Pat Chase, Laurie Handforth, Tanya Collett, Terra Collett-Stewart and Brenda Hunter outside the new library at HPS

Students, staff, community members and school and township dignitaries, along with members of the Handforth and Collett families, gathered on May 6 at Harrowsmith Public school for the official dedication and opening of the Audrey Handforth and Jewel Collett Memorial Library.

The library was named for two women, both now deceased, who worked at the school library and dedicated their time and energy on a daily basis to enhancing and cultivating student literacy and the love of reading at the school.

The ceremony began in the gym where a number of speakers, LDSB Trustee Barb McLaren, Director of education Brenda Hunter, Mayor Gary Davison, President of CUPE 1480 Donna Jackson, HPS council chair Murray Aitken and Pat Chase, chair of the HPS library committee, spoke fondly of the two women who inspired the project.

Principal Jim Horan opened the ceremony and spoke of the two women whose “legacies are now infused into this community for many generations to come.”

After the official ribbon cutting outside the library, guests gathered inside where members of both families were inundated with hugs and kisses and reminisced with guests about the women who inspired the project that will serve the school and community for years to come.

On May 3, and May 5, a chainsaw safety course took place at North Addington Education Center. It was certification training, organized for students in the construction program and students in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program. Three students from North Addington were joined by instructors, Mike Mol and Gord Darling, along with 11 students from QECVI in Kingston. They spent two days learning about chainsaw safety, and received a certificate for passing this specific course. Students who obtain seven special certificates graduate with the designation of SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major). During the first day the group spent their time learning about the different regulations and the multiple safety aspects. The second day was a little more hands-on, as the group’s mission was to fell a tree, and cut it up after it was on the ground.

"At last year’s chainsaw safety course, I had a lot of fun learning about chainsaw safety, and I enjoyed my time with the other students taking the course. If I could take the course again, I would," said Mandy Pringle, a student from North Addington, and a participant of last year’s chainsaw course.

The students and faculty of North Addington are very pleased to congratulate Teegan Wise, Dylan Kehoe, and Collin Armstrong, as they were the three students who participated in the chainsaw safety course, and successfully received their certificates, certified by the Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association.

Members of Central Frontenac Council expressed concerns about the future of schools in the township as they anticipate the release of the final report from the senior staff at the Limestone District School Board.

The report will be released to a meeting of the School Enrolment/School Capacity committee of the Limestone Board of Trustees at 6:00 on Monday, May 17 at the school board office in Kingston.

The Board of Trustees is scheduled to make a final decision at their regular meeting on June 16.

The draft staff report, released in March, called for the closing of Hinchinbrooke Public School in Parham, Land O’ Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove, and the elementary and secondary schools in Sharbot Lake. It calls for a new comprehensive school (K-12) to be built at the site of the existing Sharbot Lake High School.

A committee that included representatives from the school communities had earlier made a similar recommendation, except it called for Land O’ Lakes Public School to remain open and was less definitive about the location of a new school.

After the draft senior staff report was released, a public meeting was held in Sharbot Lake, and the vast majority of the presenters spoke in favour of keeping Land O’Lakes Public School (LOLPS) open.

Central Frontenac Council sent a letter in favour of keeping LOLPS open to the school board and the Ministry of Education.

At a Central Frontenac Council meeting on Tuesday night, May 11, Councilor Gary Smith asked if the township’s submissions to the school board and the Ministry of Education had elicited a response.

CAO Duchene said they hadn’t.

Smith asked that Duchene attempt to contact both of them to confirm the letter had been received, and asked that Mayor Gutowski attempt to contact the Minister of Education Leona Dombrowsky to advocate on behalf of LOLPS.

Duchene and Gutowski said they would do as Smith had requested.

Minister Dombrowsky happens to be familiar with Land O’Lakes Public School and Sharbot Lake High School because she was the MPP for Frontenac County for eight years and visited both schools several times.

“I have no sense of where this is going to go,” said Gutowski, “I have left a message for Mrs. Goodfellow [the school board trustee for Central and North Frontenac] but I have not heard back from her.”

Gary Smith did not seem to hold out much hope for LOLPS. “I understand that the final staff report is going to be a very similar report to the draft report, at least in terms of its core recommendations,” he said.

When asked, Smith declined to name the source of his understanding.

The final senior staff report will be posted at Limestone.on.ca under the “Accommodation” banner on May 18. 

An experienced group of actors who work beautifully together, are performing a three-night run of The Importance of Being Earnest at Sydenham High this weekend. This last and best of Oscar Wilde’s plays is full of biting humour, poking fun at marriage, social hypocrisy, and rural life: “When one is in town, one amuses oneself: when one is in the country, one amuses other people.”

It’s the story of two young men living double lives of respectability, spiced with wild weekends in the city. Eventually, of course, their dual identities catch up with both of them in a fast-paced, very funny melodrama of confused identities and furious fiancées. There is a young heroine hoping to find a man who needs reforming, a governess with a shady past, and an elderly aunt who’s determined to uphold the family reputation at all costs (almost).

“Most of this group has performed together for several years, and they’re outstanding,” says Director Dan Raponi, “It’s a shame we can’t reward them with larger audiences.”

For most of them it’s their last year at SHS.

Earnest is playing this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 6, 7& 8, at SHS. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:00.

The planting crew rests after planting a crabapple tree-back row,l-r Mrs. Walker and Corrie-Lyn Shields, front row, l-r- Julie White, Sarah Watkins and Tori Klatt-(missing are garden friends Emily and Janet Brooks). Photo courtesy of Jayne Walker

Students at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna expanded their school garden last week and on April 28 planted three new fruit trees- one plum, one crabapple and one serviceberry tree.

The garden project, now in its second year at CCPS, was spearheaded by teacher Jayne Walker, who last year received a $2000 grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation to start a school garden. The garden is comprised of five raised beds that feature native perennials and annuals, flowering plants and bulbs plus and now three new fruit trees.

The garden supports various types of curriculum offered at the school, especially science, and offers students a first-hand opportunity to learn how plants grow and develop and how to classify plants and seeds.

Jayne Walker explained, “The curriculum is no longer abstract for students and the garden allows students to get out of the classroom and learn by interacting with all of their senses.”

Walker has always been interested in gardening with children for years and she foresees the project continuing to grow and evolve over time. “The sky’s the limit as to what we can do with the garden in the future.”

This month, the Hinchinbrooke School of Rock celebrated the arrival of new musical and video equipment, thanks to a generous grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation.

The Hinchinbrooke School of Rock has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the winter of 2005. What started as a casual lunch hour gathering of four intermediate students has blossomed into a structured extra-curricular music program which meets two days a week and involves almost 20 students. This would not have been possible without the assistance of the Limestone Learning Foundation, which over the years has provided the School of Rock program with over $5000 to purchase musical instruments, as well as recording and video equipment.

Students in the School of Rock are taught how to play one (or more!) instruments while learning rock music - from ACDC and Deep Purple, to The Troggs and Bob Dylan. Students have even begun to write and record their own music. Watch for details about our upcoming end-of-the-year show in late May, as well as a CD of original music.

Hinchinbrooke Public School would like to send a HUGE thank-you to the Limestone School of Music. Thank-you for bringing music to the North!

Sydenham’s Golden Eagles squad take second place at the Nationals. Photo courtesy of Miranda Roy

After placing first in their division in mid-February the Sydenham Golden Eagles competitive co-ed cheerleading team placed second at the Nationals, which were held at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga this past weekend. The team competed against seven teams in the intermediate division from all over Canada. 

The Eagles put on a tremendous performance, finishing just 2 points (out of 800) behind the first-place winners, Eden High School from Hamilton. Seeing that of the 26-member team only one is an actual gymnast, they chose to focus on technical difficulty. Head coach Jenn Mizerovsky said, “We took a big chance and focused on big precision stunts like pyramids and tosses and it ended up paying off.”

In the preliminary round, worth 40% of their score, the Eagles finished in second place with a score of 280.5, just 1.5 points behind the first-place team. They incurred a small deduction in an otherwise clean performance.

In the second round, worth 60% of their final score, they scored 287.7, just 0.7 points behind the leading team.

The team’s second-place finish was even more remarkable given that they lost seven members leading up to the competition, and were forced to make a number of last-minute changes to their routine just weeks before the event.

Jenn Mizerovsky said, “We were feeling pretty nervous going in and though we were still shooting for a top spot we all knew that it could either turn out very well or really badly.”

Grade 10 student and team member Katrina Roy spoke to me by phone after the win and said, “We’re all so proud. We practiced so hard for this and it all came together in the end.”

The team also took the award for most creative use of music, beating out the 150 teams that participated.

The coach credited the team for their drive and determination and said, “They did an outstanding job, and with so little time to prepare they performed with confidence and precision and also managed to keep smiling the entire way through.”

Cast of Land O'Lakes prodution of  The Little Mermaid

"The Little Mermaid” made waves and a big splash last Wednesday evening as Land O’ Lakes Public School presented its annual spring musical.

Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, the classic enchanted the audience with the magical story of how a mermaid (portrayed with charm and wonder by Cassy Lowery) overcomes all obstacles and rises to the surface of the sea to marry her Prince Charming, (played with skill by Cody Matson).

Strong supporting actors who added a good measure of comic relief included Jessica Desroches as Clem-Clam, Claire Willis as Georgina, Krysti Squibb as Clara, and Bailey Paddick as Borgy. As for the evil side, the Sea Witch (Jen Wisteard) and her two pet sharks, (Ophelia and Mikaela Cooper), produced a suitable aura of fear and creepiness.

The musical lived up to its genre with nine solos, including a moving “Part of That World” by Emma Brash, and a hilarious “Les Poissons” by Jacob Brash. Cassidy Savic

wowed the audience with an upbeat version of “Kiss the girl”. Mrs. McCullough did a fine job as music mentor for the singers.

The choreography, by teacher Ms. Kim Fournier and student Sadie Clarke, added to the spirit and joy of the production. Sadie Clarke led the sailors in a lively jig for the sea shanty, “The Crab”. “Under the Sea” featured the entire cast in a rollicking tribute to the undersea world.

Kindergarten teacher Ms. Jen Meulenaar coordinated costumes and props, and kept the stage crew (headed by Michaela Van Ness and David Scott) hopping. Tristen and Chase Veley with Adam Power did a fine job with lights and sound. Jade Walker and Alexandra Gillingham, along with parent volunteers Renée Richard and Erin Cooper, went all out with make-up and hair styles.

With scenery flats by Mr. Hull’s Gr. 7/8 class, murals by Ms. Kirkby’s Gr. 3/4 and papier mâché fish by Mr. G.’s SK/1, “The Little Mermaid” was a truly collaborative effort. A special aspect to this collective spirit came when two former LOLPS drama students, Nicole Domen and Krista Nieckar, along with classmate Rebecca Combe, designed and helped make the seven spectacular mermaid costumes. A very special thanks to Mr. Geoffrey Murray and his “Anything Fabric Fashion program” at Sharbot Lake High School, and fabricator Cindi Scott, for making this teamwork happen.

Land O’ Lakes Public School would like to give special thanks to North Frontenac Little Theatre for the use of their lights and costumes, and Liz Steele-Drew and Sharbot Lake High School for their partnership.

Dan Richard and Tessa bring Environmental Education to students at Land O’ Lakes P

Students at Land O’Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove were treated to a special presentation on April 29 by Dan Richard and his feathered friend Tessa.

Dan, who recently graduated from the environmental technology program at Loyalist College, is now partnering with them and bringing his environmental/raptor presentation to various local schools.

Dan returned to school hoping to pursue a career in environmental education for children and now is doing just that through the college’s environmental education programs. The aim of the programs is to help students of all ages understand and appreciate the environment and natural resources in the hopes that they will develop lifelong environmental connections and concerns.

Dan explained, “I’m hoping to show kids how they can impact the world and their future in a positive way.”

Dan’s presentation began in the classroom, where he covered a number of topics including basic ecology, current environmental issues and concerns, conservation, recycling, and other related topics. Throughout he presented the students with the cold hard facts: such as that Canadians on the average each use 600 litres of water per day when in fact just 1-2 litres per day of water are necessary.

He spoke of how in the last 60 years 10% of the of the world's tropical rain forests, which contain 50% of all living species on the earth, have been cut down at the alarming rate of 200,000 acres per day.

He spoke of the environmental impact of DDT on nesting birds and the pollution caused by burning garbage in barrels. 

Students had a chance to mull over these facts and figures and later discussions ensued about the difference between our wants and needs and how students can make practical changes in their daily lives.

Dan saved the most impressive part of his presentation for the last. He invited the students outside to meet Tessa, an immature female Harris hawk with whom Dan has been practicing falconry since September.

He spoke about birds of prey in general and predator/prey relationships in the natural world. In order to demonstrate Tessa’s keen ability to snatch prey from the wild, he invited a student to run across a field with a stuffed animal tied to a line. In full flight Tessa was able to grab the toy in the blink of an eye.

Dan, who is a passionate and licensed falconer, was encouraged by his professor at Loyalist to incorporate falconry into his presentation and the staff at Loyalist were so impressed with this presentation that they partnered with him to bring the presentation to local schools.

Barry Harding, who teaches grade 7 and 8 students at LOLPS, was thrilled with the presentation and spoke about how it ties in perfectly to the curriculum he is currently teaching in his class - namely ecology, ecosystems and the diversity of living things. 

Dan hopes that he and Tessa are “helping to reconnect kids with the wonders of nature and make them see how all species are interconnected”. In closing he added,  “I’m hoping to touch the kids in some way and encourage them to realize that small changes can make a very big difference.”

Anyone interested in bringing Dan and Tessa to their school can contact Dan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 613-335-4475

In the month of April, on the 22nd day, a very special thing is celebrated every year, Earth Day. Earth Day is a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It's celebrated in multiple countries each year and everyone participates in the appreciation of our planet.

On the morning of Thursday April 22, 2010 Grades 9-12 at North Addington Education Center participated in a scavenger hunt, organized by the Environmental Science teacher, Ms. Melissa Randle and a few of the students.

"I'm really impressed with the Musical Theater class, the Grade 10 Gym class, and the Fashion class for sorting their scavenger hunt items. The event was definitely a success; not only was it fun, the school is even looking cleaner," says Ms. Randle.

Later that day, secondary students were shown a brief video about recycling, made by the high school's very own Environmental Science class. Afterward, students celebrated Earth Day by spending part of their afternoon outside, with blue gloves and garbage bags picking up any garbage and recycling they saw around the school yard, the football field, the track, the front lawn, and even across the street around the library and the museum.

"It's great to see everyone working together for such a great cause, I'm very proud of our students," stated Mrs. Salmond.  

Overall, the participants in the school clean up did a wonderful job, had fun and did their part for the planet.