Puntledge Park Elementary is a large dual track school located in a well-established neighbourhood of Courtenay.  Its 440 students come from varied socio-economic backgrounds with a concentration residing in lower income families.  The area continues to experience steady growth together with a  certain amount of transiency.

During the late '50's and early '60's the city of Courtenay was growing rapidly.  Courtenay and Arden Elementary Schools were crowded, and to ease this Puntledge Park School was developed on its current site, on what was the lower field of the former Micky Sugrue farm.  The building, 4 classrooms and and administration area, opened in September of 1964.  Three of the four classes were home to two grades each and ranged from 33 to 41 students per class.

Although interior space was crowded, these students were fortunate in having one of the most exciting natural play areas - something we are still thankful for today.  Children loved to play in the trees on the northwest side - and were warned about Morrison Creek.  Grounds at the rear and Lake Trail side were bordered with bushes and trees, and when a Spring work crew was sent to clear part of this area, the pupils' concern about the bird's nests dissuaded the operation.  Some things do not change.

One year later, in 1965, a duplicate 4-room structure was added and District Travelling Librarian service was started to regularly bring books and assorted materials to the school.  1966 and another surge in population growth resulted in 5 more classrooms, a gymnasium and an on-site library.  A Special Education class was added at this time in "prime classroom space", a small room sandwiched between the entrance and the furnace room, which opened into each of the four-room clusters and was the pathway to drinking fountains, washrooms and the library.

1967 was the era of open-area education, which meant a 6-room complex added to accommodate this new teaching concept.  This was Canada's Centennial, and Puntledge Park Elementary celebrated its "firsts" for District 71:  the first Open Area concept; first Special Class for the gifted child; first home for Courtenay Youth Music Camp.

1968 saw the building of archways to connect the original 4-room clusters with the open area.  While some classes sweltered, others froze and this led to the introduction of "relaxed dress" at Puntledge Park Elementary.  The heating problem was finally solved in 1974, some 8 years after the original damage caused by vandals during the construction phase.

Hearing impaired students became part of Puntledge's "family" in 1974.  We still sign the chorus of our school song.  By this time, with regular staff numbering over 25, staff facilities were now overcrowded.  1977-78 found renovations turning former Room 1 into a staff room and reorganizing the existing administrative facilities.

The French Immersion Program commenced at Puntledge Park Elementary in 1986 and now spans form Kindergarten through to Grade 6 and enrolls 178 students.  Our first students have already moved on to their post-graduate schooling.  The Music Portable was made by Vanier students and installed in 1989.  The first of 3 portable classrooms arrived in 1991, with more added as the population grew until we currently have 4 classes in portables and a total of 475 students.  In addition, a District Behaviour Resource Program move into an empty portable here in 1996.

Construction started in January 2001 on a long-awaited addition which is now open.  We now have 4 new classrooms, a new library and computer lab, plus space for Support Services.  The school also has  its first real hallways!  With the new addition going across the front of the building we have a perfect opportunity to properly acknowledge the dual track nature of our school by adding "École" to the sign on the front entrance.

With all the changes over the years Puntledge Park remains a large and complex school.  However, we can still proudly say: