GFESS: 10th Anniversary “Now & Then”

What makes a school more than a building? GFESS celebrates ten years of smashing success this 2026-2027 school year. Almost a decade ago, the school officially opened in September 2017, bringing together students from Fort Erie Secondary School and Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School, along with many Lakeshore Catholic High School students. 

Fred Louws has been the principal of GFESS since it was first established; he is set to retire this coming January. When discussing the educational foundation of GFESS, Mr. Louws pointed out that during the early stages, they received feedback from students and staff throughout all schools in the Town of Fort Erie about what they wanted to see in the school, with a goal to make those dreams a reality. Predominantly, discussions addressed the types of courses and programs that would be the most beneficial for students. 

GFESS holds records of teachers who have been connected since the very beginning; a collective agreement amongst them was that when the school first opened, there was a misunderstanding between the senior FESS  and RCBHS students. However, over the next four years, staff witnessed the students coming together, which created a fresh and deep sense of school spirit and unity.

Numerous inclusion and leadership spaces formed from this newfound solidarity, which remain highly active to date. These include the school’s Student Council, Athletic Council, Arts Council, Black Student Alliance, Indigenous Student Alliance, and Cultural Connections Club. Through these groups, events such as the annual Celebration of Cultures at GFESS came to fruition to further support and place importance on equality—both within the school and throughout the town. This night of celebration in particular not only created a healthier learning environment for students, but also brought many community groups and members of Fort Erie together. 

Such a strong sense of community extends to the area’s staggering support for sports, evidenced by GFESS’ greatly anticipated Under the Lights football games in the fall. All students on one campus allows all in the town to root for one school, their school; record attendance of these games to date is just over 800 spectators. Undeniably, the school’s Junior and Senior teams have amassed a collective fanbase that consistently shows up and embodies GFESS pride.

Likewise, in February of 2025, student leaders at GFESS organized and executed the Everyday Influencer Leadership Conference. In addition to other projects such as food drives, bake sales, and the Terry Fox Walk that give back to the community, this conference brought together fellow students from across the Niagara Region. The students helped and inspired each other, and visiting schools left the event with new ideas to take back to and benefit their respective localities. In this way, GFESS stepped forward to make an outstanding social impact on a regional scale.

With such a significant anniversary, there has been lots of talk about “now and then”. GFESS has a fantastic opportunity for students to work on the yearbook and contribute their own designs and photographs. 

Yearbooks can be a unique and special reminder of the amazing memories students experience over their high school years. Words from modern poet Dominic Riccitello complement this idea well: “As time moves, you realize every single relationship you've had, regardless of the length, is a bittersweet reality and a memory gained”. For the 10th anniversary, the goal is to make the yearbook stand out to celebrate the success of 10 years of GFESS. Amanda Liefl, the teacher who oversees yearbook publication, shared that “Our GFESS yearbook is the effort of a tireless focus group. These dedicated individuals are passionate about memorializing our time as Gryphons. Although the staff and contributing students have changed, the books remain to document and reflect the growth of the student body and our beloved community”. 

After a decade, Greater Fort Erie Secondary School stands as a cornerstone of Fort Erie; the school creates lasting memories, inspires future generations, and strengthens connections throughout the community. Now, the institution will continue to grow bigger—in a literal sense. Set to break ground in the summer of 2027, our school will gain an extension off of its Academic Hallway, close to the Green Acres Restaurant. After completion, the building will ultimately encompass additional classrooms including more Technology specific classes, in turn increasing student capacity by 506—a growth that will bring the total number of student spaces to 1,300. A decade ago, GFESS opened its doors with a vision for the future. Today, that vision continues to expand alongside the community it serves, proving that the school’s greatest achievements may still be ahead.