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Spring fair marks Aubrey Elementary's 60 years in Burnaby

Teacher remembers his first class had 42 students as local development, babies boomed.
Aubrey Elementary
Aubrey Elementary School’s 1969/70 Grade 7 class poses for a class photo. Teacher Joe Sadowski is pictured in the middle row, farthest to the right.

When Joe Sadowski first stepped in front of a Burnaby classroom at Aubrey Elementary in 1962, things were a little different than they are now.

Development in North Burnaby, mostly a white, working-class community, was ramping up and the Baby Boom was in full swing.

His first class in the original six-classroom school had 42 students in it.

Aubrey Elementary
Aubrey Elementary School's staff pose for a photo in 1967. - Contributed

“The biggest class I had was 49,” Sadowski said. “There was no teacher’s desk, no filing cabinet, nothing. There were wall-to-wall kids.”

His one year of teacher training at UBC had offered a course in classroom management, including how to deliver the strap, but he preferred to rely on other resources to keep kids in line.

“I didn’t seem to have too much trouble,” he said, “and it wasn’t because my physical size was dominating. I seemed to get along well with the students, most of them. I guess, bottom line is, treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.”

Martin Stretton, a former student of Sadowski’s who attended Aubrey from 1961 to 1968, remembers another of Sadowki’s resources – a dry wit.

Stretton remembers his former teacher dealing with a student in the schoolyard caught showing off the throwing capabilities of a new switchblade against the school wall.

“As we were watching, Mr. Sadowski kind of walked out and made some sarcastic comment about how impressive his skill was and then took him into the school for detention,” Stretton said.

Stretton had Sadowski for homeroom, phys ed, science and math.

In those days, Sadowski said, teachers “horse-traded” classes to suit their preferences and training.

Sadowski, who had a science degree and 10 years of experience working in the field, traded his music and French classes for phys ed, math and science.

Students back then were regularly failed, too, he said, and forced to repeat grades.

Aubrey Elementary
This photo shows Aubrey Elementary’s playground back when concrete pipes were part of the play equipment. - Contributed

He remembers one big 15-year-old in his class of 12-year-olds.

The boy dropped out but came back soon after to show off the brand new car he bought with money earned as a longshoreman.

Sadowski taught at Aubrey from 1962 to 1969, before leaving to become head teacher at Riverside Elementary School, a farm school in the Big Bend area that has long since been demolished.

He retired from the Burnaby school district after 30 years.

Asked what he liked best about teaching, he spoke of former students who have stayed in touch over the years.

“You’re so glad that you had the opportunity to meet and work with them,” Sadowski said.  “You get a reward knowing that they have been successful and that you played a part in that.”

Stretton, who looks back fondly on his time at Aubrey, said the teachers and students there had a big impact on his life.

“I kind of miss those days,” he said. “That’s where a lot of your character comes from is your days in elementary school, the people you meet. Depending on how you interact then is probably how the rest of your life goes.”

Sadowski and Stretton will be taking a walk down memory lane at Aubrey Friday afternoon during the school’s annual Spring Fair.

The school celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and the theme of the fair is “Around the World in 60 Years,” to celebrate the school’s history and diversity.

Besides the usual carnival games, obstacle course, food, silent auction and other fun family activities, a special showcase of Aubrey’s history will be on display in the gym.

For more information, visit the L’Ecole Aubrey School PAC Facebook page.