Named for Clarence Michiel in recognize of his outstanding contribution to education as a teacher and principal from 1929 - 1941 and later as a chairman of the schoolboard from 1945 -1960.
New School Opens Here Monday
Unique Design Used Successfully
The Terrace Herald November 6, 1963
Terrace’s new four classroom school is ringing with the enthusiastic voices of over a hundred young students. The new school, located at the corner of Sparks and Scott on Kalum Flats, opened its doors last Monday and children took up their studies without having missed a lesson because of the move. Moving operations began late Friday when busses transported the youngsters and their books from Riverside School. Books and belongings, all neatly labeled were lined up on a long sideboard, awaiting the arrival of desks. On Saturday, maintenance crews moved the desks in the placed them in the same positions as held in the former premises. Monday morning, students arrived at the school, picked up their belongings and went to their usual seats—without a hitch or even the slightest delay in study sessions.
In charge of classrooms in the new school are Mrs. B. McBroom, Mrs. N. McFadden, Mrs. E McFarlane and Mrs. E. Atwood.
The new school is very unique in design, in that windows have been cut to the barest minimum. Extensive studies of the effects of windows in the classroom have turned up some interesting facts. They have been found to divert the attention of students, cause discomfort because of sun glare and contribute nothing constructive in the way of actual working light. With these facts in mind, the planning committee and architects for the new school have incorporated a new concept for this type of building and minimum of windows have been installed here. The extra room space gained through this method has been put to use for educational and decorative purposes and teachers report that the results are excellent.
Another new feature in the school is a magnetized four foot section on every blackboard that enables instructors to teach more effectively with picture stories. Using magnetized articles for demonstration, teachers are able to now prove mathematic problems with the aid of pictures.
The new school was planned under the careful eye of a planning committee, chaired by school trustee Keith Tucker, and comprised of trustees Jack Cook, Pem van Heek and R. Toynbee. This group is responsible for originating the “mud-room” idea, which is one of the major features in the new school. The “mud-room” is a special entrance where children may remove wet clothing and muddy boots, leaving them on racks to dry while they go into their classrooms. The new school also has a central service block, which cuts down on wasted corridor space.
This school is the first section of a building, which will eventually house all the students now attending Riverside Elementary. It represents the first phase of a 12-classroom unit. The next referendum period allows for eight more classrooms and an activity room at this site and Riverside will be retired, as the new facilites are made available.
Landscaping for the new school has been carefully planned, under the experienced eye of school trustee Pem van Heek, but work in this respect will not begin for some time. Delay in landscaping is due to the fact that in April of next year it is expected that grounds will be torn up in preparation for the new addition.
The new school remains un-named and at present is known to Terrace school trustees only as Project No. 6.
The architectural firm of Briggs and Greenweel of Prince George designed the building, which at a cost to ratepayers of only $68,000, is one of the least expensive school facilities ever constructed in this area.
The public is welcome to call at the new school and view it, within the next two weeks. However, in order that classroom studies are not disrupted, visitors are asked to time their called with discretion and obtain the permission of one of the school teachers before touring the building.
--The Terrace Herald November 6, 1963
Pictures by Nellie McFadden