Outdoor lessons came to an end as autumn approached. A brand new baby sister arrived on the second of September. Surprised the heck out of my brother and me. We didn’t even know one had been ordered.
And then in November we pulled up stakes and moved to a farm in Manitoba. And we thought winters in Alberta were severe. That move was quite an adventure but that’s a story for another day.
By June I had graduated from grade one and was invited to attend an orientation day at the local one room, Golden Stream school, before they closed down for summer holidays. I guess it was to prepare me for a more structured classroom experience in September.
But here’s the curious thing, while I remember that first visit to the classroom as clear as if it happened yesterday, I have no further memory of that school. Examining the timeline of our moves over the following couple of years it’s obvious I must have completed grade two and possibly part or all of grade three at Golden Stream. I remember nothing about it. It’s as if my hard drive got erased. I don’t know if aliens were to blame or if I fell on my head at some point.
I think what’s more likely was I incorporated my experience at Golden Stream school in the same folder as the next one room school, Silver Stream. I know, what are the odds of attending two schools in a row named after streams?
Even more amazing, both schools were on the same road only four miles apart. I didn’t discover that until just last week when I was researching them on Google Maps. Golden Stream school is no longer there, just a plaque on a cairn marks the spot. Silver Stream school on the other hand is still standing and being used as a private residence.
So, now you know the next installment will be about Silver Stream school. At least my memories of it are still clear, even if not entirely trouble free.
If anybody reading this actually attended either school or knows someone who did, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Warmly
Bill