St. Alphonsus CES to mark 75 years of legacy, learning, and community

Apr. 22, 2025

On September 5, 1950, St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School first opened its doors to 187 students living in what was then the south-western corner of the City of Peterborough and North Monaghan Township.

At that time, there were six teachers and a principal on staff at the school.

According to an article printed that day in the Peterborough Examiner, the modern two-storey school building, featuring ten classrooms, multi-purpose auditorium, and medical room, was put up on four acres of open land between Highways 28 and 7A.

Back then, the cost to build the school was roughly $250,000.

To put that into perspective, the nearly 13,000 square foot addition at St. Alphonsus CES in 1991 came with a price tag of approximately $2 million.

Over the decades, St. Alphonsus CES has grown alongside the Peterborough community, educating generations of students and remaining a cornerstone of faith-based learning in the city.

The school has undergone multiple renovations and upgrades to meet the changing needs of students and staff, while still maintaining the values upon which it was founded.

Now, 75 years later, the school community is preparing to mark this important milestone with an event on May 6, 2025 to honour its legacy and celebrate its future.

“St. Alphonsus is a historic school serving the Peterborough community for the last 75 years and we look forward to continuing the learning here at St. Alphonsus for the next 75 years,” said Andy Sawada, Principal.

Plans for the 75th anniversary celebration include an assembly in the school gym followed by a commemorative Mass.

As the anniversary approaches, students and staff at St. Alphonsus CES are preparing to welcome back familiar faces, share memories, and celebrate 75 years of faith, learning, and community.