Toronto Rocks Cool All Stars
85-31st Street M8W3G1 Toronto, ON, Canada

Back To School In Long Branch (1915 - Present) Some refer to it as Tumble Weed in my Tummy but most, including myself, still get Butterflies in my Stomach at... the mere mention of September school start-up. In 1915 Long Branch, after a few years in the Baptist Church students could finally tame their butterflies in a brand new four-classroom schoolhouse that was built on the site which is now 3495 Lakeshore Blvd.West. The Long Branch Public School boasted two stories and a basement partitioned separately for girls and boys to play during recess. Each student had to ‘brown bag it’ - bringing their own lunch, but the highlight of the day was being treated to yummy hot chocolate prepared by one parent, Mrs. Ludow. In 1918, the Long Branch Public School was closed for a time to prepare lunches, wash clothes for those in need during the Spanish Flu pandemic. In the roaring 1920's, Long Branch’s residential development was exponentially growing and by 1924 the Long Branch Public School had added ten more classrooms with additions to the North and South elevations. In 1926, many of the students were on the threshold of becoming high school candidates so another front section was added to accommodate six more classrooms, a board and staff room, nurse's office and a principal's office. The stately additions were completed in 1930 designed by the prominent architect George Rober Gouinlock whose projects included many Ontario High Schools and his ‘Swan Song’ - the McLaughlin Planetarium. Now known as the Long Branch Public and Continuation School, the school was spearheaded by the late Principal James S. Bell (1926 to 1946). In 1948, and thanks to Marie Curtis’s educational advocacy, Kindergarten was added and in 1949 the school was introduced to the departments of Remedial Reading, Art, Home Economics and Industrial Arts. In the baby boom era the Continuation School moved its classes to the New Toronto Vocational School at 350 Kipling Ave. (since 1983 Lakeshore Collegiate Institute) . With the relocation of the Continuation School the LBPS was renamed in 1953 as Jame S. Bell School in honour of its late principal for 20 years of service. Later the James S. Bell school again added six Kindergarten and five grade one classes to a new and final wing of the Lakeshore building . Violin lessons were inaugurated under the direction of Mr. M. De Sotto in 1962 and in 1963 physical education was introduced by Mr. R. J. Lewis. In 1964 (the year the Beatles played at Maple Leaf Gardens), plans were actively under foot to relocate and build a new building around the corner on Thirty First Street. A year later in 1965, the Canadian Ensign was lowered for the last time and the new Maple Leaf Flag was raised on the school’s flag pole. In 1966, a year before Canada’s Centennial, students with ‘butterflies of eagerness’ moved into their bright new classrooms on 90 Thirty First Street. During the same year, a school reunion and open house were held for former students and teachers. The event attracted approximately 1000 people. A fundraiser was successful in attaining ‘My Bright Reflections' - an oil painting by Hilton Hassell O.S.A (contemporary Group of Seven) which is now prominently displayed in the lobby offices of James S. Bell Middle Sports and Wellness Academy. This year, as for all students, it will be back to ‘bagged lunch in hand’, ‘mask on face’ and still ‘butterflies in the tummy’. I’ll never let schooling get in the way of my education. - Mark Twain Written By: Bill Zufelt Photo courtesy of Mrs. Bernice Robinson Long Branch Continuation School c. 1930's