Education
One of the first things that former residents of Fox Harbour will notice on coming into the community is that the school building no longer exists; yet, history tells us that Fox Harbour had a school as far back as 1848.  A one room school was erected here at that time as a first attempt at formal education, despite the fact that there were fewer than 50 residents in   the community. (Report of Legislative Council).
In 1900, a new school, part parish hall and part classroom was built.  Since, this eventually became too small to accommodate the growing student population (111 by 1921), two old uninhabited houses, one belonging to Kate McCue, the other to Mike Duke, were used.  Din Spurvey remembers attending school in these old houses, under anything but ideal conditions.
This school building, demolished by fire in 1934, was replaced by a new two story structure with two classrooms on the ground floor, and the parish hall on the top floor.  Many residents have fond memories of attending school in this building with its pot bellied stove, and its wood and iron two seater desks, bearing the inscription "Time and Tide Wait for No Man."  Its bathroom facilities were in the outhouse across the road, on the brook.
Once again the school population increased to the extent that this facility no longer provided for the needs of the students. To alleviate this problem, in 1947, parish priest, Father William Collins, had a two room building erected, the beginning of what we knew as St. Regis, so named in honour of his sister, Sister Mary Regis.  By 1948, there was need to add another room to accommodate further increases in school population. School facilities were further improved in the 1950's when Father John B. Kent added three more classrooms, with bathroom facilities and a hot air heating system.  These extra classrooms combined with the classrooms in the hall meant that Fox Harbour had a fairly large school, at that time ranging from grade one to grade eleven.
In 1962, disaster struck again.  Fire once more destroyed the parish hall and with it the two extra classrooms.  Another parish hall was built and opened on November 22, 1963.  This hall contained two extra rooms which were used for several years to replace those lost in the old hall.
The next few years brought major changes to our school.  With the opening of Laval High School in Placentia in 1969, students from Fox Harbour now attended high school there.  St. Regis would remain a K-8 school until Sept. 1978, when once more our students had to move, this time, to the new St. Anne's Academy in Dunville.  Just before this move, in 1975, yet another addition was made to St. Regis.  Two new classrooms, a staff room and better bathroom facilities were added.  Despite the fact that the high school had now moved out, there was a further need for space as grade 7 and 8 students from Ship Harbour were now being bussed to St. Regis.
Conditions continued in this manner until Sept. 1978.  At that time, a new all grade parish school was opened in Dunville. St. Anne's Academy would now house grade 9, 10, 11 back from Laval, as well as grade 7 and 8 from Fox Harbour and Ship Harbour.  With this further movement of students, enrolment at St. Regis declined once more.  By 1993, the school board had decided it was no longer feasible to keep St. Regis in operation. So in January 1994, St. Regis closed its doors, this time for good.  All students from Fox Harbour were then enroled a St. Anne's.
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