History

1860 - The first schools were the No 1. School (across from the RC church), the Sydney Bay school and the little red school in Little Port Elgin.

1904 - The teaching order of the Daughters of Mary arrive to teach at the No 1. School. (St. Mary’s)

1913 - The girls band was formed.

1957 - With inadequate class space for increasing numbers of students, the parents of the St. Mary’s school petitioned the Indian Department for a new school. The department gave them a prefabricated room and a promise to build a new school in the near future.

1964 - A new school was constructed for the United Church students, near dock road, the present day Economic Development Office. It had 3 rooms, a nurse’s clinic and would be the first school on the reserve to have all indoor plumbing.

1965 - The Cape Croker Public School was officially opened. The students from the Sydney Bay school and the red school attended this new school. There were 72 students enrolled.

1969- Construction began on the St Mary’s school, presently named the Cape Croker Elementary School.

1970- The new St Mary’s school was almost complete. It would have all indoor plumbing, 3 large classrooms, a kindergarten room and would be opened later in the year.

Sources:

Lavalley, Nora.  Jones, Cheryl. The History of Cape Croker. Cape Croker