Assumption College School

Last updated
Assumption College Catholic High School
Location
Assumption College School
1100 Huron Church Road

Windsor
,
Ontario
,
N9C 2K7

Canada
Coordinates 42°17′43″N83°03′41″W / 42.2954°N 83.0614°W / 42.2954; -83.0614
Information
School type Separate high school
Motto"Teach us goodness, discipline and knowledge"
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Founded1870
School board Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
SuperintendentRosemary Lo Faso
Area trusteeJoe Iacono
PrincipalKevin Bellaire
Grades 9-12
EnrollmentApprox. 1100 (2025-2026)
LanguageEnglish
Colours Purple and White   
MascotPurple Raider
Team nameThe Purple Raiders
Feeder schools
  • Assumption Middle School
  • St. James Catholic Elementary School
Special Programs International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)
Website wecdsb.on.ca/acs

Assumption College Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary school in Windsor, Ontario. The school was originally established as a private preparatory school by Assumption College, now Assumption University, but it is now a publicly-funded separate school under the jurisdiction of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and Specialist High School Majors Programs in addition to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Contents

History

"Assumption College" was founded by the Basilian Fathers in 1857 as common school, High School and College. [1] Assumption College formally became Assumption College of the University of Western Ontario (1920-1953) and then Assumption University of Windsor in 1956, [2] Assumption University in 1964 [2] and is now affiliated with the University of Windsor.

The original 3-storey school [3] [4] housed the "common school," high school and college, residing together on the same grounds and in buildings owned by the Basilians. [5] Mr. Theodule Girardot (at the school until 1871) is credited with maintaining the continuity of the school throughout its birthing pains. [1] In its early years the school accommodated private boarders and day school attendees, male students only. [6]

George McMahon, Sr. notes in his history, "Assumption [around the turn of the 20th century] continued to be tasked to provide four different programs: a preparatory school for grades five to eight; a commercial course for those boys preparing for a life in business; a three-year academic course or high school and a four years Arts course with College level courses."

In their Academic Year 1932-33 booklet, the High School is referred to as the "High School Department," and includes a history for the school, lists of faculty and "officers," admission, expenses and fees, lists of courses for all three programs, names of students, etc. The booklet also notes that since "the affiliation of the College Department with the University of Western Ontario in 1920, the High School has become a separate unit. An academic course of four years preparing boys for college, a commercial course leading to positions in the business world, and one year preparatory course, are offered." [7]

The Assumption High School Reporter, the student newspaper for Assumption High School began publication in 1937. [8] The January 26, 1945 issue reports on the expansions that will benefit the High School: a new auditorium, plus "all the buildings now standing will be turned over entirely to High School use." [8] [9]

In the 1940s and early 50s the High School is stated to have resided in Dillon Hall [10] [11] (the latter still in existence on the property of the University of Windsor). The High School moved to its current location in 1957, [12] [13] a photo from c. 1957 [14] and a postcard from c. 1965 shows the High School in two different incarnations at the 1100 Huron Road location. [15] The Assumption College High School Chapel is listed on the Municipal Register but is not designated. [12]

In 1971, with the merging of St. Mary's Academy, the High School became a co-educational secondary school [16] within the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

In 2011, one of the school's former teachers, Father William Hodgson Marshall, pled guilty to sexually abusing students while teaching at Assumption. [17] He had also been able to teach at Holy Names High School in Windsor, plus other Catholic High Schools in Toronto and Sudbury, where he sexually abused students between 1952 and 1986 as well. [17]

Current status

Assumption offers a range of secondary programs including the IB Diploma Programme, as well as Co-op, OYAP, SHSM Manufacturing, SHSM Hospitality and Tourism, and SHSM Health and Wellness. Assumption's student population decreased significantly between the early/mid-1990s to early 2020s, after which it started and continues to increase rapidly.

The school has a current population of approximately 1100 students. In the summer of 2024, two portable classrooms were built on the east side of the school, and in the summer of 2025, 6 more were constructed in the same location.

The principal is Kevin Bellaire.

Teacher Awards

Assumption is home to many great educators, as can be seen in the awards they receive.

Adam Mills

In 2016, Mills was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago after being nominated by one of his previous students. [18] Mills was also awarded the 2022 Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics in Ontario. After the awards ceremony, in an interview with the Windsor Star, Mills said that "Providing my students with opportunities for them to discover the tricks of nature is a personal passion and this award has further fuelled that fire." [19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 McMahon, Sr., George (2002). Pure Zeal: a history of Assumption College, 1870-1946. FoxMar Press. p. 5. ISBN   0968999638.
  2. 1 2 "Library of Congress Authorities". The Library of Congress. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Bill (January 26, 1945). "A Gradual growth". Assumption High School Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  4. ↑ Oxford University Press. "common, adj. and adv". OED Online. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  5. ↑ McMahon, Sr., George (2002). Pure Zeal: a history of Assumption College, 1870-1946. FoxMar Press. p. 7. ISBN   0968999638.
  6. ↑ McMahon, Sr., George (2002). Pure Zeal: a history of Assumption College, 1870-1946. FoxMar Press. pp. 2, 5, 9, 10, 14. ISBN   0968999638.
  7. ↑ Assumption College High School, Sandwich, Ontario: Academic Year 1932-1933. Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Assumption College High School. 1933. p. 9.
  8. 1 2 "Assumption High School Reporter". Swoda: University of Windsor Publications. March 23, 1948. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Coleman (March 23, 1948). "Memorial Building Honours War Dead". Assumption High School Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  10. ↑ City Desk (September 6, 2013). "A 50-year romance with history (With video)". Windsor Star. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  11. ↑ McMahon, Sr., George (2013). Rev. E.C. Le Bel C.S.B. and the creation of the University of Windsor, 1946-1964. Dallas, TX: J.M. LeBel Publishers Inc. p. 20. ISBN   9780920008492.
  12. 1 2 City of Windsor (2017). Windsor Municipal Heritage Register (PDF). City of Windsor: City of Windsor.
  13. ↑ Municipal Archives (2017). Municipal Archives Holdings of Building Department Plans RG4. Windsor Public Library: Municipal Archives: Windsor Public Library.
  14. ↑ "Assumption High School [photo]". Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive. c. 1957. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Assumption High School [postcard]". Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive. c. 1965. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  16. ↑ McMahon, Sr., George (2013). Rev. E.C. LeBel C.S.B. and the Creation of the University of Windsor, 1946-1964. Dallas, TX: J.M. Le Bel Publishers Inc. pp. 44–53. ISBN   9780920008492.
  17. 1 2 "'Glad he is gone,' says victim as pedophile priest Hod Marshall passes away at 92 | Windsor Star". Archived from the original on 2020-05-10. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  18. ↑ Wadell, Dave. "Assumption teacher honoured by University of Chicago". The Windsor Star. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  19. ↑ Wadell, Dave (2023-04-29). "Assumption teacher honoured by Canadian Association of Physicists". The Windsor Star . Retrieved 2025-11-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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