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Dupré School
by Rose Gray
First
Duprés School built in 1933
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Dupré School was a
typical one room school built by volunteers. It was a pine
log building with cedar shingles on the roof, and a fir
floor. The building was heated by a barrel heater.
Some of the first trustees were: Mr. Duprés, whom
the school was named after, Mr. Paul Strumecki and Mr. Harry
Glen. Mr. Paul Sally was the secretary.
School opened in October of 1932 with about 19 students,
and Miss Marcoux, from Bonnyville as the first teacher.
Miss Marcoux stayed only for two months. I guess the young
man that came to pick her up on Fridays finally won her
over. The first few teachers did not stay long. I guess
the challenge was too great as there were students almost
as old as the teachers themselves. However some of the students
that attended Dupré school have gone on to great
careers as teachers, mechanical engineers, and even one
or two millionaires.
The school itself was used as a Community Centre as well.
There were many fine ball games and picnics during the summer.
Dances and shows were held quite regularly. Mr. Nick Baron
showed slides of Ben Hur as well as other titles that he
got from the Department of Education. Jimmy Gauthier played
for many of the dances and basket social that were so popular
at that time.
School life was quite exciting to us as students. I remember
well playing "cowboys and Indians" every noon
hour.
Second
Duprés School built in 1945
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As the population of the
Duprés area increased so the school was enlarged.
It became a two room school when an addition was put on
to the original building. Then in 1942 a fine new, larger,
school was built and the original one became a teacherage.
When school buses were introduced the students went to Bonnyville
and Fort Kent. The local school became the "Duprés
Community Centre", and improvements to the building
were made through a provincial government grant. It now
has a community Board and is used for various activities.
Following is a list of teachers that have taught in Dupré
(in no particular order): Miss Marcoux, Mr. R. McClung,
Mr. J. Zubic, Miss Bates, Miss Lessard, Mr. Skwaruk, Mrs.
McKernan, Mrs. B. Martinel, Mr. H. W. Taylor, Mrs. R. Gray,
Mr. W. Filipchuk, Mrs. Carlson, Mr. O'Dwyre and his daughter,
Miss P. O'Dwyre, Mr. C. Selezinka, Mrs. M. Selezinka, Mr.
Chernowski, Miss R. Laciuk, Miss D. Chihmoff, Miss Chomiak,
Mr. J. Sawchuk, Miss J. Moe, Mr. M. Eliuk, Mr. Robert Klepstern,
Mr. Bernard O'Connor, Mrs. Lucille O'Connor.
This was quite a number of teachers as none stayed very
long. We were fortunate to be able to replace them as they
left. I don't recall the school ever being closed because
of a lack of a teacher.
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