The Mission of Our School
In order to support the Board’s mission, the mission of Poplar Bank P.S. is to affirm the following shared beliefs:
- Literacy is the key to learning. Reading, writing and numeracy are the most important skills a student will learn.
- All students must have opportunities to demonstrate success. Learning should be connected to the real world so that students can understand the application of what they learn in school to the community and world at large.
- Every student, inclusive of race, gender, socio-economic background and linguistic origin should feel valued in all facets of school life.
- Learning is both an individual and cooperative venture. Parents play an integral role in supporting and assisting student learning.
History
The original Poplar Bank school was located on the south-west side of Yonge Street and Poplar Bank Sideroad. It was built of logs and the original site dates back to 1802. This school ceased being used in 1862. A new one was built of wood construction on the same site that same year.
The original Poplar Bank school closed on June 29, 1965.
The old school was demolished in 1998. Some items remain such as the old electric bell, a silver pitcher that was displayed on the school’s float during the annual Newmarket parade as well as several photographs. On Yonge Street, just north of Bonshaw Avenue on the west side, there is a cairn monument made of bricks that were salvaged from the old school. It is hoped that this monument will eventually be relocated closer to the new Poplar Bank school.
We are very appreciative of the role that Doreen Needler, a former student of the original Poplar Bank school, has played in connecting us with the past and allowing us to house some of the historical artifacts at our new site. Ralph Magler of the Newmarket Historical Society has also been very helpful in this regard.
Facilities
Poplar Bank P.S. was officially opened in September 2003. It is a French Immersion school. The building itself is brick, two-storey with 21 classrooms. There are 25 regular classrooms, a library learning commons and robust music program. The majority of classrooms are arranged in a unique cluster of four classes sharing a Discovery area or pod.
The school is located on Woodspring Avenue which is off Bonshaw, west of Yonge Street and north of Davis Drive.