wrestling coach. Agnew really had a dominant wrestling team. Some other big sports wins too, Thanks for the pic Kex!
Reading Jacob Two Two in Mrs. Neely’s class (and all the giggles because of the little bit of nudity!) and The BFG in Mrs. Witol’s class. Great books. Plus singing Moonshadow with Mrs. Witol. Heck yeah, Cat Stevens!
Mr. Butler being the coolest.
Mrs. Bunzeluk somehow managing our giant Grade 6 class and taking winning groups for Pizza Parties (oh Pizza Delight, how I miss you so.)
Christmas carol singalongs in the gym with the whole school and Mr. Strey fighting the good fight against everyone elongating the S’s on Ssssssilver Belllssssssss!
Running to tag The Court to play soccer at recess. Playing British Bulldog, Wall Ball or it’s more extreme cousin Red A$$.
Halloween Parades in our costumes. In Grade 2 I went as my hero, Bruce Springsteen. Bandana, guitar, the works! I was so proud as I strutted my stuff to Monster Mash and Ghostbusters. Until, that is, a cool older banger said “Cool man! Willie Nelson!” In Grade 1 I wanted to be Scooby Doo. You couldn’t just buy costumes back then, your Mom made them. My mom did a great job making it, but everyone thought I was a bear or a cat. I should have begged Heebs or McEachs to go as Shaggy. My family has joked about the costume for years and then, a few weeks ago, my Mom found the original pattern. I wonder why people thought I was a bear or a cat?
The new playground opening and Alderman Mickey Hennessy coming to cut the ribbon. Then he went down the slide. Classic Mickey.
Kingfisher in Grade 5. A couple nights out there made all the more spooky by the legendary Mr. Woodford’s ghost tale of Bill Greech!
School pictures. You just had your fingers crossed you wouldn’t need retakes.
The librarian, Mrs. Postenka, helping coach track and field and nailing high jumps in her sweater and slacks.
The fellas blowing out the electric with “pokers”.
Donald Duck’s Playground.
Commodore 64s.
Moving on upstairs for the last two years. Mr. Bain, short ties, shirt always half-tucked, passionate about teaching. Operating the IOU and DT system like a champ.
So many nicknames. Sulders, Doan, Sabo, Bipps, Jerv, Arts, Jer Jer, Lee Lee, Ruzzy, Aldi Cakes, Drew-Baby, Busin, Kuppy, Sabby, Dee Dee, Marku, Chopper and Tito, just to name a few!
Transitioning from the Purple and Gold of the Agnew Spartans to the Maroon and Grey of the Agnew Bulldogs.
Mr. Chony’s Shop class. The world’s biggest key ring on his belt. Constantly working on that canoe. In contrast, Mrs. Campbell’s Home Ec class. I made a sweet pair of hot pink KK pillows and gave them to my Grandma K!
Mr. Huber’s track suits.
Madame Townes and Madame Balec teaching us about jambon and fromage and the bibliotheque. Oh no, now I have Louis La Grenouille stuck in my head.
School Dances. Where I first learnt that everybody is a good dancer in a strobe light! I think my back’s still sore from doing The Worm around the gym.
Sports Day and getting to drink this nectar of the Gods!
And the one time of year we actually got to go on a contraption like this in the gym! BEST DAY EVER!
Grade 8 with Mr. Fish. My best friend Matt’s dad. Little did I know what an influence he would have on my life long after school. Such a character. The sweaters. The catchphrases! “Do not mock me!” “This is a game, and I’m going to win it!” And the Slow Beating of the Tom Toms.
So many classics there. Mrs. Kennelly holding it down during recess, the office ladies, Mr. Karpowich coming in as VP and looking like Brett Hull, and supervising our floor hockey battles (Knoughs Kings, baby!)
Track Meets. So much fun, and SO NERVOUS! Shout out to Soupy Campbell for having a record that stood for around 30 years.
Hot Dog Days! A great team of parents like Mrs. Olmstead, Mrs. Niemi and Mrs. Mork serving up delicious dogs in that tin paper. Paired perfectly with a chocolate milk.
Persian Days! I remember my sister Carys was sick on Persian Day and I was tasked with bringing hers home for her. I cracked just past the fire station on James and Churchill and devoured it. Sorry, Carys. It was worth it.
Grade 8 Toronto Trip. Absolutely epic. Mr. Fish, Mrs. McAlister and a few other brave adult souls taking thirty 13 year-olds to the big city!
Singapore Exchange Students. An amazing experience having them come and visit. We called them up during our musical and sang That’s What Friends Are For arm-in-arm and there was nary a dry eye in the house. Annnnd then we sent them back to Singapore with a bunch of gum which was a no-no there. Sorry if we got you in trouble, John Wong!
The final days of school and graduating. Moving on after a decade with the same crew. An experience I’m sad that this year’s students don’t get to have. Shout-out to the Bolero ties for being so dominant at Grad.
Goodbye Agnew, thanks for the lessons, the memories, and the lifelong friendships. If I was one of the lucky ones to have gotten an AHJ Painters Cap from the 80s, I’d be wearing it right now, and pouring out a little bit of chocolate milk in your honour.
