Generations educated at Phoenix School

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This article was published 03/02/2017 (3414 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In recognition of the RM of Headingley’s 25th anniversary, The Headliner is presenting a series of 25 short vignettes about organizations, businesses and people that play important roles within the municipality and add to the overall quality of life. These will run throughout the year.

Phoenix School has stood at or close to 111 Alboro St. for most than 100 years, according to local historian Jean Ammeter.

Headingley’s first school was a Church of England Mission school that opened in 1856 and was located east of Holy Trinity Anglican Church’s cemetery. Local farmer and politician John Taylor was the first teacher.

On Jan. 14, 1910, the school burned  down, and a new school was built south of the cemetery. A second school was also built on Bridge Road — however, families living on the south side of the river wanted a school close by as travelling across the river was difficult, Ammeter said.

Phoenix School was built on the same property as where the present school is now located. A plaque beside the Headingley Municipal Library (49 Alboro Rd.) marks the school’s original site.

It is the only school within the St. James-Assiniboia School Division that’s located outside the City of Winnipeg’s boundaries, but when it was built in 1963, Headingley was part of Winnipeg.
Principal Linda Daniels said 161 students attend the kindergarten to Grade 5 classes and there are 20 staff members. Programs for three- and four-year-olds are also offered. Bright Beginnings Educare offers before- and after-school programs within the building.

“It’s an elementary school that’s a real community school,” Daniels said.

President of the school’s parent advisory council Kelly Genn’s four children have or are attending Phoenix School.

“It’s an awesome school. It’s such a small community there,” she said, adding that parents learn to recognize many of the students and get to know most of the teachers.

“We have phenomenal teachers who go the extra mile,” Daniels said.

With new residential development underway in the municipality, Daniels said, there’s space for more students. Two new classrooms were added in 2015.

“We have room to grow,” she said.

Members of a PAC committee are currently fundraising for a new play structure to replace the school’s old wooden structure deemed unfit. Daniels said the parents are hoping to have the new structure in place later this year.

— Staff