Forster Secondary School is closing at the end of June after 92 years in Windsor’s west end.

The school originally opened as General Bing Public School, turned into Sandwich Collegiate Institute and eventually was named J.L. Forster Secondary School after a long-time principal.

Current principal and Forster graduate David Garlick says it’s hard to say goodbye to such an amazing, diverse group of accepting individuals. “This has been a year of incredible emotions.  We’ve known for a bit more than a year and a half that the school is closing and so we’ve had time to deal with it.  We’ve been slowly closing the building for the last nine months but today it came real to me for the first time.”

A ceremonial closing was held this morning on the lawn of school attended by the student body, staff, past principals and family of J.L. Forster.  “The principles that my dad taught are being upheld today.  The love for each other, the sharing, the helping, bringing out the best in others, just helping each other, being a friend when you need a friend I can see that being carried out,” says Kay Brown, daughter of Forster.

Students will attend the new Westview Freedom Academy in the fall, the new school that will be located at Century Public School.