Dag Hammarskjold

Tisdale School District #916 - Dag Hammarskjold School

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Classrooms in the newly built Tisdale Unit Junior Elementary School (901 108th Ave. West) were occupied on Monday, October 1, 1961. The new school, built for students from grade one to six living north of 103rd Avenue was constructed at the cost of $78,850 with an addition 5% for the architect, other items and equipment. The province paid for about 25% of the cost by way of grants, and the balance was raised locally by the sale of debentures. With the opening of the new school the board was able to vacate three basement rooms in the north building of the old Public School that were not up to standard, the appendix one room school and one of the rooms in the basement of the south Public School.

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On November 1, 1961 Mayor Eli Zoerb cut the ribbon officially opening and naming the new building Dag Hammarskjold School. Guest speaker at the opening, representing the Department of Education was R. B. Gould superintendent of schools in the Prince Albert Unit. Other officials were Tisdale Unit board chairman Mr. Frank Lindsey and Tisdale Superintendent of Schools F. W. Glazier. The Tisdale Public School and Dag Hammarskjold would operate under one principal Mr. Alan Squire. Teachers at the new school were Grade 1 - Margaruite Pierce, Grade 2 - Kathy Kowal, Grade 3 - Mary Hellofs, Grade 4 - Rose Malinoski, Grade 5 - Rose Mooney, Grade - 6 Gerry Cooke.

Tisdale’s new school was named in memory of the late Dag Hammarskjold who was unanimously appointed Secretary General of the United Nations from April 1953 to September 1961, when he met his death in a plane accident while on a peace mission in the Congo. He was posthumously awarded the Noble Peace Prize for the year 1961. Chairman for the school opening Mr. Robert Gitlin, Tisdale’s representative on the board of the Tisdale School Unit expressed hope that the new school would one day produce a man or woman who would grow to the stature of Mr. Hammarskjold.

Dag Hammarskjold School quickly became known as “The Dag” and remained a grade one to six school until the fall of 1965 when it became a grade one and two school. In 1974-75 when kindergarten became part of the school system “The Dag” became a kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 school. Due to increased enrollments it became a kindergarten, grade one school in 1975-76. It remained as that until it’s closing, except for a few terms when it reverted to include grade 2 due to low enrollments.

For more than 30 years this unique school provided a stimulating, caring, safe, exciting and excellent learning environment for beginning students of Tisdale and area. It’s staff kept abreast with new curricula, and methods, attending subject in services, classes, and Early Childhood Conventions. With allotted funds the library greatly expanded over the years and the quality and variety of student and teacher materials purchased in order to keep up with new innovations in education were exemplary. With the help of the community and school fund-raising the playground was expanded and updated many times over the years.

In March of 1996 Dag Hammarskjold unveiled an exciting new logo. Pictures submitted by students Kendra Honeyman and Lindsey DeMarsh were selected to go on the logo with the text “We Love To Learn.” The new logo became “The Dag’s” trademark and was proudly displayed on stationary and clothing.

On June 8th of 1997 a Come and Go Social was held to celebrate the many years of memories and successes and to say a formal good bye to the school. It was a great day, with music by Big Band Experience, balloons, cake, coffee, face painting, old pictures and class lists, prizes and much happy reminiscing between former and present students, parents and teachers. Memories shared that day recalled, kindergarten circus performances, Friday films, Carol Festivals, play days, field trips, concerts, parties, awards days, nervous first days of school, the beginnings of life long friendships, the excitement of learning new things and many more “remember when” stories. Foremost in every memory shared by both teachers and students was the positive atmosphere and feeling of friendship the Dag Hammarskjold School held for all those who were lucky enough to have been part of its history.

In June of 1997 Dag Hammarskjold School was closed and students and teachers moved to the Centennial Junior High building which then became Tisdale Elementary School. The Dag Hammarskjold building was sold on December 1st of the same year to the Pasquia Health District for office space.

The Teachers:
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Marguerite Pierce	1961-65	Kathy Kowal	1961-64
Mary Hellofs	1961-71	Rose Mooney	1961-65
Rose Malinoski	1961-65	Gerry Cooke	1961-64
Donna Herbert	1964-66	Walter Chuey	1964-65
Mary Tuchek	1965-67	Beth McLeod	1965-66
Mary Wright	1965-67	Jeannett (Litzenberger) McDiarmid	1966-67
Carol (Haldenby) Stanley	1966-68	Melody (Middlemiss) Hughes	1966-69
Dorothy Hobbs	1967-90	Mae Moritz	1967-82
Sheila Bowditch	1967-72	Alice Kindrachuk	1969-70
Stella Will	1968-93	Cheryl Weenk	1970-71
Doreen Clarke	1970-72	Miriam Jette	1971-72
Mardelle Teichreb	1972-73	Carol Dyck	1972-73
Jacqueline Weinmaster	1972-74	Netha Pamentier	1973-75
Lee-Ann Clark	1973-74	Lynn (Hooper)Scott	1971-74
Cheryl Weenk	1974-83	Rose Malinoski	1974-75
Jeannett McDiarmid	1974-76	Lynn (Hooper)Scott	1975-76
Berbel Guenzel	1973-75	June Glenney	1975-76
Francis Riou	1976-78	Nancy Fortier	1978-79
Jeanette Dielschneider	1979-80	Marlene (York) Orban	1976-96
Jeanette Larsen	1983-85	Shirley Hunt	1982-97
Shirley DeMarsh	1986-87	Walter Roberts	1987-88
Shirley DeMarsh	1989-97	Melody (Middlemiss) Hughes	1978-97
Stacey Ellert	1988-92	Jacqueline Hagel	1992-93
Alice Hoffart	1993-97	Cynthia Wright-Fulton	1993-94
Colette Hayward	1993-94	Jack Fulton	1994-97
Betty Mutch	1996-97

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Principals of Dag Hammarskjold School

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Alan Squires	1961-78	Ron Eremko	1978-86
Stella Will	1993-96	Marlene (York) Orban	1993-96
Melody Hughes	1996-97

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Article submitted by Melody Hughes

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The School Districts Tisdale School Division a compiled history