The recent Long Term Sustainability Plan (LTAP) presented to the board of directors of the Limestone District School Board in late May, recommended that Prince Charles Public School in Verona be closed and the students be sent to Loughborough Public School in Sydenham.

What a difference a decade makes.

Nine years ago, Glen Carson, who was at that time the manager of the Limestone Board's Facility Department, came to a meeting of the Prince Charles' Parent Council and said, as reported in the Frontenac News in April of 2007 by the late Inie Platenius, “I’m pleased to come here tonight. This is a good news item, and too often I go to these meetings with bad news.”

The good news he delivered was that because the Ministry of Education had determined that Prince Charles was old and needed extensive repairs to reach an acceptable standard, the ministry was going to fund the building of a new school in Verona.

Among schools in the Limestone Board, Prince Charles was at the top of the list of “schools that will be replaced.”

Carson pointed at the end of the meeting that “the process is just beginning, though, so don’t look for a new building for at least three years.”

Three years passed, and another three, and another three, and the school is still old, but the talk is now only about shutting it down.

One of the odd things about the recommendation in the recent LTAP report is that it proposed to merge two non-neighboring schools. Were the consultants who wrote the report unaware that in order to bus students from Verona to Sydenham, they have to pass through Harrowsmith, which has a school?

Program Accommodation Reviews (PARs) are the processes that the Limestone Board uses to close, rebuild, and consolidate schools. If one comes about in South Frontenac as the result of the LTAP report, it will have to look at all three of the schools and come up with a reasonable plan. Harrowsmith Public School is an old school, as is Prince Charles, so eventually at least one one of them will need to be replaced and upgraded. An argument can be made, based on geography, that a new school in Verona makes the most sense.

It also makes the most sense from a community and economic development point of view because Verona is the strongest retail hub in the township, and losing a school would damage that.

The problem with any kind of talk about closing schools is that it divides communities, and I am sure families whose children attend that school will not be happy to see any talk of its closing, even in a speculative column such as this one.

However, the LTAP to the Limestone Board, even if it has only been accepted for information, is a policy document that will form the basis of decision-making within the next few months, and while the demographic projections and the global costings in the report may be accurate, the recommendations are based on speculation.

A glaring example of this can be found in an un-related section of the report, the section about North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne. In order to deal with projected enrollment decreases at NAEC, the report urges the school board approach the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care about turning part of NAEC into a long-term care facility.

First off, there would be no way to accurately budget for the cost of renovating a 45-year-old school to turn it into a long-term care facility that complies with modern rules and requirements. Second, there is already a long-term care facility, Pine Meadow Nursing Home, in nearby Northbrook. The recommendation about NAEC has no basis in fact; it is mere words on a page.

The same can be said of the recommendation to pull the school from Verona. It reveals not only that the consultants did not visit the area to see what it really is like; they may not even have looked too closely at a map.

Monarch butterflies will be flocking to 14 elementary schools in Lennox & Addington County this summer and fall. Pollinator gardens are being planted in school yards and butterflies will be raised in classrooms. Participating local schools include North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne, and Enterprise Public School.

The Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council is spearheading the Monarch Breeding Kits for Schools Project. The Monarch butterfly population is dwindling and all of our pollinators need help. The pilot project began in 2015 when 20 Monarch kits were supplied to 13 elementary schools in L&A County. Kits included caterpillars, chrysalides, a milkweed plant, and an aviary. Students were able to observe the entire life cycle of the Monarch from caterpillar to adult. In September, the children released the Monarchs to begin their migratory route, and the butterflies could be tagged and reported in the Monarch Watch database. This fall generation of Monarchs - the super generation - is able to fly 4,000 km to its winter destination in the mountains of Mexico.

This year in the 2016 Program, nine schools are planting gardens to help attract pollinators of all kinds: butterflies, birds and insects. Native species will be planted, and when the flowers bloom, the students can watch the feeding action. In addition, 14 schools ordered Monarch Breeding Kits, which will be set up in the classrooms at the beginning of September. The breeding kits come from a nursery that is accredited by the International Butterfly Breeders Organization.

Partners are essential to the momentum of this program. Maya Navrot, from Quinte Conservation, has assisted many schools with site plans and advice on plantings. Volunteers have contributed native plants and planting time to the pollinator gardens. Funding for this program has been gratefully received from TD Friends of the Environment, Napanee District Community Foundation, Quinte Conservation, Friends of the Salmon River, and Kingston Field Naturalists, as well as the contributions from participating schools.

For more information, contact Marilyn Murray, manager of the Monarch program, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

North Addington Education Centre has been certified as an Ontario EcoSchool for the eighth year in a row. NAEC has received Silver certification for 2015-2016.

North Addington Education Centre recently applied for EcoSchool certification. EcoSchools is an environmental education program in Ontario that helps students and schools to become more environmentally friendly. To become a certified EcoSchool the school must show achievement in leadership, energy conservation, waste minimization, ecological literacy, curriculum and school ground greening.

NAEC showed their commitment to the environment throughout the 2015-2016 school year through events such as National Sweater Day, Earth Hour and Earth Day.

“I am so proud of our students. It takes a lot of hard work over a long period of time to earn certification. This type of commitment to the school, the community and the environment is fantastic. Thank you to Ms. Randle and her hard-working team,” said Angela Salmond, principal at NAEC.

EcoSchools is a voluntary program led by teachers and volunteers at schools across Ontario.

For the first time, 10 North Addington Education Centre photography students will be featuring their photography and graphic art in the Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale. Students have been collecting photos they’ve taken in and outside of their photography class to submit for this show. The photos range from beautiful perspectives of our Canadian landscape, to abstract light graffiti pieces.

This is not the first time NAEC students have had their art displayed for the community to see. Thirteen students had 18 photographs of 50 entries from all participating schools selected for the Students’ Spring Art Exhibition 2016 at the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital, in Napanee.

"It is an amazing opportunity for us to be able to show off our photography," said Terri-Lynn, "I am thrilled that I can show my photographs to the community!"

Come visit their booth at the Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale on July 22, 23 and 24!

Actors in the production of an original play, the Inspector General, performed it for school mates and their parents last Friday, September 10.

The play was written by dramatist Christine Harvey and the Not So Amateur Amateur Theatre from Inverary, who spent a week at Loughborough working with the students.

The play is loosely based on Nickolai Gogol's satirical play, The Government Inspector, a Russian masterwork originally published in 1836. Amazingly enough, a tale of municipal corruption from old Russia was easily understandable not only by the actors from the intermediate grades, but even students in the audience who were in primary grades seemed to understand. Under Harvey's constant encouragement, the actors delivered their lines with verve, and the audience response was enthusiastic.

Students from St. James Major Catholic School in Sharbot Lake had a great experience in Tennessee at the Destination Imagination Global Finals, which were held May 25-28. Just making it there was a huge reward for our students! Thank you to our community for your overwhelming generosity! St. James Major will be hosting a Destination Imagination Appreciation Open House in the Church Hall on Tuesday, June 14, from 9 to 10:15am. Come hear about our experiences and see pictures from our great adventure. Light refreshments will be served.

On May 26, Natalie Reynolds was recognized for her outstanding design of the Clarendon and Miller Community Archives logo. Brenda Martin, the chairperson for the CMCA, awarded Natalie with a booklet of samples of the logo on brochures, buttons and an image of the logo on the official sign in Plevna. Reynolds’ logo is also being used on the CMCA website. This logo was created for the ten-year anniversary and was unveiled at the anniversary event. The CMCA and community are very excited about this new logo as it captures what they want to represent; the preservation of history in Clarendon and Miller. Reynolds, a grade 11 Graphic Arts student at North Addington Education Centre, also won gold for Graphic Design Presentation at this year’s Limestone District School Board Skills Competition and went on to compete provincially in Waterloo. Check out Natalie’s logo at http://www.clarmillarchives.ca.

NAEC has started a program called “Tall Tails: Stories with Chiclet”. Students will meet with Therapy Dog Chiclet and her handler, Mrs. Decou, for approximately 15-20 minutes per week to read stories aloud.

Chiclet is a 4-year-old Newfoundland dog, which has passed an intensive assessment process to become a Certified Therapy Dog with St. John Ambulance. As well as having professional qualifications, Chiclet has a sweet, gentle personality. Students read aloud to Chiclet in a safe, relaxing and non-judgemental environment. This is particularly suitable for students who are self-conscious about reading aloud in front of their classmates. As they progress, their reading improves because they are practicing their skills, building self-esteem, and associating reading with something pleasant.

Chiclet has all her vaccinations, and is clean and well-groomed. She is also in a location in the school where anyone with allergies or anxieties will never even see her. Chiclet has been participating in the program since just after Christmas, and students are really enjoying their time reading to her.

The Limestone District School Board honoured 14 dedicated and compassionate young people with Limestone Student Achievers Awards for their outstanding achievements. The 2016 honorees have made significant contributions and accomplishments throughout their high school careers, both in their school and throughout the broader community. Congratulations to all recipients.

Nick Adams - Sydenham High School

Nick Adams is a true leader, a visionary and an all-around excellent young man. He broke two school records in Track and has medalled at KASSAA and EOSSA for both cross country and track. Nick has always been a strong student academically and athletically but it’s in other, less recognized ways, that Nick truly shines. He is a modest yet effective leader at Sydenham High School. He is known for taking initiative to seek out areas that need improvement, constructing plans to address these needs and seeing these plans to successful completion. Nick is always the first choice to be the master of ceremonies for school assemblies and events and he does so with wit and charm and a commanding presence. He will happily and effectively be another student’s campaign manager in the race for Co-President of Student Council. Nick is always looking to fix problems and to help others. He is always working on plans and strategies to help those less fortunate in food drives or fundraising for Syrian Refugees. When some of our students were in an accident this year, Nick was the first one at the hospital offering support in any way he could. Nick is also an integral member of the school’s Red Cross team, which works to prevent bullying and create a positive school climate. When asked to peer tutor other students he always agrees and is the most patient, clear and empathetic teacher to his fellow students.

 Riley Teal - Granite Ridge Education Centre

You have all heard, “It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Superman!” Let us introduce you to Granite Ridge Education Centre’s Superman. His name is Riley Teal and although he cannot fly, his personal qualities make him heroic to a number of people in the classroom, on the court or field, and in the community. Academically speaking, Riley excels in all subject areas. His strong work ethic propels him to the front of the class. Like Clarke Kent, his demeanour in class may seem reserved and quiet, but do not let his mild manner mislead you, as he possesses superior learning skills. Riley is very diligent with his work. He takes initiative in what he is doing and is very thorough in all of his assignments. He may not be able to leap buildings in a single bound, but he did complete an entire week’s worth of math homework in Grade 9 in one single night. Riley sets an extremely high standard for other students in his grade. When receiving their results for the OSSLT, his classmates would ask, “Was I close to Riley?” This young man has received numerous subject awards and was the recipient of the proficiency trophy in Grade 9, 10 and 11: Riley has his sights set on attaining this for Grade 12 as well. Riley is conscientious, and a creative problem-solver. He can work in any group and can bind any team. The reference to a superhero is not accidental. A spectator can easily spot Riley on the court as he wears his trademark superman socks during the volleyball and basketball games. Given the opportunity, he would wear them during soccer, track and hardball games, as he is actively involved in all aspects of athletics. Last year, he organized three-pitch softball intramurals at lunch for the secondary students. For each team, he is a dedicated and competitive player while respecting the rules and players of the game. He is extremely coachable, winning four coach’s awards during his three years as a Gryphon. He leads by example on the court and on the field. His leadership skills extend beyond athletics and encompass the entire school and community. Riley is an active and dedicated member of the District #4 Recreation Committee and a dependable participant/volunteer for the Relay for Life. He has submitted over 200 community volunteer hours.

Andre Tryon - North Addington Education Centre

At North Addington Education Centre, we are fortunate enough to watch as small children grow into capable young adults prepared to face the future. Andre Tryon is a wonderful example of our good fortune. If there is something happening at NAEC, you can expect to find Andre working behind the scenes or upfront directing the action. As a leader and a role model, Andre’s experiences are far-reaching—literally. Last year, Andre became interested in an exchange with a student from Italy. Andre had to take an extra course load last year to ensure he would graduate this year; he did this with no reservation. While Illya visited Canada, Andre was a wonderful ambassador, and while on exchange, Andre shared his experiences in a weekly on-line forum with our Writers’ Craft class—this became a valuable learning experience for everyone. In the area of athletics, Andre has not only shown himself as a skilled and recognized hockey player outside of school, he is also a hard-working, capable athlete on the volleyball court where, this year, he served as our captain. In addition to his own skills, he is committed to helping provide athletic opportunities for others. Andre helps organize a weekly volleyball evening so students can be active all year, and led a lunchtime program aimed at developing athletes in the elementary part of our school. Oftentimes, Andre would play alongside our young athletes as he modelled good sportsmanship, a positive attitude and a genuine commitment to having fun. Andre is also committed to our school as a whole. This year, he is co-president of our students’ council; last year he was the council’s vice president. Andre often makes us wonder how he finds time and energy for everything. His work with our local volunteer fire department has led him to participate in numerous courses and certifications. This, in addition to school, athletics and a part-time job make Andre a very busy young man. Andre’s efforts are not limited to helping others. He has maintained a high academic average throughout high school and has been recognized with numerous proficiency awards. Andre has also participated in the Limestone Skills Competition. His gold medal win in Kingston allowed him to represent Limestone at the provincial level. The scope of his abilities is almost limitless.

After competing at the regional and provincial levels of the Destination Imagination tournaments, St. James Major in Sharbot Lake has secured a berth in the global finals of this prestigious competition, which is sponsored in part by the likes of the Walt Disney Corporation, IBM and the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre, and will be held at the University of Tennessee. But we need YOUR help.

Destination Imagination is an arts-based program that inspires children to learn through drama and discovery. Teaching through a creative process, it empowers students with 21st century skills as they are led through a series of instant challenges as well as preparations for a presentation judged at the competitions.

St. James Major in Sharbot Lake sent two teams to the regional tournament in Arnprior this past March: a middle school team consisting of students from grades 5 to 8, as well as a younger elementary team consisting of the children in grades 1 to 4. Our older team prepared for an improvisational challenge that addressed a news flash and had to incorporate a miscellaneous prop in the process.

Our younger team advanced to the provincial tournament held on the campus of the University of Toronto in April. They chose the Scientific challenge and had to research how animals use camouflage in nature. They then prepared an 8-minute play involving a character hidden in plain sight where a plot twist developed when the character was revealed. They also had to create a prop that looked like one thing, but was really another. The team created a play about musicians and their dogs carrying guitar cases on the way to a concert in the woods, who encounter a black wolf hidden in the shadows of their backdrop. When the wolf appears, the guitar cases really have guns in them and the musicians turn into hunters - but in the end decide to spare the life of the wolf. Very complex for a group of 6 to 9-year-olds!

After securing a position in this once-in-a-lifetime experience from May 25th to the 28th, the team has to do some fundraising. This year more than 17,000 people will take part in the global championships from over 15 different countries. At a cost of US $715 per person for the 4 days plus travel, we are seeking sponsorship from our great community. While the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic DSB has generously agreed to defray some of the costs, can you help? Anything from the $15 cost of a meal to the $35 cost of one night’s lodging to the full sponsorship of a student would be appreciated!

With concerts and presentations from NASA as well as a variety of activities led by world's leading corporations, this will truly provide the children an experience of a lifetime. We sincerely appreciate any support you are able to offer to help our team compete at Globals. To donate - contact St. James Major 613-279-1243.