Rathwell School
Rathwell School District The first meeting of the ratepayers was held at the home of Mr. Chas. Wilson, June 4, 1889 with S. Pritchard as chairman of the meeting and C. Wilson as secretary. The first trustees were J. Barron; S. Caswell; and I. Scarrow; with C. Wilson as secretary at a salary of $25.
Rathwell School 1903 Rathwell School 1915
During the summer several meetings were held in regard to building a new school. The ratepayers voted on July 10, 1889, to borrow six hundred dollars ($600.) for the purpose of building the school. Mr. A. Forbes’ tender for building for $594. was accepted. This school was built on the north—east corner of Robt. Allan’s farm on the N.W.M; of 13-8—9.
Miss Ranton was engaged as the first teacher, duties commenced April 1, 1890 at a salary of $35 per month for 7 months.
The School District included Sections 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, Township 8, Range 9, W% 7, all of 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, Township 8, Range 8.
The first pupils April 1890 were —- Grade 1 — Thos. Cav— anagh; Maggie Pritchard; Mabel Pritchard; George Scarrow; John Pritchard; Aggie Scarrow; James McKay; Lizzie McKay; Mary Mc- Kay; Earnest Moodie. Grade 2 — William Scarrow; George Pritchard. Grade 3 — Georgina Cavanagh; Jessie Ross. Grade 4 — James Cavanagh; Willie Turnbull.
By a vote of the ratepayers December 27, 1893 the school was moved to the N.W. side of the present site. In July 1899 the school was enlarged to two rooms. The first winter only one large stove was used, in one room one week and then moved into the other room the next week. When the new school was built in 1903 this school was sold and moved into town to be used as a house. It is now the present Masonic Hall. On July 11, 1902 the ratepayers voted to build a new four room school. On June 12, 1903 the tender of R. Robson for $4,445 for building was accepted and A. Forbes’ tender for the heating plant for $350 was also accepted. This school was built north of the present school. This school was used until October 1961 when a new and more modern one storey school was built and the old one torn down. The new one was opened October 1961
Rathwell School 1961
In January 1956 the Rathwell Consolidated School District was formed with Rathwell, Gordon Union, McCreery, and part of East Treherne schools joining. The children were conveyed to school by motor driven vans. . 4 W Rathwell School, 1961. In 1960 the Cherry Valley School north-east of town, which had been operating since 1902 came into consolidation. Vernon Henderson was the van driver. In 1962, Lees School District in operation since 1890 was dissolved, part going to Rathwell and the remainder to Notre Dame de Lourdes. Bell S.D. dissolved in 1964 and part consolidated with Rathwell and part with St. Claude.
In September 1963 the Grade eleven class was moved to the Treherne school under the new Divisional system and in 1964 the Grades nine and ten were also moved leaving just grades one to eight still being taught in the Rathwell school. These high school pupils are being transported by two vans driven by Robt. Smart and Les. Watson. Rathwell has seven van routes. The drivers are Route 1 — Walter Allan; Route 2 — Frank Goddard; Route 3 —— M. Mitchell; Route 4 — R. Smart; Route 5 — Len. Adair; Route 6 — Verne Henderson; and Route 7 — Les. Watson.
The following is a list of the Chairmen of the Rathwell School Board from 1899 to 1969.
Adam Forbes 1899-1901 H, E. Delf 1943-1946
D. B. McKenzie 1901—1910 A. W. Caswell 1946—1949
A. W. Turnbull 1910-1913 H. Allan 1949-1954
Ias. Gill 1913-1928 H. E. Delf 1954-1958
E. B. Litz 1928-1938 Thos. Kitching 1958-1964
J. Wilson 1938-1943 Alf. Henderson 1964-