Our Support Staff
by Jim MacLachlan
Here we are talking about office administration staff, secretaries, custodians, and the audio visual technician, attendance counsellor and school nurse.
Before we begin to describe the important functions of each group and individual, we should be reminded of one very important point. Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, with an average daily population of 1250 students and staff, had the population density of a city. From Monday to Friday, Almaguin was a busy place. Stairwells, main school intersections and hallways were Toronto-subway-busy, especially as classes changed.
So let’s walk a corridor in the shoes of the support staff from first bus through to late bus.
Office administration staff and secretaries were instantly busy with the arrival of staff and students. John McDermott often stood at the counter in the main office to help set the tone for the day.
Before opening exercises, often teachers would need 30 copies, now. Once classes started, the pace picked up with late slips, sickness, calls to home, sign outs, discipline and ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ slips from both the main and Stornoway offices. Mixed in with this pace was the ‘quiet counselling’ that many of the secretaries provided. Sometimes just talking to someone helped.
The custodians had their regular schedule which would often be interrupted by special events, sickness, change in plans, broken equipment, bad weather, unusual requests, visiting teams and groups, and accidents. The individual AV technician, attendance counsellor and school nurse all dealt with the same pace of activity and unusual requests.
Regardless of the role of the support staff, they all brought a sense of ownership and pride in Almaguin. As with the students, the support staff came from the local communities, having the same qualities of friendliness, cooperation and respect.
Of course, we cannot forget the bus drivers who set the tone for each school day during some very long bus rides. Also, the cafeteria staff was always prepared for a hungry crowd and helped set a positive and nourishing environment.
When I recently asked John McDermott about the support staff, he said he was most aware of the pride and loyalty they all took in Almaguin and a pride he still sees to this day.
Before we begin to describe the important functions of each group and individual, we should be reminded of one very important point. Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, with an average daily population of 1250 students and staff, had the population density of a city. From Monday to Friday, Almaguin was a busy place. Stairwells, main school intersections and hallways were Toronto-subway-busy, especially as classes changed.
So let’s walk a corridor in the shoes of the support staff from first bus through to late bus.
Office administration staff and secretaries were instantly busy with the arrival of staff and students. John McDermott often stood at the counter in the main office to help set the tone for the day.
Before opening exercises, often teachers would need 30 copies, now. Once classes started, the pace picked up with late slips, sickness, calls to home, sign outs, discipline and ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ slips from both the main and Stornoway offices. Mixed in with this pace was the ‘quiet counselling’ that many of the secretaries provided. Sometimes just talking to someone helped.
The custodians had their regular schedule which would often be interrupted by special events, sickness, change in plans, broken equipment, bad weather, unusual requests, visiting teams and groups, and accidents. The individual AV technician, attendance counsellor and school nurse all dealt with the same pace of activity and unusual requests.
Regardless of the role of the support staff, they all brought a sense of ownership and pride in Almaguin. As with the students, the support staff came from the local communities, having the same qualities of friendliness, cooperation and respect.
Of course, we cannot forget the bus drivers who set the tone for each school day during some very long bus rides. Also, the cafeteria staff was always prepared for a hungry crowd and helped set a positive and nourishing environment.
When I recently asked John McDermott about the support staff, he said he was most aware of the pride and loyalty they all took in Almaguin and a pride he still sees to this day.
Administrative Assistant: Alan Arkwright
School Nurse: Marilyn DeVries
Librarian: Wilf Sheffield
The school yearbooks and this site owe much to AV Technician Willard Laurenitis, who was the official school photographer.
Secretaries: From left: Darla Lacombe, Donna Preston, Rose St. Pierre, Donna MacLachlan, Jean Zurbrigg. Front: Pat Lamb
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Custodial staff: Front from left: Mr. McNeil, Mr. Furlong, Mr. Amos, Mr. Sikora. Back: Doug Lamb, Mr. Loney, Mr. Harmer
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Custodial staff: Front from left: Mr. Baumgartner, Mr Sylvester (Head), Mr. Hearn, Mr. Holt. Back: Mr. Minor, Mr. Wilson.
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Cafeteria Staff: Vi Weldon, Charles Weldon, Irene Cooper, Bessie Maeck, Violet New, Noreen Toswell.
Cafeteria Staff From left: Mrs. Baxter, Mrs. Neely, Mrs. Schultz, Mrs. Hall
Cafeteria Staff From left: Mrs. May, Mrs. Toswell, Mr. Weldon, Mrs. Pinkerton, Mrs. Peters
Cafeteria Staff Mrs. May, Mrs. Hubacheck, Mrs. Pinkerton, Doug Weldon, Mrs. Weldon.
