Historic Sites of Manitoba: Woodlawn School (410 Henry Street, Steinbach)

Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

Operated in Steinbach, the Steinbach School District No. 65 assigned this educational facility the working (later official) name of Woodlawn School, adopting the name of the surrounding neighbourhood. The decision proved to be controversial, as the School Board was petitioned to name it Kornelsen. In the end, they opted not to, instead renaming the former Collegiate. In May 1963, the $270,000 school was approved by local ratepayers by a vote of 395 to 80. Designed by the architectural partnership of Macleod, Reimer, & Webster, it was built by the Blumenort-based firm of A. K. Penner & Sons, under local supervision from Albert Brandt. A sod-turning ceremony was held in September 1963, with the completed 14-classroom facility opened to students and staff in September 1964. Woodlawn School was opened officially on 8 December 1964 before a crowd of 150 parents. School Inspector Kenn Jasper and Supervising Principal Ernie Friesen addressed the assembly with Reverend Berg providing the school dedication.

Principals

Period	Principal
1964-1966	Richard Lehmann Reimer (1911-1999)
1966-1983	Waldemar “Wally” Rempel (1936-2015)
1983-1996	John Bestvater
1996-?	Karen Penner
?-2018	?
2018-?	Karen Fraser

Vice-Principals

Period	Vice-Principal
1964-2018	?
2018-?	Tara Reimer

Teachers

Period	Teachers
1964-1965	Olga Peter Dick (grade 5), Helen Feniuk (grade 1), Elma Ann Funk (grade 2), Shirley Frances Hiebert (grade 2), Rose Mary Anne Kihn (grade 3), Agnes Mary Neufeld (grade 6), Caroll Penner (ungraded), Richard Lehmann Reimer (grade 8), Melvin C. Toews (grade 7), Anne Marie Warkentin (grade 4), Helen Katharine Woelke (grade 5)
1965-1966	Shirley Frances Hiebert Bestvater (grade 2), Mona Gail Dulder (kindergarten), Helen Feniuk (grade 1), Elma Ann Funk (grade 2), Peter Abram Hiebert (grade 6), Rose Mary Anne Kihn (grade 3), Betty Eleanor Ladobruk (grade 5), Janyce Marilyn Loewen (grade 5), Richard Lehmann Reimer (grade 8), Mary Janette Rittaler (ungraded), Marlene Eleanore Schroeder (grade 4), Melvin C. Toews (grade 7)
1966-1967	Janyce Marilyn Loewen Broesky (grade 5), Mona Gail Dulder (kindergarten), Susan Friesen (grade 5), Elma Ann Funk (grade 2), Peter Abram Hiebert (grade 6), Frieda Irma Hildebrand (grade 2), Rose Mary Anne Kihn (grade 3), Diane Marie Kinney (grade 6), Henry Kroeker (grade 7), Irene Anne Poetker (grade 1), Waldemar Rempel (grade 8), Sara Rosenfeld (mentally handicapped), Marlene Eleanore Schroeder (grade 4), Frieda Voth (grade 4)
1967-1968	Agatha Braun (grade 6), Janyce Marilyn Loewen Broesky (grade 1, 1967), Monda Gail Dulder (kindergarten), Abram Leon Friesen (grade 7), Elma Ann Funk (grade 2), Peter Abram Hiebert (grade 6), Frieda Irma Hildebrand (grade 5), Rose Mary Anne Kihn (grade 3), Henry Kroeker (grade 7), Anne Peters (grade 1, 1968), Roselena Plett (grade 1), Waldemar Rempel (grade 7), Sara Rosenfeld (mentally handicapped), Frieda Voth (grade 4), Mary Ann Wiens (grade 5)

Photos & Coordinates

Woodlawn School (no date) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Manitoba School Records Collection, GR2656, Hanover School Division Collection #46, Series 1. Woodlawn School, rear elevation (no date) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Manitoba School Records Collection, GR2656, Hanover School Division Collection #48, Series 1. Woodlawn School (April 2022) Source: Rose Kuzina Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.52628, W96.67539 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Woodlawn School (1186 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Ratepayers approve new school building,” Steinbach Carillon, 31 May 1963, page 12.

“Award school contract to Blumenort company,” Steinbach Carillon, 13 September 1963, page 1.

“Woodlawn School opens in August,” Steinbach Carillon, 17 January 1964, page 1.

“Both sides state case in school-name issue,” Steinbach Carillon, 10 April 1964, page 1.

“School name,” Steinbach Carillon, 10 April 1964, page 5.

“Board decides to rename Central School Kornelsen,” Steinbach Carillon, 24 April 1964, page 9.

“Ceremony planned at Woodlawn School,” Steinbach Carillon, 4 December 1964, page 1.

“Official opening,” Steinbach Carillon, 4 December 1964, page 3.

“Plan classes for slow learners,” Steinbach Carillon, 11 December 1964, page 13.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Steinbach School District No. 65 (Woodlawn School) - Daily Registers, GR2656, Archives of Manitoba.

Steinbach, So Much to Celebrate: 1946-1996, Derksen Printers, 1997. [Manitoba Legislative Library, F 5649.S84]

We thank Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 17 April 2022

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