Assumption College School

Assumption College Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary school in Windsor, Ontario. The school was originally established as a private preparatory school by Assumption College, now Assumption University, but it is now a publicly-funded separate school under the jurisdiction of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and Specialist High School Majors Programs in addition to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Assumption College Catholic High School
Address
1100 Huron Church Road

Windsor
,
Ontario
,
N9C 2K7

Canada
Coordinates42.2954°N 83.0614°W / 42.2954; -83.0614
Information
School typeSeparate high school
Motto"Teach us goodness, discipline and knowledge"
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Founded1870
School boardWindsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
SuperintendentRosemary Lo Faso
Area trusteeTony Polifroni
PrincipalDwayne Brunet
Grades9-12
EnrollmentApprox. 675 (2005-2006 year)
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)Purple and White    
MascotPurple Raider
Team nameThe Purple Raiders
Feeder schools
  • Assumption Middle School
  • St. James Catholic Elementary School
Special ProgramsInternational Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)
Websitewecdsb.on.ca/acs

History

"Assumption College" was founded by the Basilian Fathers in 1857 as common school, High School and College.[1] Assumption College formally became Assumption College of the University of Western Ontario (1920-1953) and then Assumption University of Windsor in 1956,[2] Assumption University in 1964[2] and is now affiliated with the University of Windsor.

The original 3-storey school[3][4] housed the "common school," high school and college, residing together on the same grounds and in buildings owned by the Basilians.[5] Mr. Theodule Girardot (at the school until 1871) is credited with maintaining the continuity of the school throughout its birthing pains.[1] In its early years the school accommodated private boarders and day school attendees, male students only.[6]

George McMahon, Sr. notes in his history, "Assumption [around the turn of the 20th century] continued to be tasked to provide four different programs: a preparatory school for grades five to eight; a commercial course for those boys preparing for a life in business; a three-year academic course or high school and a four years Arts course with College level courses."

In their Academic Year 1932-33 booklet, the High School is referred to as the "High School Department," and includes a history for the school, lists of faculty and "officers," admission, expenses and fees, lists of courses for all three programs, names of students, etc. The booklet also notes that since "the affiliation of the College Department with the University of Western Ontario in 1920, the High School has become a separate unit. An academic course of four years preparing boys for college, a commercial course leading to positions in the business world, and one year preparatory course, are offered."[7]

The Assumption High School Reporter, the student newspaper for Assumption High School began publication in 1937.[8] The January 26, 1945 issue reports on the expansions that will benefit the High School: a new auditorium, plus "all the buildings now standing will be turned over entirely to High School use."[8][9]

In the 1940s and early 50s the High School is stated to have resided in Dillon Hall[10][11] (the latter still in existence on the property of the University of Windsor). The High School moved to its current location in 1957,[12][13] a photo from c. 1957[14] and a postcard from c. 1965 shows the High School in two different incarnations at the 1100 Huron Road location.[15] The Assumption College High School Chapel is listed on the Municipal Register but is not designated.[12]

In 1971, with the merging of St. Mary's Academy, the High School became a co-educational secondary school[16] within the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

In 2011, one of the school's former teachers, Father William Hodgson Marshall, pled guilty to sexually abusing students while teaching at Assumption.[17] He had also been able to teach at Holy Names High School in Windsor, plus other Catholic High Schools in Toronto and Sudbury, where he sexually abused students between 1952 and 1986 as well.[17]

Current status

Assumption offers a range of secondary programs including the IB Diploma Programme, as well as Co-op, OYAP, MOYAP , SHSM Hospitality and Tourism and SHSM Aviation and Aerospace. Assumption's student population has decreased significantly since the early/mid-1990s. Today the school has a current population of approximately 650 students. This secondary school is now among the smallest in the Windsor-Essex County Area, but in the early/mid-1980s Assumption was one of the largest secondary schools in Canada with approximately 3000 students, and a reputation for excellence in both academics and sports.

The current principal is Dwayne Brunet.

References
  1. McMahon, Sr., George (2002). Pure Zeal: a history of Assumption College, 1870-1946. FoxMar Press. p. 5. ISBN 0968999638.
  2. "Library of Congress Authorities". The Library of Congress. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  3. Johnson, Bill (January 26, 1945). "A Gradual growth". Assumption High School Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  4. Oxford University Press. "common, adj. and adv". OED Online. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  5. McMahon, Sr., George (2002). Pure Zeal: a history of Assumption College, 1870-1946. FoxMar Press. p. 7. ISBN 0968999638.
  6. McMahon, Sr., George (2002). Pure Zeal: a history of Assumption College, 1870-1946. FoxMar Press. pp. 2, 5, 9, 10, 14. ISBN 0968999638.
  7. Assumption College High School, Sandwich, Ontario: Academic Year 1932-1933. Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Assumption College High School. 1933. p. 9.
  8. "Assumption High School Reporter". Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: University of Windsor publications. March 23, 1948. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  9. Taylor, Coleman (March 23, 1948). "Memorial Building Honours War Dead". Assumption High School Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  10. City Desk (September 6, 2013). "A 50-year romance with history (With video)". Windsor Star. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  11. McMahon, Sr., George (2013). Rev. E.C. Le Bel C.S.B. and the creation of the University of Windsor, 1946-1964. Dallas, TX: J.M. LeBel Publishers Inc. p. 20. ISBN 9780920008492.
  12. City of Windsor (2017). Windsor Municipal Heritage Register (PDF). City of Windsor: City of Windsor.
  13. Municipal Archives (2017). Municipal Archives Holdings of Building Department Plans RG4. Windsor Public Library: Municipal Archives: Windsor Public Library.
  14. "Assumption High School [photo]". Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive. c. 1957. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  15. "Assumption High School [postcard]". Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive. c. 1965. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  16. McMahon, Sr., George (2013). Rev. E.C. LeBel C.S.B. and the Creation of the University of Windsor, 1946-1964. Dallas, TX: J.M. Le Bel Publishers Inc. pp. 44–53. ISBN 9780920008492.
  17. https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/glad-he-is-gone-says-victim-as-pedophile-priest-hod-marshall-passes-away-at-92/

See also
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