Andrew School Hosts Community Drop-In

Andrew School Hosts Community Drop-In

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

You know what they say, when one door closes another one opens.

That was one of the remarks made by one of the visitors during Andrew School’s Community Drop-in open house that was held on June 7.

The event was held to give past and present school families, staff and community members the opportunity to tour the school, reminisce and visit before Elk Island Public Schools, (EIPS) officially closes the school on June 30.

Alumni Marsh Pysar.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Sitting on a bench outside the school and public library, Mayor Merwin Haight talked about ongoing efforts to have the Village of Andrew to obtain ownership of the facility and to start up a charter school in the community.

Haight said he would also like to have an after school program and daycare run out of facility. “That’s where we can start to build capacity for the number of students and that would be especially beneficial for working parents.”

Visitors reminisce in the lobby area.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

A four member viability committee was struck by village council recently and several members have already gone to visit Holden Rural Academy and New Humble School, both successful charter schools, to see what they offer and how it could benefit the Village of Andrew. Haight said he’s also met with parents who have kids in different schools in Edmonton to hear their input.

“We’re getting a lot more community support and interest to purchase the facility.” Haight said the viability committee will be meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the idea on June 15. Some of the stakeholders include: parent representatives, local industry, non-profit groups and Lamont County.

Haight said MLA Jackie ArmstrongHomeniuk has been very supportive, both before and after the election, and he is looking forward to working with her.

Official opening of modernized school in 1992.

(Fred Kucharski/ Submitted Photo)

Sharyn Danyluk’s two children Dawson and Danielle graduated from Andrew School and she hopes the Village of Andrew will be able to do something with the building. She wants the repairs made so they will be able to continue operating and repurpose the facility.

Breanna Sorotsky attended the drop-in with her dad Tracy Sorotsky. She graduated in 1999 and her dad graduated in 1976. She also taught at the school from 2007 to 2014. She described Andrew School as her home and said it is “heartbreaking and sad” to close the school and that it will be especially hard on the community.

Commemorative plaque.

(Fred Kucharski/ Submitted Photo)

Marsh Pysar said he hates to see history destroyed and said he has so many memories of the school he graduated from in 1954. The 87-year-old Andrew resident said he was a part of one of the largest grad classes in the school’s history.

He went to a country school from Grades 1-8 before attending Andrew School and said indoor bathrooms and running water was a huge thing since they didn’t have those conveniences before.

Terry Melnyk’s four children all attended Andrew School. “They loved going here. All graduated and got very good jobs.” She is upset EIPS decided to close the school, which she believes was totally unnecessary, as the repairs could have been done.

Former Andrew School.

(Fred Kucharski/ Submitted Photo)

Cassandra Ostashek attended Andrew school and attended the drop-in with her parents. She and her dad both graduated from Andrew School. Her father Rick said he always hoped his daughter would have taught here. He also remembered the 1948 building that had four classrooms, a small gym and film room where they did target shooting. It also housed a flight simulator.

Fred Kucharski remembered the flight simulator because he was in Air Cadets in the sixties. Kucharski attended Andrew School from Grade 1-11 and took his Grade 12 year at Vegreville Composite High School because he had already decided to be a heavy duty mechanic. He did become a heavy duty mechanic as well as sheet metal worker later on.

Kucharski said he was quite involved with the school when his four children were young. He said his oldest grandson also graduated from Andrew School seven years ago.

Hilary Anaka said Principal Marshall Stewart asked her to cut the ribbon during the official opening of the modernized Andrew School on Oct. 2, 1992. She recalled being miffed that she had to share the scissors with Education Minister Jim Dinning as she felt she was more than capable of carrying out that duty all by herself.

Anaka added, “It was bittersweet to tour Andrew School one last time. This place holds many memories for generations of Andrew students and their families, mine included. It’s sad to see the school close but I remain grateful for my rural upbringing and all that it has given me.”

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