John L. Forster Secondary School, often referred to as J.L. Forster or Forster, was a high school in the west end of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1922 as General Byng Elementary School, it was later repurposed as a secondary school; it also underwent two name changes, eventually being named after its first principal. It was located within the authority of the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) and was assessed at 2.1 out of 10 in academic performance by the Fraser Institute.
Forster was originally built in 1922 as an elementary school to service Sandwich. Designed by Andrew J. Riddell and named after General Julian Byng, the original building cost CAD 250,000 to build and included ten classrooms, an auditorium, a gymnasium, and a swimming pool; the pool was the first owned by an elementary school in the area. John L. Forster was chosen as its first principal. As the community expanded, it was repurposed as a secondary school and renamed Sandwich Collegiate.[1]
During World War II, 421 students and alumni served in the Canadian Armed Forces; of these, 32 died during the war. Those casualties are memorialized with a plaque in the main hall. In 1950, the first of seven additions was made, and in 1954 Forster retired, with the school being renamed in his honour shortly afterwards. In 1966, a fire in the auditorium caused it to undergo remodeling.[1]
The music program was started in 1960 by Ernie Geranda, who continued to supervise it until 1980. Between 1967 and 1972, Forster's 90-member band (nicknamed The Red Coats) went to Montreal for Expo '67, Osaka, Japan, for Expo '70, and Windsor, England to perform in the Windsor Royal Music Festival for Queen Elizabeth II.[2][3]
In August 2011, the band held a reunion. Held partially as a fundraiser to establish a scholarship for Forster students wishing to study music at the University of Windsor, it reunited 185 former members.[2]
The school was closed in May 2014, due to declining enrolment. Students were transferred to Westview Freedom Academy, approximately 1.3 km away.[4] The building is being used as a community centre for the west end of Windsor.
Academicsedit
In 2011, Forster was rated 2.1 out of 10[5] in academic achievement by the Fraser Institute; this was the lowest score in Windsor and 705th out of 727 throughout the province. The score was based on data from the Education Quality and Accountability Office, which reported that 53.2 percent of Forster students scored below average in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test and the standardized math testing. The results were rejected by John Howitt, superintendent of the GECDSB, who indicated that the large ESL program had skewed the results.[6]
Demographicsedit
In 2011, Forster had 480 students, with 51 percent recent immigrants taking an ESL or English Language Development (ELD) course; the ESL program was for students who had received formal education in their native countries, while the ELD program was for those who had not. A total of 55 countries were represented.[5]
Chen, Dalson (9 May 2011). . Windsor Star. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
. Canada.com. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
Lajoie, Don (24 May 2011). "Forster achievements belie Fraser Institute's scoring: Student 'heroes' often refugees". Windsor Star. Retrieved 21 August 2011.[dead link] Alt URL
Pearce, Kristie (1 August 2011). . Windsor Star. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
Shaw, Ted (30 April 2011). "Redcoats: Time of their lives: Forster band travelled the world". Windsor Star. Retrieved 21 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
. Doorsopenwindsor.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
External linksedit
February 15, 2024
forster, secondary, school, john, forster, secondary, school, often, referred, forster, forster, high, school, west, windsor, ontario, canada, founded, 1922, general, byng, elementary, school, later, repurposed, secondary, school, also, underwent, name, change. John L Forster Secondary School often referred to as J L Forster or Forster was a high school in the west end of Windsor Ontario Canada Founded in 1922 as General Byng Elementary School it was later repurposed as a secondary school it also underwent two name changes eventually being named after its first principal It was located within the authority of the Greater Essex County District School Board GECDSB and was assessed at 2 1 out of 10 in academic performance by the Fraser Institute J L Forster Secondary SchoolAddress749 Felix AvenueWindsor Ontario N9C 3K9CanadaCoordinates42 17 55 N 83 04 14 W 42 29864 N 83 07051 W 42 29864 83 07051InformationSchool typePublicFounded1922StatusClosedClosed2014School boardGreater Essex County District School BoardSuperintendentJohn HowittPrincipalDavid GarlickGrades9 12Enrolment480 2011 Contents 1 History 2 Academics 3 Demographics 4 Notable alumni 5 See also 6 References 7 Works cited 8 External linksHistory editForster was originally built in 1922 as an elementary school to service Sandwich Designed by Andrew J Riddell and named after General Julian Byng the original building cost CAD 250 000 to build and included ten classrooms an auditorium a gymnasium and a swimming pool the pool was the first owned by an elementary school in the area John L Forster was chosen as its first principal As the community expanded it was repurposed as a secondary school and renamed Sandwich Collegiate 1 During World War II 421 students and alumni served in the Canadian Armed Forces of these 32 died during the war Those casualties are memorialized with a plaque in the main hall In 1950 the first of seven additions was made and in 1954 Forster retired with the school being renamed in his honour shortly afterwards In 1966 a fire in the auditorium caused it to undergo remodeling 1 The music program was started in 1960 by Ernie Geranda who continued to supervise it until 1980 Between 1967 and 1972 Forster s 90 member band nicknamed The Red Coats went to Montreal for Expo 67 Osaka Japan for Expo 70 and Windsor England to perform in the Windsor Royal Music Festival for Queen Elizabeth II 2 3 Forster was chosen to host Windsor and Essex County s English as a Second Language ESL program It also hosts the Sandwich Community Health Centre 1 In August 2011 the band held a reunion Held partially as a fundraiser to establish a scholarship for Forster students wishing to study music at the University of Windsor it reunited 185 former members 2 The school was closed in May 2014 due to declining enrolment Students were transferred to Westview Freedom Academy approximately 1 3 km away 4 The building is being used as a community centre for the west end of Windsor Academics editIn 2011 Forster was rated 2 1 out of 10 5 in academic achievement by the Fraser Institute this was the lowest score in Windsor and 705th out of 727 throughout the province The score was based on data from the Education Quality and Accountability Office which reported that 53 2 percent of Forster students scored below average in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test and the standardized math testing The results were rejected by John Howitt superintendent of the GECDSB who indicated that the large ESL program had skewed the results 6 Demographics editIn 2011 Forster had 480 students with 51 percent recent immigrants taking an ESL or English Language Development ELD course the ESL program was for students who had received formal education in their native countries while the ELD program was for those who had not A total of 55 countries were represented 5 Notable alumni editJohn Millson former mayor of Windsor 3 Ali Haidar basketball player 7 See also editList of high schools in OntarioReferences edit a b c Doorsopenwindsor J L Forster a b Pearce 2011 08 01 Discipline helped a b Shaw 2011 04 30 Redcoats Battagello Dave 30 May 2014 Emotional closing ceremony for family of Forster Secondary School The Windsor Star Retrieved 31 December 2018 a b Lajoie 2011 05 24 Forster achievements Chen 2011 05 09 Villanova ranks Canada com 2008 11 26 Haidar Works cited editChen Dalson 9 May 2011 Villanova ranks high Forster ranks worst in Windsor Fraser Institute Report St Thomas of Villanova in LaSalle placed 23rd out of 727 high schools across Ontario Windsor Star Archived from the original on 11 May 2011 Retrieved 21 August 2011 Haidar takes care picking U S school Canada com 26 November 2008 Archived from the original on 23 May 2014 Retrieved 12 August 2014 Lajoie Don 24 May 2011 Forster achievements belie Fraser Institute s scoring Student heroes often refugees Windsor Star Retrieved 21 August 2011 dead link Alt URL Pearce Kristie 1 August 2011 Discipline helped band members hit life s high notes Windsor Star Archived from the original on 11 August 2011 Retrieved 21 August 2011 Shaw Ted 30 April 2011 Redcoats Time of their lives Forster band travelled the world Windsor Star Retrieved 21 August 2011 permanent dead link J L Forster Secondary School Doorsopenwindsor com Archived from the original on 11 August 2011 Retrieved 21 August 2011 External links editJ L Forster Secondary School Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J L Forster Secondary School amp oldid 1188395817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
