Students and staff at NAEC rose to a challenge this past week. The school learned in September that the shelves were nearly empty at the food bank. The Grade 10 Careers and Civics classes responded by organizing and promoting an elementary and secondary Thanksgiving food drive.

Elementary and secondary classes (and their teachers) competed over who could bring in the most items. Ms. Cuthill’s grade 6/7 class was the generous elementary winner, with Ms. Randle’s grade 10 English bringing in the most items in secondary.

A total of 500 items were collected. Cathy Ballar of the Land o’ Lakes Food Bank was there to accept the items, and expressed the overwhelming need that the food bank is experiencing.

Principal Angela Salmond was overwhelmed with the results. “Once again, I am proud of the North Addington community,” she remarked. “Students, staff, and families have worked together to demonstrate that when there is a need, we take care of each other.”

NAEC secondary students will be participating in the annual Trick or Eat event, in their Campbell’s soup costumes. Students will be canvassing Flinton, Northbrook, Cloyne, and as many back roads as possible, for non-perishable items on Hallowe’en night. The students will have NAEC identification tags and will be canvassing until approximately 8 p.m. Students will attempt to visit as many houses as possible, but if your house is overlooked, please drop the items off at NAEC, or have the items picked up (please call Candice Bovard at 613-336-8991). For families requiring assistance or more information about local services, please call Land o’ Lakes Community Services at 613-336-8934.

While some people find math very difficult, Ms. Shepherd’s Grade 9 Applied Math class has been having fun. They used their math skills to design and construct some mini-putt holes. Each student designed a mini-putt hole, then the class voted on the five designs they wanted to make. Students worked as a classto construct their mini-putt holes. The whole process took five days, to the accompaniment of a lot of hammering, and by October 1, the students were ready to test their projects out. They laid them out on the playground, and took turns trying to sink a ball. The designs proved very challenging, and the chances of a hole-in-one seemed to be nil. Ms. Shepherd hopes to have the mini-putt course laid out for Parent’s Night on October 10, so that the students’ parents can admire the workmanship and try to sink a ball.

Mr. Hill, Ms. Cuthill and Ms. Buck took their students to the Secondary side to participate in a dance-off on June 11 at NAEC. This was the culmination of a project by Mrs. Walker's Grade 10 Physical Education class, which counts for 15% of the students' final mark. Deanna Allen, Jessica Chatson, Racheal Dorion, Tara Pringle, Taylor Salmond, Haily Whitelock and Cayley Wilson led the Elementary classes in dancing.

The Grade 10 students were completing an assignment which measured their leadership qualities, ability to work with peers, communication skills, and engagement in a different type of fitness activity (other than sports). The students had to learn the steps of the dance themselves, and then teach them to the Elementary students.

The Grade 10 students had to work with their Elementary peers over the course of a couple of weeks, involving two or three sessions to practice the dance. After the Elementary students had learned the dance, the teachers decided it would be fun to have an entire gym full of students dancing.

Each class ran through the dance once, as the other students looked on, and then there was a dance-off, in which all the students danced at the same time. The judges were Mrs. Salmond and Ms. Allan. They had a hard time deciding which class was the most engaged and energetic, as everyone seemed to be having a good time, particularly when doing the do-si-do. They declared all three classes winners.

Both students and teachers really enjoyed the exercise. Principal Angela Salmond said, "It is always good to see our teachers working together, and this was a particularly enjoyable event because the students were working together, too."

Elementary students and staff at North Addington Education Centre met with a team from OFAH (Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters) and participated in a series of activities which gave them a better understanding of their environment. This program was sponsored by OFAH at no cost to NAEC students (who would normally have to pay). The presentation of this program was organized by Student Success teacher Sarah Sproule, an avid hunter and fisher herself.

The presentations were designed for Kindergarten to Grades 5/6. Students rotated through ten different activities, learning as they went. The activities focused on different issues, and the weather co-operated with a lovely sunny day. Activities included a deer game, a fishing information session, a prey game, and a casting challenge.

Outside on the football field, groups learned about the balance between species and their predators and food sources. Students were divided into groups consisting of deer, resources and predators, and played a game that showed how populations shifted depending on availability of food sources.

Inside, in the new foyer, students watched an information presentation regarding different types of fish. They then played a Jeopardy game in which they identified different local fish, ranging from yellow perch to rainbow trout.

Outside once again, students investigated the difficulties encountered by birds when searching for prey. Students took it in turns to "be" an eagle and everyone else hid in the trees and bushes. The eagle was supposed to try to find his or her prey, while the prey tried not to be found.

In the gym, students did a "casting challenge". This took the form of a relay in which students formed a line and took it in turns to cast fishing lines into a hoop. After their cast, they ran to the back of the line, and worked their way up again.

The Kindergarten to Grade 2 students participated in the morning session, and the Grade 3 to Grade 6 group participated in the afternoon. The activities were run by 3 college/university students and one staff member employed by OFAH, and the event was a big success. "It was well organized, and the kids learned a great deal and had a lot of fun," said Ms. Buck, who teaches Grade 5/6.

On Friday May 10 four volunteers from Hydro One (Dalton Sproule, Nicholas Sproule, Ab Meeks and Alan Fortier) worked at North Addington Education Centre, clearing brush and fallen trees near the playground and Outdoor Centre. Using an excavator, bulldozer and chainsaws, these men worked for seven hours making trails and an outdoor archery range, and cleaning up safety hazards. In addition, Hydro donated 150 pine trees and bags of grass seed to the school, to plant the area which was cleared. This work would not have been possible without the donation of equipment from Hydro One and volunteer hours of these men. Ab and Alan said they did not mind helping out North Addington as they are both former students of the school and felt that this was a good chance for them to give back.

This work further supports the outdoor learning and initiatives taking place at North Addington. Students will be able to partake in outdoor archery using the new equipment purchased from Bishop Lake Outdoor Centre; they will also be able to take better advantage of the land owned by the school, by having safe access to the back of the property through a new a trail. Once again, NAEC would like to thank the numerous sponsors and supporters who have donated their money and time to help make outdoor education and programming an integral part of our school. Thank you to: Township of North Frontenac; Township of Addington Highlands; COFA; North Bay Fur Harvesters; Frontenac-Addington Trappers Council; Smart’s Marina; Bishop Lake Outdoor Centre; Cloyne Home Hardware; Limestone District School Board.

If you would like to learn more about the outdoor programming initiatives at NAEC or would like to contribute to the program please contact Sarah Sproule at 613-336-8991 ext. 154.

On April 17, Jeremy Diaz, founder of Jer’s Vision, visited NAEC to talk to the students and staff. Jeremy is the force behind the International Day of Pink, a day which NAEC has embraced with growing enthusiasm since they started observing it three years ago. Students sported pink shirts, hats, shoes, badges, etc., on April 10, to celebrate International Day of Pink.

Jeremy talked to Ms. Cuthill and Mr. Hill’s classes first, then spoke to the Secondary classes. He talked about the discrimination he had faced during his school days, first because of race, and then because of sexual orientation. Jeremy told many anecdotes, often using humour to explain how hurtful his peers’ behaviour was.

Jeremy successfully sued his school district, because of the treatment he had received, and used the settlement money to start Jer's Vision. The aim of Jer's Vision is to spread a message of inclusion and acceptance for all, using personal appearances, workshops and conferences.

Jeremy talked about the harm people do by excluding anyone, for whatever reason. As well as discussing discrimination, Jeremy also discussed violence against women and sexism in general. He urged students and staff to think about actions, conscious or unconscious, which may hurt their peers.

Jeremy remained behind after the presentation to address individual questions, and was surrounded by an interested group of students. Jeremy invited students to attend a conference in Ottawa to learn more, and plans are in place to take a group of students on May 30.

Two weeks ago students from NAEC competed in the Limestone District School Board Skills Competition. This year saw a different format with students competing at various high schools around the board over several days instead of the usual one day event at St. Lawrence College. Also new for North Addington, 25% of the NAEC competitors were in grade 9.

The first day of competition was at Sharbot Lake for team of Two, 2D Character Animation where students had to design then animate characters using Flash animation. Michael McEwen & Devon Salmond captured a bronze medal, while Devon Deruchie & Lucas Parks-Delyea took home the silver medal. “I really liked the animation,” said Lucas, “and having a chance to do it was very exciting.”

Natasha McIsaac and Courtney Johnson travelled to LCVI for the Digital photography competition, where they showed off their previously edited and mounted photographs as well as their PhotoShop editing skills to produce stunning images.  

Shane Taylor competed at Bayridge Secondary School for Prepared Speech. His speech, delivered in a narrative style, won him the bronze medal.

On the last day of competition, Kayla Keller and Megan Cruickshank travelled to LaSalle to compete in the Graphic Design Presentation Competition. This involved producing a new 25th Anniversary logo for Skills Canada, an 11” x 17” poster and a brochure front, mounted very specifically. They then presented their portfolio containing their creative process and defended their designs to a panel of judges. Terry Murphy and Zack McQuigge, also at LaSalle, competed in Desktop Publishing, where they had to create a logo, print ad and business sign for a small business in a set time frame. Terry won the silver medal and Zack won the gold. Zack will go on to represent Team Limestone at RIM Park in Waterloo May 7th and 8th. Congratulations to all of Team NAEC, who showed excellent sportsmanship and talent at their respective competitions.

Mike Sewell, Program Leader Skills, Training and Technology for Limestone District had this to say, "NAEC students continue to demonstrate their proficiency and their leadership skills in the Digital Arts and Prepared Speech areas, sending 12 students to five separate events in this year's version of the Limestone Skills Competition. Even though they may be the smallest secondary school in the district, NAEC believes that 'success truly has no limits'".

Congratulations to all of Team NAEC, who showed excellent sportsmanship and talent at their respective competitions.

On Sat. Aug. 17, the 640 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps held a pre-registration/information session at the Northbrook Foodland parking lot. The army cadet program in Addington Highlands and North Frontenac was established in 1998. It was successful from the start and after a few years there were 36 cadets in the corps. The numbers have slipped since then but that is now changing.

“We were down to about six cadets a couple of years ago but we are now back up to 20,” said Corps Commander Tim Trickey, a paramedic with the L&A ambulance service and a resident of Henderson in North Frontenac.

“We are still on probation from the military for numbers but I hope we can get back up to 25 this year, which will take us off probation.”

Trickey was the commander of the cadet corps between 1998 and 2007 and he has just taken on the job again with a three-year commitment. The cadet corps is free to join and the Canadian military covers all cost for the cadets, even providing uniforms free of charge.

“All that we ask is for cadets who decide to leave the corps to return their uniform to us,” said Trickey.

The corps meets for training weekly, on alternative Monday and Wednesday nights during the school year at North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne from 6 to 9 pm. A number of topics are covered during the training sessions.

“Three main goals are: promoting leadership in communities where we live, promoting physical fitness, and trying to create an interest in the Canadian Armed Forces, land, sea and air,” Trickey said.

In addition to the weekly sessions, the corps participate in Remembrance Day Services, which is the one event where Trickey likes to see a 100% commitment from the membership. Aside from that there are a number of weekend activities available to corps members, which include a lot of adventure training, including mountain biking, canoeing, orientation, camping, and more. Summer camps, in Ottawa and the Barrie area for army cadets, and as far away as the Yukon, are also available. Not only are the camps free to attend, cadets receive a $60 a week stipend.

As in military organisations, cadets rise through the ranks, and the corps offers leadership opportunities for older, higher ranking members who can take officer training.

“I have run into numbers of our former cadets who have moved on to some outstanding jobs,” said Trickey. “Some have gone into the military; some are reservists, and there are professional firefighters and many others who have done well.”

Trickey himself took the air cadet program out of Belleville when he was a teenager. “It was the cadet program that taught me self-discipline. As cadets we learn that if we want something we have to work for it.”

The program is open to youth between 12 & 19 years of age, both males and females. For information on the new cadet session, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-336-2885 

NAEC’s students presented a sea of pink on April 10, the International Day of Pink. It is estimated that at least 90% of the students wore some form of pink, be it a pink shirt, pink shoes, or other pink items. This is the biggest turn-out of pink people at the school since the first NAEC Day of Pink in 2011.

The students gathered together for a Whole School Photo, and a short assembly. Ms. Salmond reminded the students about the background of the Day of Pink. A student at a Nova Scotia school was bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. A group of students went and bought pink shirts and wore them to school as an anti-bullying gesture. The International Day of Pink is specifically designed to combat homophobic and gender-based bullying.

Mrs. Fuller’s Grade 1/2 class, Ms. Buck’s Grade 5/6 class and Ms. Cuthill’s Grade 6/7 class all made displays regarding the Day of Pink. These were (and are) displayed in the front foyer, for students, staff and visitors to consider. Other classes viewed videos, made posters, or had discussions about being sensitive, kind and accepting of everyone.

Jeremy Dias, who started DayofPink.org, will be visiting NAEC on April 17, to continue the conversation. Jeremy was, himself, a victim of homophobic bullying and started “Jer’s Vision”, a non-profit group dedicated to ending bullying and educating people about acceptance. Principal Angela Salmond commented, “We are very pleased to have Jeremy come and talk to us. We tried to schedule him last year, but had no luck. This year, Ms. Gaffney and Mr. Kerr, along with the Limestone District School Board, have managed to arrange a visit.”

Sometimes it is only through the fresh eyes, open hearts and keen minds of younger folk that any kind of sense at all can be made of decades-old global conflicts that have consumed thousands of lives, negatively affected ordinary people over many generations, and which have yet to come to any kind of lasting resolution or peace.

NAEC graduate Jory Bolton, who just completed her undergraduate studies in international development and Spanish at Trent University, recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, where she was a backpacktavist and participant in Operation Groundswell.

Operation Groundswell is a not-for-profit volunteer travel organization whose goal is to immerse like-minded young students in areas of global conflict while introducing to them members of all the parties involved. The hope is that their new ideas will “swell out” into the world and make positive change in these war-torn regions.

Bolton, who wisely kept a journal during her six-week trip there this summer, said that instead of trying to understand the conflict solely in political terms, she instead came at it from the human side. Her observations, experiences and understanding made for an exceptional account of life both in Israel and Palestine.

It was through formal meetings with politicians that included members of the Knesset, Hamas, and Fatah, meetings with activists, soldiers, freedom fighters, military people, Bedouin chiefs and villagers, lawyers, and with those living and working in refugee camps as well as many conversations with everyday people on the street both in Israel and Palestine that she came away with what proved to be a mature, wise and broad understanding of a part of the world that tends to baffle most people.

Bolton said that the main goal of her group was to “stand in solidarity with those oppressed regardless of race, gender and age ... I really tried to not pick sides, not to be pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli no matter what situation I was in. It's really important to try to sit back and listen to what both sides have to say; to support both sides even if you don't support some of their specific policies. You have to think that these people are just like me except that they have to live every day with these policies.”

She recalled how she and her group tried to behave always with the quote in mind: “Never doubt that it is small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens that change the world. It is the only thing that ever has.” Bolton added, “ It's not the big corporations or the presidents or the big political parties that make the change. For me it was the people I met in the Palestinian refugee camps delivering grass roots activism who were making the change, as well as the Israeli soldier who said he didn't want to fight but chose to in order to make sure that Palestinians' human rights were not being abused.”

Many of Bolton's insights seemed wise beyond her 22 years. “A lot of the misconceptions we have come from what we see on TV - like the radical Muslim man with the rocket launcher on his back - because that is what sells. I never once saw that - ever.”

She said that being there, she came to understand how, “There is this constant battle between the influences of the radicals on both sides who are a tiny minority compared to the much larger majority of people on both sides who are moderate and who want to stay that way.” She continued, “People often ask me about the fanaticism there. Yes, there are fanatics but what people don't realize is that they are the very small minority who are getting pushed out by the everyday activists and people just living their lives and who want nothing to do with fanaticism.”

Bolton also spoke of the volunteer work that she and her team did there. One stint was spent at Al Noor, a school for special needs children of Palestinian descent located in Jerusalem and funded wholly by the Israeli government. There Bolton spoke to one woman who has continued to work at the same job even though the separation wall that was built in 2006 turned the woman's 30-second walk to work into a three-hour commute each way. Asked by Bolton why she chose to keep her job, the woman told Bolton, “To exist is to resist.”

Bolton said she heard this phrase often during her trip and said it explained how everyday people are resisting government policies by continuing to live their lives. Bolton's in-depth presentation demonstrated that young people exposed first hand to the highly conflicted regions of the world and determined to make a positive impact on them often come away from the experience understanding that the majority of those affected by the conflict, on both sides, are ordinary people hoping and striving to live their lives in peace. It's inspiring to know that one motivated student whose mind and heart are in the right place is hoping to make changes in places where positive changes are both needed and wanted.

Bolton will travel to Spain this coming week, where she will teach for a year and then resume her academic studies in this country, with a focus on refugee studies.