The library at Harrowsmith Public School will be undergoing renovations in the upcoming weeks in preparation for its rededication and reopening as the new Audrey Handforth and Jewel Collett Memorial Library.

Both were former librarians at the school. Audrey also worked as the school secretary for many years and passed away on April 27, 2007. Jewel Collett, who took over as librarian, passed away suddenly on March 20, 2009.

Prior to her passing Jewel was acting chair of the library committee and had decided to restore the library and name it in Audrey Handforth’s honour in appreciation of the hundreds of volunteer hours she dedicated to it.

With Jewel’s suddenly death last year those plans changed and Principal James Horan recalled, “We were absolutely devastated and it just seemed natural to name and rededicate the new library in both ladies` honour since they both dedicated so much of their time and energy to the library, the students and the community.”

Pat Chase took over as the library committee chair and in the next few weeks a number of changes will be made to the library including the installation of a new reception area, brand-new furniture, a new primary reading area, a new computer station as well as a permanent historical display celebrating the school’s past.

The display will include the typewriter Audrey used for most of her career at the school.

Funds for the project have been raised through a school fish fry fundraiser and most recently through a reading challenge in March where students received pledges for reading an hour a day consecutively for a week. Private donations from the community have also contributed to the project, whose budget now stands at $7500.

The rededication and reopening ceremony will take place at the school on Thursday May 6 at 2:30 pm and everyone is welcome to attend. It has been requested that guests planning to attend call the school in advance so appropriate refreshments can be provided.

Anyone interested in donating to the new library can contact the school at 613-372-2026. Harrowsmith Public School is located at 4121 Colebrooke Road.

All Eyes focused on the awakening drum.

Danka Brewer and the Sisters of the Drum helped to initiate some students and staff from Sharbot Lake High School into the world of Algonquin drumming at a ceremony held on a brilliant spring day behind the school on Monday.

Six students and three teachers at the school brought out drums that they have been building since January, in a program that was supported by the Limestone District School Board's Aboriginal Education initiative.

“This is a wonderful day,” said Danka Brewer as she welcomed the participants, “and it has taken a lot of patience from all of you.”

The students not only had to wait through the drum making process, they also had to learn several songs in advance of the ceremony, and they were not able to use their drums at all until they were awakened at the ceremony.

The ceremony requires other drums, and that's where the Sisters of the Drum came in. As the first drummer came forward with his drum, he passed out tobacco to the Sisters, and then placed a stone and a small amount of tobacco on his drum, which he held up like an offering. The sisters surrounded him with their drums and began to sing and drum. The proximity of the drums to the one being initiated caused the pebble and the tobacco to begin bouncing, and as the song continued the pebble moved in one direction. At the end of the song the drum was identified by the direction the stone had travelled (north, east, south, or west).

That drummer then joined in with the Sisters to initiate the second drum, and so on until 8 new drums and the Sisters of the Drum were involved in the naming of the final drum in the ceremony.

By the time all of the drums, 15 or more, were involved, the ceremony for the final few drums did not last a long time because the vibrations were great enough to send the small stones to the edge and even off the drums in short order.

The Algonquins believe that all drums are connected to the great drum, which represents the heartbeat of the earth. “This ceremony gives each of the drums a voice of their own,” said Danka Brewer.

This connection with mother drum is symbolized by the literal cutting off of an “umbilical cord”. When the drum is made, one hide string is left hanging out at the bottom of the drum, and that string is cut at the end of the ceremony. With the cord now cut, the independent life of the drum can begin, but the connection to the mother drum is never completely severed.

Although the atmosphere at the ceremony was decidedly casual, the level of excitement among the participants was palpable. The visual and emotional impact of the Sisters of the Drum initiating a group of young people into the drumming community was also apparent to all.

In the Algonquin tradition, the ceremony was followed by a feast.

Among the observers at the ceremony was Kevin Read, the program consultant for Aboriginal education with the Limestone District School Board. He said that the drum-making project was one of several that are taking place at schools in the board this year. Others in Frontenac County include sponsoring a Srawberry Moon Festival and Aboriginal play days.

There will also be a student conference in Kingston in May with participants from schools throughout the board, which will focus on Aboriginal culture and history.

Read’s mandate includes enhancing the skills and knowledge of Aboriginal students as well as increasing the awareness about Aboriginal issues and culture among all students at the board. 

Damien Windover (r) with his teacher Lyle Young.

On Wednesday, March 31, Damien Windover of Sharbot Lake High School competed in the Limestone Skills Competition in the Small Power Equipment category. This competition involves a theory exam with 48 questions. In addition, there is a practical component wherein Damien had to troubleshoot, disassemble and reassemble a 3.5 Horse Briggs & Stratton engine to factory specification.

Damien did as well as anyone else on the written portion of the competition but he truly excelled on the practical component. When he completed his assembly, Damien’s engine was the only one that started with the first pull!

Damien prepared for this competition working with Mr. Young in his Small Engine class and by peer-tutoring and studying at home. We wish Damien and his coach, Mr. Young, every success at the Regional competition on April 17 at St. Lawrence College.

Back:  Terry Murphy, Charles James, Daryn Bolland, Drew Parks; Middle: Val Allan, Peter Rasenberg, Jennifer Thurston, Tia Cornish, Katie Ohlke; Front:  Ryan Raymo, Brady Douglas, Chris Jordan, Mandy Pringle and Victoria Peeling

On March 31, two school buses filled with students from NAEC went to St. Lawrence College, Kingston, to cheer their classmates on in the Limestone Skills Competition. The competitors were Ryan Raymo, Chris Jordan and Drew Parks (Construction), Brady Douglas (Welding), Tia Cornish and Victoria Peeling (Photography), Daryn Bolland, Jennifer Thurston and Mandy Pringle (Graphic Design), and Terry Murphy and Charles James (Prepared Speech).

All of the students made a very strong showing at the event, which attracted over 400 students from the Limestone District School Board, as well as neighbouring boards.  As several speakers noted, just participating in the event made all the students winners.  

Charles James won the Gold Medal for Prepared Speech, while Terry Murphy garnered the Bronze Medal. Charles will go on to represent the Limestone District School Board Team at the Provincial Skills Competition held in Kitchener in May. Both students spoke on the topic of “Skilled Trades and Technology Careers: the connections to Canada’s future”. Charles concentrated on the field of artificial intelligence, while Terry Focused on the career of a Naval Electronics Technician.

The Photography students were sent out with cameras to take photographs of the competitions, and then processed their pictures to be judged. The Graphics students went with prepared portfolios and displays, and had to “sell” their product to the judges. The Carpentry and Welding students were given instructions and diagrams to interpret and complete a project.

NAEC was proud to have students compete in (and demonstrate proficiency in) five of the categories. The two busloads of students completed a tour of St. Lawrence and went to encourage their classmates in their different endeavours. The Grade 8 class accompanied the secondary students, as part of the process of transition to high school and beyond.

On May 18, one of North Addington Education Centre’s students represented “Team Limestone” at the Ontario Skills Competition at the R.I.M. Park in Kitchener/Waterloo. Eighteen hundred students from around Ontario competed, and 30,000 visitors attended this showcase of student skills. Charles James, a Grade 9 student, participated in the Prepared Speech competition.  He had previously competed in the Limestone Board of Education Skills Competition for the honour of representing “Team Limestone” at the provincial level.  

Charles joined a busload of students and teachers from the Limestone Board of Education on a trip that included two nights away. Students competed in a variety of events, from landscaping and other traditional technological subjects to new high-tech subjects such as robotics, photography and web-site design.  

Charles mirrored the high-tech portion of the competition by speaking on the subject of Artificial Intelligence, or A.I. He traced the development of A.I. and speculated on the future application of this technology, including medical applications such as implants to help the blind see.     

Charles’s mother, Bev, and sister, Cassandra joined with his grandmother, Veronica, to cheer Charles on and give him support. The family toured the other competitions, after the Prepared Speech competition, and was particularly interested in the robotics competitions, which featured some suspenseful “races” to complete tasks.

Charles placed 8th in a field of 17 speakers, who were mostly in Grade 11 or 12. The M.C. in the Closing Ceremonies noted that everyone who attended was a winner, as they had already had to compete in one or two competitions to make it to the provincial level.  

Charles, however, expressed a determination to return next year and improve his standing.

“We are all very proud of Charles,” remarked NAEC Principal Angela Salmond. “To take on so many students, most older than he, was a great challenge.  We feel he represented NAEC, as well as ‘Team Limestone’, with great poise.”

For the second year in a row, Sydenham High School and North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne have achieved certification as Eco-Schools.

But while SHS received a bronze certification in 2009 and NAEC received gold, this year SHS was golden, and NAEC received silver level certification.

The Eco-Schools program was created by a consortium of education stakeholders to address environmental issues in the education system. Seven school boards, York University and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority collaborated to adapt and expand on the work of the Toronto District School Board, developing an environmental education program that is used province-wide.

Each year participating schools are evaluated in six key areas – teamwork and leadership, energy conservation, waste minimization, school grounds greening, curriculum, and environmental stewardship in the community.

Among the innovations that put SHS over the top this year was the eco-fair that was held in conjunction with Earth Day. The two schools were among eight in the Limestone Board to achieve the gold, silver or bronze level.

Last Thursday, Doug Gerow came to work as usual at SHS’s Community Education Centre. He’s been volunteering there three hours every weekday for the past 15 years, ever since he retired from his job at the Ministry of Transport.

Doug Gerow is the kind of volunteer who steps in to help wherever he sees something’s needed. He doesn’t talk about what he’s done, and doesn’t expect praise for his work. That’s why last Thursday’s events took him so by surprise.

He walked into a celebration recognizing him not only for his many years of service, but also for the ten new computers he has donated to the Centre. The computer lab, furnished completely by Doug, has been named in his honour. Director David Herrington said Doug is “Loyal, constant, compassionate and dedicated,” adding: “He makes great popcorn, too!”

When I asked Doug how he came to set up a whole computer lab by himself, he told me it all started before he retired, when he came to the adult education part of the program for computer upgrading.

“The few computers they had were in bad shape! So after I retired, I just kept watching the ads, and looking for deals: one store in particular had good prices,” he said.

And he sums up his entire experience at the Computer Education Centre by saying “It’s been a great life to be here!”

Perhaps most important of all, Doug Gerow has closed the gap that often exists between young people and seniors: as one student commented; “He’s great to talk cars with – his first car was a ’38 Dodge – my dream car!”

The new plaque outside the computer lab has a picture of Doug, above a quote from Ghandi: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Amelia Redmond. Photo courtesy of Amelia Redmond.

Seventeen-year-old Amelia Redmond of Sharbot Lake was thrilled when she recently found out she was awarded a two-year scholarship to attend the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia.

Nestled on the Pacific Ocean near Peddar Bay, the college - named after Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson - offers pre-university students an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, an internationally accepted qualification for university. The mission of the college is to “make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future” and its specialized curriculum aims to “educate the whole person and work towards peace, compassion and understanding between peoples.”

Redmond is one of just 200 students from over 100 countries worldwide to be offered the scholarship, which will pay her tuition, room and board over two years.

Students are selected “based on promise and potential regardless of race, religion, politics and financial means.

Redmond is currently finishing up grade 11 at KCVI in Kingston and when asked why she feels she was chosen, she said that although good grades are a definite “must”, her numerous extra curricular activities went a long way towards her selection as one of the three Ontario students chosen. There were 65 applicants from Ontario alone.

Amelia has been a member of the Student Association during her two years at KCVI and has been active in fundraising events there. At just 12 years of age she was a page in the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park, an experience that developed in her a love for politics. She not only does ballet but is also a well-rounded musician and plays ukulele and piano. She is a long-time member of the Cantabile Choir of Kingston and is also one half of the contemporary folk duo “Sara and Amelia", which performs live shows in Kingston. Acting is an ongoing pursuit; she has performed various roles in a number of local NFLT productions. If that is not enough, she also speaks French and Spanish.

Amelia admits that the application process was rigorous and she was required to write numerous essays about her suitability as a prospective student. Redmond says that though at 17 she is not 100% certain of what career she will pursue, she is looking forward to the challenges offered at the college.

“The program promotes cultural understanding by living and studying with people from other cultures, which makes perfect sense, and I’m really looking forward to the curriculum which allows us to delve deeply into a number of different subjects. I also really enjoy immersing myself in new environments and meeting new people and I feel extremely comfortable when having to adapt to new situations.”

Amelia is also well aware of the opportunities that will come her way as a graduate of the program, since many prominent schools around the world offer scholarships specifically to graduates of the college. There are a few general goals that she is setting her sights on: “I am hoping the course will secure me the kind of future that I want - which is to be successful by doing things that will benefit not just me, but the greater world. I definitely want to be able to make a difference.”

For Amelia’s parents, her acceptance to the program is bitter sweet. While they share her excitement, they understandably become emotional when discussing her imminent departure. “I’m so excited for her," said her mom, Rosanna, “and I rest assured knowing that every person I have spoken to who has attended the school has said it was the best thing that ever happened to them.”

Amelia and her parents will be making the trip out west in mid-August when her job at the Silver Lake campground finishes at the end of the summer.

Riley Kay, Grade 2 student at NAEC, represented her school at the annual Royal Canadian Legion Public Speaking competitions in the Grades 1--3 category.  Riley first traveled to Northbrook then on to Sharbot Lake, Eganville and Brighton placing first at three of these four competitions.  The final competition would have qualified Riley for the provincial competition held in Kirkland Lake.  Although Riley made a strong presentation, she did not move on to this level.  This is an amazing accomplishment for Riley and everyone at NAEC is very proud of her.  Riley is looking forward to participating in next year's speeches.  Congratulations Riley!!

NAEC Elects a New Students’ Council By Victoria Peeling

NAEC’s 2010/11 Students’ Council. Back row:  Social Convener Nick Smart, Vice President Connor Gaylord, Treasurer Tanner Hinchey, front row:  Cave Manager Gordie Grewal, Secretary Mike Deshane and President J.R. Lee.  Photo: Morgan Wilson

As the 2009/10 school year comes to an end, next year’s Students’ Council at North Addington Education Center has been elected. On Monday morning, students from grade 8 to 12, as well as staff, were called down to hear candidate speeches and voting followed at lunch. 

When Jamie Mcullough took over the school the 21 student school to community class at Sharbot Lake High School in February, he decided to put some effort towards refurbishing the community garden that the class had created two years ago using a grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation.

A number of students took a keen interest in the project, and materials were scavenged or purchased at a discount from local businesses.

“I had trouble finding the garden when I looked for it because a lot of it had grown over,” Mcullough said, “so we decided to build some raised beds which are easier for the students to weed and water.

The new garden features two semi circle shaped raised beds, marked out by brick blocks, and a perennial bed bordering an outside wall. With the addition of two benches that Mcullough found at the back of the school and the auto shop students decorated, a garden and a pleasant sitting space has been created for use by he school to community students and other members of the school community.

One of the students from the class, Chris Schnieder, has taken a keen interest in the gardens and he has been hired to water and weed them during the summer months.

A BBQ was held on Monday at lunch time to celebrate the accomlpishment of Jamie Mcullough and his class.