History
Excerpt from the foreword to the SCITS 75th Anniversary Special Edition Yearbook (1997)ONWARD, FORWARD The traditions of Sarnia Collegiate have long been in the making. Sarnia Collegiate began as a small grammar school which opened in 1851 and then progressed through a number of changes of location until around 1891 when a new structure, called SCI, was erected at the location where the London Road School now stands. In 1919, according to the old year books, things were getting a bit crowded and so it was decided after much discussion at the school board level to create a new state of the art facility. Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School was officially opened October 27, 1922. The first record of a school year book is the 1914 edition of The Collegiate. This edition began the tradition of year books recording important school happenings and student activities. ... The traditions which have continued over seventy-five years will continue as long as there is a staff and administration with a sense for tradition. It takes a great deal of voluntary time by staff members and by students to produce those wonderful SClTS Revues, and year books. It also takes dedication and commitment to produce those highly competitive football, basketball, track and field, hockey, volleyball, soccer, rugby, and swim teams. Many students because of skills and attitudes developed in these activities have been successful in life. Sic Itur Ad Astra (Thus man rises to the Stars) is definitely a good school motto. Sarnia Collegiate has always offered its students the opportunity to become academically and socially prepared to go on in life and be the best that they want to become. I am proud to have been part of this philosophy during my tenure at SCI&TS. I welcome all my fellow SClTS people back to the hallowed halls of good ol' SCI where "we learned to work and play the game." So onward toward the 100 th Anniversary when, I am sure, there will be another great gathering of SCITS people to celebrate not only the past, but the continued exploits of new students and staff who will have carried on the traditions of success in all fields of education and athletics. ... Respectfully, J. Gavin Hall Gavin Hall was the chairman of the 75th Anniversary Committee. They produced a special edition yearbook, from which this excerpt of the foreword was taken. In Gavin's own words, "For thirty-five of the school's seventy-five years, I have been attached to this school as a student and as a teacher. I have been part of the happenings for so long that when I retired [in 1993] it seemed to be just a natural extension to take up the challenge of putting together the plans for a 75th anniversary celebration [in 1997]." Thank you, Gavin. |
SCITS 75th Anniversary Commemorative Yearbook (1922-1997)
A postcard picturing SCITS (dated 1935) |
