It was hard to tell who was having more fun last Wednesday at GREC — the organizers of the music workshops going on, or the students participating in them.

“Teaching is an art form,” said vice-principal Kristin Stevens, the main coordinator of the artistic events. “Art finds its way into everything (and) fun is always our focus.”

This particular event, made possible by Al Rankin, Blue Skies and Live Wire Music, the Parents Council and an Arts grant from the Limestone District School Board, featured about 150 Grade 4-8 students from GREC, Land O’Lakes Public School, Prince Charles Public School and Clarendon Central Public School. The students spent the day rotating through music and instrument-making workshops including flute making, indigenous drumming and song, drum making and acoustic instruments.

“The students are making art,” Stevens said. “They’re learning indigenous drumming and the value of arts endeavours.”

Judy Montgomery and Pam Giroux led the indigenous drumming/singing workshop.

“We’re having loads of fun working with the students,” Montgomery said. “We’re teaching them why we have music — why people sing.

“We give thanks to Mother Earth and our connection to the Earth.

“It encompasses the language and gives a sense of peace and well-being.”

And to get a sense of what’s involved in making music, students got a chance to make their own instruments.

Lily Legacy, who’s been known to create symphonies with nothing more than plastic buckets and enthusiasm, led a drum-making workshop where students made their own “indigenous inspired” hand drums out of tubes used for pouring concrete footings and packing tape.

“They’re super cheap,” Legacy said. “And they’re making drumsticks from dowels and hockey tape.

“It’s a good day.”

Over in the wood shop, students were drilling holes in dowels and creating unique flutes.

“When I’m not teaching, I’m making music or doing carpentry,” said teacher Julia Schall. “These kids are super engaged.”

Finally, students got to spend some time with Teilhard Frost, a fiddler by trade but also a music historian and on this day, he was passing along his knowledge of the not-so-common aspects of acoustic instruments, showing how just about anything can be used to make music.

“I picked some grass in the front yard of the school to show kids how to make notes blowing through it,” he said. “You don’t need anything other than what’s always been around to make music.

“You can be a drumset — without a drumset.”

Frost said he showed the students the relationship between a conch shell and a trumpet.

“You want people to know you’re there,” he said. “And a jug is the basis for hip-hop and beatbox.

He said this is the basis for his acoustic music project — “No Batteries required.”

Over 60 members of the community filled the gym at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna at a special meeting on September 15 that was called over a recent decision of the Limestone District School Board (LDSB).

Michelle Ross, co-chair of the parent council at CCPS, said the group called the meeting to voice their concerns about the LDSB’s decision to decrease the number of teachers at the school, effectively changing it from a three-classroom school to two classrooms.

Barb Fraser-Stiff and Andrie Labrie, both superintendents of education with the LDSB, were in attendance at the meeting and made efforts to explain the board’s decision.

Former principal at the school, Brenda Martin, began the meeting with a presentation citing her concerns that the decision will negatively impact the teachers’ ability to deliver the curriculum and said to the attendees, “You realize that this is the only school in North Frontenac Township, a school that has been here for 52 years and that your education dollars should remain in the township.” She argued for the viability of small local schools and commended the parents whose efforts kept Clarendon Central open after the LDSB’s Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) proposed several years ago that the school be closed.

In a nut shell Martin requested that the primary teacher position be increased to full time to meet the needs of the students, and regarding the junior/intermediate students she said that their needs cannot be met by just one teacher alone. “For older students it is impossible for one teacher to cover the required topics in the curriculum even in a two-year cycle.”

Barbara Fraser-Stiff assured her that it is manageable for a single teacher to integrate the math and English curriculum, but Martin replied that her biggest concern is the science curriculum. “Yes you can integrate language and math but when it comes to science, it is impossible for one teacher to cover all of the necessary components required,” she said.

Parents had a chance to raise their many concerns, which included the added stress and challenges to teachers who will have to teach more curriculum with less classroom support to a wider age group. They said that there will be less one on one instruction time and more interruptions for all students. Many said they fear that their children will not receive a satisfactory education that will prepare them properly for high school. They also cited less time for support staff to do the regular supervising that is needed for such a wide age group.

Fraser-Stiff said that she understands that it sounds impossible but that the new changes can be done. “It's been done before.” Both she and Labrie gave as examples two schools in the LDSB, one on Wolfe Island and the other on Amherst Island that have two classrooms serving JK–grade eight students. The Amherst Island school has been operating for over a decade and Fraser-Stiff said that its graduates are thriving.

When questioned about the lack of discussion that came with the recent announcement, Labrie was apologetic but explained that the decisions typically happen in September once the finalized numbers of students are known. He said that similar changes have taken place at one third of the schools in the LDSB.

One concerned parent quoted the Spring 2014 Technical Paper put out every year by the Ministry of Education outlining the Supported Schools Allocation, which provides additional funding for teaching and ECE staff to improve the viability of supported schools. She said that by definition Clarendon Central is one such school and she wondered why staff are being cut when in the paper, it states that combined schools with 50 or more elementary students generate funding for a minimum of 7.5 elementary teachers. “Surely if you do the math, with 39 students here we should be able to support four teachers.”

North Frontenac Councilor Lonnie Watkins asked why the $1.6 million in education taxes collected in North Frontenac could not keep three teachers at the school. He also wondered why the $350,000 allocated to special rural schools could not afford to keep the current number of staff in place.

Labrie replied that 80% of the money pays the salaries for staff and the rest goes towards maintenance of the building, and busing. “You can see when you break it down how those funds can get used up pretty quickly.”

When pressed further, Labrie said he would check with other members of staff who know more about the particular financial numbers being questioned. Another parent wondered why local students in the area should be allowed to be bused to other schools if decreasing enrollment is the reason for the cuts in the first place.

Steve Magee, who is running as a candidate for school trustee in North and Central Frontenac and in Addington Highlands, suggested waiting one year to make the changes, thereby giving both parents staff and students time to adjust to the new situation.

By the end of the meeting, though Fraser-Stiff and Labrie could not make any concrete promises to parents and staff, they did promise to raise all of their concerns to their senior team and said they would get back to the group as soon as possible with any updates or changes. “We recognize that this community here is asking for some help and support in this matter and we will bring everything that we heard here today back to our staff.”

One parent said that the announcement of the changes has caused stress to staff, parents and students alike, with many parents feeling their children have already lost out during their first month back at school.

Parents and staff are obviously hoping that the situation is resolved quickly.

CCPS Principal Emily Yanch said she “appreciated the parent community organizing the meeting, and hearing their concerns being addressed by members of the board.”

(Attention readers. After the following article was published on Thursday and posted online , the date of the public meeting was changed . The meeting about changes in staffing at Clarendon Central Public School will now take place on Monday Night, September 15^th, at 7:00 pm at Clarendon Central. The meeting date change was done at the behest of the Limestone District School Board in order to have representatives in attendance. This version of the article includes the altereed information)

Parents of children attending Clarendon Central School in Plevna have called a meeting on Monday Night (Septemebr 15) at the school to talk about staffing changes.

The meeting, which is set for 7 pm, is a reaction to finding out that as of next Monday the teaching complement at the school will be reduced by one.

There are four teachers at the school currently. Three of them teach multi-grade classes, and the fourth is what is called a head teacher. The school has a part-time principal, Emily Yanch, who is also the principal of the larger Land O' Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove, which commands much of her attention. She is on site in Plevna one half day each week.

According to a parent who contacted the News, a rumour that the change was coming circulated among the community, and was confirmed by Ms. Yanch.

We were unable to contact Principal Yanch at Land O' Lakes school on Tuesday, and the supervising principal for Clarendon Central, Barbara Fraser-Stiff, was not available at the Limestone Board office.

However written notification of the changes was sent home to parents on Tuesday.

Currently, there are three classes in the school: a Junior Kindergarten to grade 2 class, a grade 3 to grade 5 class and a grade 6 to grade 8 class. As of next Monday, the school will be split into two classes, a Junior Kindergarten to grade 3 class, and a grade 4 to grade 8 class. The position of head teacher will remain, and that person is responsible for discipline, acts as a resource teacher for children in need of one-to-one instruction from time to time, and covers for the other teachers during their planning time.

Further complicating the new scenario is the fact that the JK-3 teacher in the school is only a 3/4 time position, and the head teacher will have to cover that class each afternoon.

There are currently two educational assistants (EA) at Clarendon Central, one full-time and one half-time position, and as of next week the half-time EA will become full time, to help cover the extra work-load. However, according to parents and staff, there are some significant special needs in the school.

In the letter to parents the board said that the changes have come about because of an enrolment decrease at Clarendon Central, and the letter also pointed out that these kinds of changes happen in schools throughout the board each September.

The concern expressed by parents who contacted the News is that cutting one teacher from such a small complement of teachers represents a decrease of almost 27% in the teaching complement, which is a greater impact than would be felt in a school with a complement of 20 teachers. There, losing one teacher would only represent a 5% decrease in teachers.

Clarendon Central is a designated rural remote school, which means the Limestone Board receives extra funding beyond the normal per student funding formula to cover for some of the extra costs associated with providing programming in a rural-remote environment. It is the most remote school in the Limestone Board.

During the planning process that led to the construction of Granite Ridge Education Centre, an initial proposal to close Clarendon Central was quickly rebuffed, both by the community members on the planning committee and by the parents and community members in the Plevna area, who packed the school when a public meeting was held to talk about proposals for the new school.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at Clarendon CEntral on Monday Night.. Board and school administrative officials will be in attendance.

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.”

Emotions were running high at the 50th Anniversary celebrations that took place at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna on April 13. Over 200 past and present staff and students, along with friends and family gathered at the school to reunite, celebrate and share their feelings about their time spent at the small rural school, which has served the community for 50 years.

At noon, a special ceremony headed up by co-chairs of the 50th anniversary committee, Brenda Martin and Heather White, recognized the efforts of those who have helped to make the school a lively and loving educational institution over the past five decades.

Visitors were first addressed by the school’s current principal Dave Allison, North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton, and School Trustee Ann Goodfellow. A special anniversary message from former CCPS student Erin Gunsinger (Ibey), who graduated from the school 25 years ago in 1988, highlighted CCPS's important role in the community. She spoke of the rapid changes in the world since her graduation, that it has become a global village and said, “That is not such a bad thing.” In her words, “As annoying as the lack of privacy might be, when it comes down to it, small communities like Plevna still exist because the people here come through for one another.”

She spoke of her childhood growing up in Plevna and the wealth of outdoor opportunities she experienced. She spoke of the school and reminisced about her favorite memories: crazy carpeting, tubing and skiing in winter, walking the old log monkey bars in the playground, and huddling around the school’s cutting edge Commodore 64 computer. “I went to CCPS in the days when kids got to ring the bell, run the ditto machine and hoist the Canadian flag up the pole. We sang O Canada and recited the Lord's prayer every morning”, she recalled. She marveled at how the school has managed to thrive despite “enduring times of economic hardship and radical change. One of the foundations of this community is its school. It's something that we all have in common and it stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of this unique remote rural village and the tough and resourceful, good-hearted people who live here.”

The ceremony continued with a rousing video of current students singing the old CCPS school song, and a plethora of special anniversary mugs and other mementos were presented to former staff and students.

Throughout the day, visitors reminisced about their time at CCPS while perusing the five specially designated “decades” classrooms, which were decorated with school nostalgia and memorabilia. Former student Jody Spingle, who graduated from CCPS in 1988 and who now works in construction and project management in Ottawa, is fondly remembered as a former tether ball champion at CCPS. She said, “It's great to reconnect with students and teachers that I haven't seen for 25 years. I have such fond memories especially of the teachers here and my school days here are one thing that I would never change.”

Gina Kellar (Gore), who graduated from CCPS in 1973 and still resides in Plevna, came to see her old teachers with her husband Rick, who received recognition as a graduate of the first class of 1963.

Brenda Martin said she was thrilled with the exceptional turn out and was pleased to see so many former students and staff. “Many of the teachers who taught here in the '60s and '70s didn't think that they would ever come back to the school, so for them and some of their former students the day has really meant a lot.”

Martin said that these anniversaries can tend to be so emotional because, “People have very formative memories from their school days and for me as a teacher and principal you get really attached to your students.” Kudos to all who made for a very special day that will long be remembered in years to come. Those interested in purchasing a commemorative year book of the 50th Anniversary celebrations and/or a DVD highlighting the day’s events, contact the school at 613-479-2264.

It is no surprise that the plans for a 50-year anniversary celebration at Clarendon Central Public School (CCPS) in Plevna began with two women who both have had a long and rich history there.

Heather White, an early graduate and former caretaker at the school, and Brenda Martin, one of the school's former principals, began thinking about a 50-year anniversary celebration close to a year and a half ago. The two formed a committee to organize the event, which is open to everyone and will take place at the school on Saturday, April 13 from 10am - 4pm.

The event is to remember and celebrate the beloved community school whose motto continues to be “Working Together, Learning Together, Growing Together”. Construction began on the school in 1961 and was completed in 1963 when it was officially opened. Clarendon Central would end up replacing 14 smaller schools in the surrounding area, including the Ardoch, Plevna, Fernleigh and Ompah school houses. John Walton was the school's first principal and its first teachers were Elinor (Burke) Black, Gail Wilson and Ernest Young. In 1988 plans were underway to add a gymnasium to the school, which was completed in 1992.

To this day the school continues to serve students and their families with a continued dedication to the arts, new technology, and hands on skills.

Brenda Martin was school principal from 1984-88 and headed up the silver anniversary celebrations in 1988. She spoke of what the school has meant to her over the years. “I was always impressed by the many talented students who attended the school over the years. So many of them were incredibly talented in the arts and technology areas and they really benefited from the many artists who came to the school to teach them a number of different skills, like wood working, tie-dying and mask making.” Many of those objects will be on display at the event.

Martin also spoke of the intimacy of the school because of its size, which is just under 100 students in total from kindergarten to grade 8. “Clarendon Central is a very unique little country school and teaching there was always been such a joy because the curriculum for the entire school could be so easily integrated.”

She recalled some of her favorite memories, which included bringing the students to her cottage where they learned about outdoor education: ice fishing, snow shoeing, native traditions and more. "I remember when the students paddled canoes down the Mississippi River to pick wild rice; it was such an intimate experience and I'm sure some of those students still carry with them some of those memories to this day.”

Martin is hoping to re-ignite some of those memories at the upcoming anniversary celebrations, where classrooms will designated by the various decades and special activities and events will be taking place in each location. Visitors will see displays of old photos and will be invited to participate in a number of special activities like trivia challenges, sock hops and other events from school days gone by.

In the '60s room pictures of the various old schoolhouses that CCPS replaced along with examples of furniture and school equipment from that era will be on display. The later years of the school will focus on new technology at the school including its smart boards and computers. Hungry visitors will be able to enjoy a '60s style cafe with hotdogs, hamburgs and sodas. There will also be a raffle for a number of special hand made items by former students, which include an oak blanket box by Brian Lemke, an original painting by Gleva Lemke and an original sketch by Carrie White.

At noon, a ceremony will take place with a welcome by current school principal Dave Allison, LDSB trustee Ann Goodfellow and North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton. There will also be available for purchase a 50th Anniversary year book titled "Remember When" and orders will be taken for a special DVD recording of the day's events.

Organizers hope to see everyone come out to help celebrate this special event at CCPS.

Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Sat. April 13 from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Everyone is welcome whether you attended the school or not. For community members who moved into the area in retirement, you might wish to see how the little country school evolved. In the Sixties Decade room there will be a display about the schools that amalgamated prior to the construction of CCPS.

Photos still misssing! Students from the sixties and seventies do you have at least one photo to share? It might not be one taken at school, but one from home when you were school age. The Decade room organizers have worked very hard to put together great displays and we do not want to miss seeing your cute or funny face. Please contact Heather @ 479-5549; Mona @ 479-2868; or Cindy @ 479-2561, if you can loan any photos or items from the 60's and 70's.

The Committee has arranged parking at the back lot of North of 7 for all visitors. A shuttle will take you to the school and return you to your vehicle as needed. Because the school parking lot is so small, we ask that the limited spaces at the school be reserved for those with mobility issues. Parking along the highway is always discouraged for safety reasons.

A memorial wall has been organized by Marily Seitz (479-2855) to remember those former staff and students who passed away. She has collected a photo, years they were at the school and birth and death dates. If you have not been contacted by now about your loved one, please check that Marily has the information.

The fundraiser to cover anniversary expenses is the sale of raffle tickets. Prizes are: Sunbonnet quilt and quilt stand, an oak blanket box, a painting and a sketch. Other items from the committee will be sold as close to cost as possible. These include: a full color yearbook (also available on DVD), coffee mug and anniversary cards.

Please support your local school as it celebrates 50 years of educating children.