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The Donald School District was established formally in November 1900 and a schoolhouse operated on Lot 255 in the Parish of St. Andrews, in the Rural Municipality of St. Clements. Intially a one-room structure, second and third classrooms were added to deal with burgeoning student enrollment. In 1916, a second two-classroom building was erected at the site. By 1926, teacherage quarters for all four staff was established on nearby Lot 251. The school buildings were destroyed during a fire in December 1946. A new three-classroom building, measuring 72 by 24 feet, with an auditorium that could be converted into a fourth classroom, was erected. Removed in the spring of 1956, a new school building designed by Paul Oneschuk was opened officially on 28 October 1956.
The school district was dissolved in 1967, with its area becoming part of the River East School Division. The school closed in June 1970. The former school building was given to the municipality which leased it to a local group to be used as a community centre, seniors centre, and daycare.
Period
Principal
1915-1916
A. F. Haczkiewicz
1916-1917
F. A. Ryback
1918-1927
Katherine E. Smythe (c1881-?)
1927-1931
Sophie Cherry [Cherashny] Shibou (1903-2002)
1931-1946
Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (1903-1971)
1946-1949
Emanuel Peter “Manuel” Tanchak (1914-1993)
1949-1952
John Prokipchuk
1952-1954
William Paul Solypa (1930-2017)
1954-1955
Dmytro “Metro” Michalchuk (1931-2017)
1955-1956
John Petrash (1933-2008)
1956-1957
Morris Miroslaw Hryhor (1923-1987)
1957-1958
Michael Rehaluk
1958-1959
Nicholas “Nick” Andrusko (1900-1983)
1959-1963
Maurice Walter Peleshok (1922-2013)
1963-1964
Peter Mikolayenko
1964-1967
Peter Paul Smolarski
1967-1968
Abe Klassen
1968-1970
Mabel Louise Rutledge Johnson (1905-1991)
School Year
Teachers
1915-1916
A. F. Haczkiewicz (grades 2-8), Stephen B. Wolanczyk (grade 1)
1916-1917
Emilia L. Dybisz (grade 1, 1917), A. F. Haczkiewicz (grades 2-4, 1916; grades 2-3, 1917), H. S. Hawecki (grade 1, 1916), F. A. Ryback (grades 4-8)
1917-1918
Joseph H. Basarabowicz (grades 1-3, 1917), F. Hazel Charles (grades 2-4, 1918), Emilia L. Dybisz (grade 1), A. F. Haczkiewicz (grades 2-3, 1917), F. A. Ryback (grades 5-8 & night school grades 2-5, 1917), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 4-8, 1918)
1918-1919
Agnes Rosetta Connelly (grades 2-4, 1919), Emilia L. Dybisz (grade 1), E. R. McCurdy (grades 2-4, 1918), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 4-7, 1918; grades 5-8, 1918)
1919-1920
Mamie Cassidy (grade 1), Agnes Rosetta Connelly (grades 2-3), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 4-7)
1920-1921
Mamie Cassidy (grade 3), Mary H. Johnson (grade 1, 1920), Valerie Moran [Moray?] (grade 2), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 4-8), Ethel Zohzman [Zokman?] (grade 1, 1921)
1921-1922
Isabel Campbell (grade 1), Catherine Craig (grade 2), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 4-8), Ivy Stevenson (grades 3-4)
1922-1923
Isabel Campbell (grade 1), Catherine Craig (grade 2), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 4-8), Ivy Stevenson (grades 3-4)
1923-1924
Alice Aitken (grades 2-3), Jean Carey (grade 1, 1923; grades 4-5, 1924), Rozann Carey (grade 4), Lillian E. Pearlman (grades 1-2, 1924), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 5-8)
1924-1925
Alice Aitken (grades 2-3), Jean Carey (grade 4), Lillian E. Pearlman (grades 1-2), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 5-8)
1925-1926
Jean Carey (grade 4), Marie Eaves (grade 1), Minney Lurey (grades 2-3), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 5-8)
1926-1927
Sophie Cherry (grades 2-3), Mabel Edith Payne (grade 1), Jonina Sumarlidason (grade 4), Katherine E. Smythe (grades 5-8), Frank Alexander Wachal (grade 4 substitute, 1927)
1927-1928
Sophie Cherry (grades 5-7), Anne J. Mowat (grades 2-3), Mabel Edith Payne (grade 1), Jonina Sumarlidason (grades 4-5)
1928-1929
Sophie Cherry (grades 6-8), Dorothy McDermott (grades 1-2, 1929), Anne J. Mowat (grades 2-3, 1928; grades 3-4, 1929), Mabel Edith Payne (grades 1-2, 1928), Jonina Sumarlidson (grades 4-5, 1928; grades 5-6, 1929)
1929-1930
Sophie Cherry Shibou (grades 7-9), Cleo Mabel Clark (grades 5-6), Audrey Valentine Thompson (grades 3-4), Ellen Ann Vincelette (grades 1-2)
1930-1931
Cleo Mabel Clark (grades 1-2), Kathleen Teresa King (grades 3-4), Sophie Cherry Shibou (grades 7-9), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 5-6)
1931-1932
Cleo Mabel Clark (grade 1), Kathleen Teresa King (grades 2-4), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 5-6)
1932-1933
Helene Lennie Dojack (grade 1), Kathleen Teresa King (grades 2-4), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 5-6)
1933-1934
Helene Lennie Dojack (grade 1), Kathleen Teresa King (grades 2-4), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 5-6)
1934-1935
Kathleen Teresa King (grade 1), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), John Louis [Lewis] Semeniuk (grades 2-4), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 5-6)
1935-1936
Kathleen Teresa King (grades 1-2), Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 3-4), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 5-6)
1936-1937
Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 1-3), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 4-6)
1937-1938
Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 1-3), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 4-6)
1938-1939
Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 1-3), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 4-6)
1939-1940
Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 1-3), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 4-6)
1940-1941
Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 1-3), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Frank Alexander Wachal (grades 4-6)
1941-1942
Libby Elizabeth Marek (grades 4-6), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Bessie B. Olson (grades 1-3)
1942-1943
Kathleen Marion Connolly (grades 4-6, 1943), Mary Hrenchuk (grades 1-3), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10), Libby Elizabeth Marek Schroeder (grades 4-6)
1943-1944
Florence May Baker (grades 1-3, 1944), Mary P. Boyko (grades 1-3, 1943), Rae Isabelle Ellis grades 4-6), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 7-10)
1944-1945
Rae Isabelle Ellis grades 4-6), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 9-11), Mary Uranick (grades 1-4)
1945-1946
Ina Constance Hawkins (grades 5-8), Blanche Florence Leveque (grades 1-4), Leon Rudolph Olesczuk (grades 9-11)
1946-1947
Ina Constance Hawkins (grades 5-8), Emanuel Peter “Manuel” Tanchak (grades 9-11), Berith Williams (grades 1-4)
1947-1948
Emanuel Peter “Manuel” Tanchak (grades 9-11), Berith Williams (grades 1-4), Anne Zubachek (grades 5-8)
1948-1949
Emanuel Peter “Manuel” Tanchak (grades 9-11), Berith Williams (grades 1-4), Anne Zubachek (grades 5-8)
1949-1950
John Prokipchuk (grades 5-9), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-4)
1950-1951
John Prokipchuk (grades 5-9), Helen Jean C. Turner (grades 1-4)
1951-1952
John Prokipchuk (grades 5-9), Helen Jean C. Turner (grades 1-4)
1952-1953
Jessie Belton (grades 1-4), William Paul Solypa (grades 5-9)
1953-1954
Jessie Belton (grades 1-4), William Paul Solypa (grades 5-9)
1954-1955
Jessie Belton (grades 1-4), Metro Michalchuk (grades 5-9)
1955-1956
Jessie Belton (grades 1-4), John Petrash (grades 5-9)
1956-1957
Morris Miroslaw Hryhor (grades 10-11), Simon “Cy” Nimchuk (grades 7-9), Julia Rich (grades 4-6), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-3)
1957-1958
Michael Rehaluk (grades 9-11), Julia Rich (grades 5-8), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-4)
1958-1959
Nicholas Andrusko (grades 8-10), Julia Rich (grades 4-7), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-3)
1959-1960
Janet Elaine Lalchun (grades 4-6), Maurice Walter Peleshok (grades 7-8), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-3)
1960-1961
Janet Elaine Lalchun (grades 4-6), Maurice Walter Peleshok (grades 7-8), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-3)
1961-1962
Janet Elaine Lalchun (grades 4-6), Maurice Walter Peleshok (grades 7-8), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-3)
1962-1963
Janet Elaine Lalchun (grades 4-6), Maurice Walter Peleshok (grades 7-8), Berith Williams Semeniuk (grades 1-3)
1963-1964
Sharon Alice Chanas (grade 1-2), Lorraine Isabel Clark (grades 3-5), Peter Mikolayenko (grades 6-8)
1964-1965
Leona Buyarski (grades 3-5), Sharon Alice Chanas (grade 1-2), Peter Paul Smolarski (grades 6-8)
1965-1966
Sharron Lynn Bodie (grades 1-2), Pamela Sue Buchalter (grades 3-4), Peter Paul Smolarski (grades 7-8), Wasyl Sokolyk (grades 5-6)
1966-1967
Judith Karen Hanson (grades 1-2), Joanne Lynn Raw (grades 3-4), Peter Paul Smolarski (grades 7-8), Wasyl Sokolyk (grades 5-6)
1967-1968
Erika Anita Geske (grades 1-2), Abe Klassen (grades 4-5), Joanne Lynn Raw (grades 3-4)
1968-1969
Mabel Louise Rutledge Johnson (grades 4-5), Judith Karen King (grade 1), Joanna Lynn Raw (relief teacher), Clara Steen (grades 2-3)
1969-1970
Mabel Louise Rutledge Johnson (grades 3-4), Clara Steen (grades 1-2)
The other teachers of Donald School included Maggie McBeth (1901-1902), Miss Certie M. Whilley (1903), Jacob T. Norquay (1903-1905), Hugh W. Keele (1904), Louisa J. Irvins (1905-1906), William F. P. Bradley (1906-1907), Elspeth M. Craig (1908), William Bladley (1908), Esel Scort (1908-1909), Janet McBeth (1910), John Bybek (1911), A. H. Dielenkeirch (1912), J. M. Dybek (1912-1913), W. J. Mushynski (1912-1913), M. Styrska (1913-1914), A. F. Haczkiewicz (1913-1915), W. Henchart (1914), A. J. Basarabowicz (1915), Kathleen lsabelle Henderson (1948), and Arthur Bueckert (1965).
Donald School (no date) by J. E. S. Dunlop
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs,
GR8461, A0233, C131-2, page 57.Site Coordinates (lat/long): N50.03823, W96.98513
denoted by symbol on the map above
1926 Canada census, Library and Archives Canada.
“Examines classes at Donald School,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 November 1915, page 4.
“Campaign for better schools,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 September 1917, page 9.
“Remarkable change in conditions in Donald Public School in five years,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 November 1920, page 5.
“Selkirk and district items [The Donald School ...],” Selkirk Weekly Record, 2 September 1926, page 1.
“Tenders will be received by the Donald School Board,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 July 1935, page 14.
“Sealed tenders will be received for purchase and removal of Donald School Bldg.,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 April 1956, page 12.
“[Photo caption], Official opening,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 October 1956, page 18.
“Correction,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 October 1956, page 3.
Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.
One Hundred Years in the History of the Rural Schools of Manitoba: Their Formation, Reorganization and Dissolution (1871-1971) by Mary B. Perfect, MEd thesis, University of Manitoba, April 1978.
Selkirk West topographic map, 62I/2 West, Edition 2, 1952, Series A743 [Archives of Manitoba].
Manitoba School Records Collection, Donald School District No. 1094 - Daily Registers, GR8245, Archives of Manitoba.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
Donald School, Narol, St. Clements Heritage.
We thank Barry Roy and Ian Stewart for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 1 February 2023
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