Roden Public School Junior

Roden Public School, @1922

There are two plaques at this school.
Both can be seen on this page.

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted March, 2011

Here at Roden Public School Junior on Hiawatha Road at Fairford Avenue, a plaque, on the wall of the entrance hall, has this to say:

Plaque coordinates: 43.673730 -79.323389

The original Roden School consisted of four rooms and was formally opened in April 1908. Five additions were made to the building between 1910 and 1922.

At the time of replacement, the old school consisted of twenty-seven classrooms, two kindergartens, boys' and girls' playrooms, staff rooms, library, offices and health and dental rooms.

In 1966, the Metropolitan Toronto School Board established its study of educational facilities ( S E F ). The aims of S E F were to prepare educational specifications for schools which would accommodate the needs of present and future educational requirements and to prepare technical performance specifications which would result in a building systems approach to school construction.

In early 1968, the Toronto Board of Education was requested to designate Roden Public School-Junior as a S E F test school.

Construction commenced on July 22, 1969 and the cornerstone was laid by Trustee Alex C. Thompson, Q.C., B.A. on December 10, 1969. The new building was first occupied by students on September 8, 1970 and formally opened on November 25, 1970.
The Board of Education 1970

Photo and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted March, 2011

This one, in a hallway outside the main office, tells us this about the school:

What is now known as Roden School of Toronto had its beginning in November, 1906, in that section of the County of York known as the Midway, a part wedged in between Greenwood Ave. and the Kingston Road.

Norway School being the only school in the district, and full to overflowing, the trustees Mr. J. Brown, Mr. James Jackson and Mr. Samuel Wilson, secured the lecture-room of the new Rhodes Avenue Presbyterian (now United) Church as a temporary accommodation for the overflow, with Mrs. E. Whittaker as teacher.

In May 1907 a four-roomed building, which was then deemed to be adequate for all future needs, was started and formally opened in April 1908 with Mrs. E. Whittaker as principal and Misses Snell and McColl as assistants.

In 1910 that section became annexed to the city when Mr. Whiting became its principal followed by Mr. L.K. Fallis in May of the same year.

Related web page
Roden Junior Public School

More
Educational buildings

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted January 25, 2012
My father, Rod Robbie, was the technical director of the SEF program that produced Roden Junior public school. He was also the designer of the Canadian pavilion at EXPO'67 and the SkyDome. However he always told me that the SEF program and the school that were build becasue of it were some of his proudest moments. Educational facilities were a very significant part of his life. For more information on him, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Robbie
Angus Robbie - Jan 2012

Posted December 14, 2011
i was a student 1976 to 1979 did a photo shoot for a cook book with girls looking for that book

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).