Donwood School celebrating 50th anniversary

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This article was published 08/01/2021 (1824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A global pandemic may not be the best time to celebrate an anniversary, but students and staff at Donwood School are making the most of it.

“We’re really excited to celebrate Donwood’s 50th,” said principal Darlene Martineau. “Our students are eager to learn about the history of the school and to celebrate that milestone with our school community, virtually.”

Donwood School was slated to open in September of 1970. But construction was not completed in time, and students of the school spent the first half of the year learning in four nearby schools. On Feb. 23, 1971, students walked through the doors at 400 Donwood Dr. for the first time. The school officially opened May 13, 1971.

Organizers of the anniversary celebrations have events planned to commemorate both milestones.

“Students are in process of a school-wide writing project about the anniversary,” Martineau said. The project will be presented to all classes via PowerPoint later this year. 

A numeracy day celebrating 50 years will be held in school on Feb. 23. A celebration for the wider school community, including alumni and former staff, will be held virtually on May 13.

“Our school holds lots of lasting memories for people,” Martineau said. “It’s important to reflect on the people and events that have left an impression on our school.”

Ahead of the May 13 celebration, former staff, students, or parents of students from Donwood are encouraged to share their fondest memories of the school. The organizing committee is also collecting photos from the school going back over the past five decades. Photos can be emailed to don@retsd.mb.ca

The school has also launched a 50th anniversary line of clothing, which was made available to current students before the winter holiday, and should soon be available online for the public to purchase. Each item features a 50th anniversary logo designed by Grade 4/5 teacher Sydnee Laurin, who is also a Donwood alumna. The anniversary logo, Martineau explained, features elements of three school logos that have been used over the years.

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Throughout the school year, teachers have incorporated the anniversary into their lesson plans.

“We do things like 50 acts of kindness, a wreath of 50 poppies at Remembrance Day,” Martineau said. “At Christmas, we did 50 cards, which turned into over 150 cards, for residents at Donwood Manor Personal Care Home.”

For staff and students, the celebrations provide a bit of relief from what has been a school year unlike any other.

“It’s nice to have something positive to celebrate, too,” Martineau said. “There’s lots of things going on in the world right now, it’s nice to have something positive to think about and share with our students and our school community.”

Guests for the May 13 celebration can register online at www.retsd.mb.ca/school/don/Pages/DON50.aspx#/=

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112

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