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Regiopolis-Notre Dame

Regiopolis-Notre Dame

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Main Entrance @ RND
The high school in it's modern form was born, of necessity, from two landmark institutions in the city of Kingston. In the mid 1960's, both the Jesuit Fathers at Regiopolis College, and the sisters at Notre Dame Convent, were finding that the costs of Catholic secondary education were rapidly outstripping the available revenues. The buildings housing Notre Dame Convent, on Johnson Street, were beyond repair and it became obvious that a new location would have to be found for the Catholic high school girls in Kingston. Since Regiopolis College was facing similar financial difficulties a decision was made to consolidate the operation of Catholic secondary education on one site.

On April 8, 1967, Archbishop J. L. Wilhelm announced that the staff and student bodies of the two institutions would be combined, under the title of "Regiopolis-Notre Dame", in the Regiopolis buildings on Russell Street. Through this measure, it was felt that Catholic secondary students in the Kingston area would continue to have the opportunity to receive a full high school program taught and administered by dedicated Catholic educators. The first principal of the combined school was Reverend Paul Granville, S.J.; Edward Zarichny became vice-principal and Sister Kathryn Quigley, CND, a former principal of Notre Dame, became Director of Girls. This arrangement continued for four years and a new, exciting era on the high school scene in Kingston had begun. Indeed, before the new institution was three years old, the co-ed student body of Regi-Notre Dame won the "School Spirit" award at the local cheerleading competition.

But on November 20, 1970, the sad news was announced that the Jesuit Fathers were withdrawing from the operation of Regiopolis-Notre Dame in order to concentrate their personnel in missionary and other teaching activities. It was announced at the same time that the Frontenac Lennox and Addington County Roman Catholic Separate School Board would take over jurisdiction of grades 11, 12, and 13. The Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame would continue to serve as staff members and would play an increasing role in the direction of the school. The new administrative board, formed under the auspices of the Archbishop, would be comprised of representatives from the Diocese, the Separate School Board, the Congregation of Notre Dame, the staff at RND, the students of RND, and the Catholic community. The first chairman of the Administrative Board was Michael Carty. This board would be responsible primarily for the funding of the educational program for grades 11, 12, and 13 at Regiopolis-Notre Dame, and many fund-raising ventures in the Kingston area would form the basis of such funding. Regiopolis-Notre Dame continued under the new principal, Ed Zarichny, who remained in that position until June of 1994.

By 1975 it became evident that the old buildings on Russell Street could no longer house the growing number of Catholic secondary students in RND. The Separate School Board and the Administration Board embarked on an ambitious plan to preserve Catholic secondary education by building a new, modern structure on the Russell Street site. Again, the Diocese and the Congregation of Notre Dame came forward to provide initial funding to get the project started. The remaining money was raised in a massive community building fund drive, under the chairmanship of Gelindo "Gee" De Re.

The grand plans were realised and the new "home" for Regiopolis-Notre Dame opened its doors to the students in September of 1977. The work of countless volunteers who spend hours knocking on doors for pledges, running bingos and organising bazaars, came to fruition with the new building on the old site. The official opening ceremonies were held on Sunday, October 30, 1977.

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1993 Expansion
As Regiopolis-Notre Dame entered the 1980's, financial constraints continued to cause concern and efforts of sacrifice on the part of the students, staff and Catholic community. On June 12, 1984, however, many of these concerns vanished as then- Premier, William Davis, announced in the Ontario Legislature, that the provincial government would move to provide full public funding for Catholic secondary schools to the end of grade 13! This decision enabled the Separate School Board, over a three year period, to take complete jurisdiction over Regiopolis-Notre Dame. Tuition fees and major fund-raising efforts would no longer be a necessary part of the life of RND. Full funding also enabled the Separate School Board to relieve the overcrowded situation at Russell Street by opening a second Catholic high school, Holy Cross, in September of 1985. Regiopolis-Notre Dame also expanded with the opening of the new Pluard Library, the Cafetorium and Technology Wing, in September of 1993. Further expansion is scheduled for 2003-2004 with the addition of 9 classrooms and a full-size gymnasium on the former site of Ecole Marie Riviere.