14
Teachers required a place to board while teaching at Olha. This service provided many local housewives with some much needed income. Boarders were welcomed at many homes; Anton Kalyshyn, Peter Shwaluk, Harry Maduke, Metro Maduke, John Krysowaty, Nick Luhowy, John Halischuk, Peter Krysowaty and Stanley Drozda.15
Teacher's salaries ranged annually from $525 in 1912 to $900 in 1925. A teacher was paid $1450 in 1936, $2350 in 1953 and $3500 in 1960.16
Janitorial duties were done by Ronnie Droza in during the school year 1959 to 1960.19 December 1959
17
Older students were often responsible for the janitorial duties which were sweeping the floor, bringing water and making the fire. Mike Zenchyshyn was paid $3.50 per month in 1931 to do this duty. 1952 saw an increase from $7.50 to $10.00 for Boris Drozda. The wage remained the same through 1958 when Phyllis Drozda was janitor.18
The school received regular maintenance each summer which included the fence. The school house was either washed or painted and the floors were washed and oiled. Local people were hired for these jobs.19
A cheque written to Michalyshyn Bros, the local general store, for a bat for the students.7 January 1962
20
Walter Kowal, a student at Olha School, bringing in a load of hay which he stacked himself.1950
Olha, Manitoba
21
"I started Olha in 1946 in Grade 3 with Helen Antonation as my teacher. My sister Mary and I walked a mile and three quarters. When we arrived at school we had to bring water, put up flag, shovel snow, bring in wood and take turns getting the teacher's cheque from the treasurer's home every two weeks. We had to talk loud so he would hear us coming and hold his dog back.We always started the day with O' Canada and I am not sure if we recited the Lord's Prayer. My favorite subject was Arithmetic. The rest of the subjects were bad! I wasn't interested in school and that is why I disliked it.
I would wait each year for the Christmas concert . I would dance a Ukrainian dance. I had the same partner, Stella Kondrat, from the time I was at King George School and then to Olha. She was my partner until I quit school when I was 15. That was my thing to do. The concert was always in the hall at Olha. I had so many girlfriends that I couldn't choose and I ended up single!
Recess time we fooled around, played baseball and winter football. I would play tricks on other students. One girl, I told her to be quiet because I could hear her mom calling her. She ran so fast the 1/4 mile home and her mom asked why she ran so fast. She told her it was because of me and boy, did I get heck for that the next day. I played lots of tricks, but never to the teacher or I would have gotten a lot more straps than I did. I got the strap lots of times, but I can't remember what for. Often there were 50 straps to the palm of the hand and if it hit the inside of your wrists, it would be really sore. If you pulled your hand away, you would get it worse! I remember once getting strapped for making holes in a farmer's hay stack that was near the school. That was very wrong of us to do that.
Other teachers that I had were Anne Wuschenny, Anne Sydor, Violet Popowich, Mike Zosiuk and Elsie Manulak.
One day I was walking home from school and I had begun smoking. My teacher, Elsie Manulak and her dad came up behind me and ask if I wanted a ride. Stupid me, why didn't I throw out the cigarette out before I got in the car! I was sitting in the back seat and I can see the smoke puffing up and they can smell it, and then never mind, the thing was burning my finger already. I couldn't wait until they got to the corner. I was 15 at the time and Elsie was only two years older than me." (Walter Kowal)
22
Walter Kowal1953
23
Wood was required to heat the school. Tenders were received each year to supply the school with six to eight cords of wood in two foot lengths. Wasyl Zenchyshyn was paid $1.90 per cord in 1930, 1931 was $2.25/cord and Nick Werzak was paid $9.00 in 1953.24
"My dad had the tender for the wood and I helped him cut. He gave the money from the wood and I bought some clothes and supplies for school. I ordered a globe from Eatons because I wanted it and no one had one." (Walter Kowal)25
Walter's cancelled cheque for contract on wood for the school.16 March 1961
26
A decline in enrollment cause the closure of the school after the summer of 1964. The students were then transported to Oakburn. On June 30, 1964 a motion was unanimously passed that the Olha School District consolidate with Oakburn. This officially took place January 1, 1965.The last students to attend Olha School were Lawrence Maduke, Larry Michasiw, David Michasiw, Mervin Drozda, Eddie Balan, Donnie Drozda and Iris Michasiw. The last teacher at Olha was William C. Kozak.
27
Restoration of Olha School at museum site.2003
Yellowhead Highway #16 between the communities of Shoal Lake and Strathclair Manitoba
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