North Addington is proud of its forested backyard, and soon it will host an interpretive walking trail for students and staff. Emma Fuller, a grade 12 student, is pairing Graphic Design and Biology to create ten signs that will inform trail walkers about the ecology and natural history of eastern Ontario. Last Thursday, Fuller accepted a generous grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation that will help pay for a large part of the project. “It is a unique trail that will benefit all our students from Kindergarten to Grade 12,” said Fuller. “We are really excited to be doing this project.”

Fuller is a park naturalist in Bon Echo Provincial Park during the summer and has shared her passion for the environment with her peers. As the founding member of “Enviro-Pro Hyper-Force,” NAEC’s earth-conscious student group, she organized a trail clean-up for Earth Day last Friday. Fuller, Cassidy Wilson, Greg Garey and Ryan Cruickshank walked the 3.5 km trail cleaning up litter on their lunch hour. “It was nice to be a part of this for earth day and to know that we are making a difference,” said Wilson, “and it was a nice walk.”

Stay tuned for more details about the grand opening of the Viking Trail in June.

Elinor Rush, in her role as fibre artist in Loughborough Public School, shows grade one and two students a completed version of the Sensory Blankets she is currently helping them make. Also known as “Fidget Quilts”, these colourful, textural items have been found to calm and occupy people who have Alzheimers or other forms of dementia. The small quilts incorporate a lot of things to distract and occupy an anxious, often confused and restless person: they include a variety of surface textures, soft fringes, bright colours, big buttons in buttonholes, large beads on a ribbon, and even a zipper.

It’s an ambitious sewing project for children so young, but Rush has ensured success by doing much of the prep work beforehand, so each child can finish a square by practising a recently-learned skill such as sewing on a button or a small heart, cutting a fringe, or threading beads. In the week before, Rush gave the children small needle ‘books’ with their own needles, and taught needle-threading, knotting and simple stitching. Each child stitched their initial, cut from bright felt, onto the book cover, and sewed a button onto one of the fabric pages.

Rush will assemble the children's completed squares into small six-square quilts, a size that will fit comfortably across a person’s lap. In another week, the children will go by bus to Fairmount Home, where they will meet the people to whom they are giving the quilts. The children have been delighted to know that they can help someone else with their sewing.

Throughout the project, the theme has been “resilience”; helping seniors cope with the changes they are facing, and learning, themselves, to master new sewing skills that will improve with practice, and may prove useful in their own lives.

The Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association kicked off the 2017 season Saturday in Mountain Grove with its registration session.

Association president Kurtis Jackson said the on-field season will get underway in mid-May, depending on field conditions and the weather and continue into mid-August (the bantam and junior men’s teams schedule go a little longer).

They’ll be fielding six mixed teams and one girls bantam team this year with seven home games and six away games. Home games are played in Sharbot Lake, Parham and Mountain Grove. Away games can be as far away as Lansdowne and Gananoque.

“We’re affiliated with the Kingston Area Inter-Community Softball Association,” Jackson said. “All of the teams except Grasshoppers play away games.”

They have the players all lined up but they could still use some coaches and even more important — umpires. There is a training session scheduled for April 22 and if you’re interested, call Annette Grey-Jackson at 613-449-0060 for details.

The Association is also planning a volleyball tournament fundraiser for April 8 at GREC. Call Christine Teal at 613- 375-6525 for more on that and/or visit the Association’s Facebook page.

This year’s executive is Kurtis Jackson, president, Ryan Beattie, vice-president, Leanne Cowdy, secretary, Christine Teal, treasurer and Annette Grey-Jackson, equipment/umpires.

Area reps are Marcie Asselstine, Sharbot Lake, Owen Tryon, Parham and Jamie Riddell, Mountain Grove.

Stars, silent and distant, have the power to bring my brisk pace to a full and complete stop – bags and belongings in hand in my driveway with darkness all around. To my naked eye stars appear only as specks of light gracing the night sky, yet they ground me with their diamond-like beauty that reaches every part of our globe regardless of place, circumstance or time.Sun sparkling on water, undulating and slow movements of ice breaking up in the spring, walking on a forest floor thick with pine needles, the smell of clover, the chatter of robins, chickadees, and migrating geese – nature renews my hurried, distracted or tired spirit.

Richard Louv in his book “The Nature Principle” argues that connection to nature is visceral and valuable to most people. According to Louv “the Nature Principle suggests that, in an age of rapid environmental, economic and social transformation, the future will belong to the nature-smart – those individuals, families, businesses and political leaders who develop a deeper understanding of nature and who balance the virtual with the real.” (The Nature Principle by Richard Louv, p. 4)If this is so, what are the implications for young children whose worlds are increasingly shaped by technology? Families’ living spaces and economic circumstances often impact the time children have to play outdoors.

Children who live in urban settings where park areas are not close by, families who live in apartments or dwellings that don’t offer safe outdoor play spaces, and families who struggle with work schedules or transportation options face different challenges for outdoor play than families living on farms or in rural areas. Parents and caregivers can and do meet their unique challenges to increase children’s exposure and time in nature. Some too follow the lead of many early learning educators who help bridge children’s disconnect with nature by bringing nature indoors. Bright, single-purpose plastic toys are giving way to materials found in nature that offer children endless possibilities. Children build and create with, and examine tree cookies, feathers, sticks, leaves, stones, shells, plants, and more during play indoors. Early learning educators also use carefully chosen books to build children’s curiousity about nature.

A Rock Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas uses vibrant illustrations to show how rocks have inherent stories to tell by how they look and how they are used throughout the world. The few words on each page rhyme, sparking children’s imaginations, conversations and ways of relating their own experiences with rocks to places they have never visited.

Lois Ehlert weaves a story about leaves that must ‘go where the wind blows”. In her book called Leaf Man, each page is cut like the edges of tree leaves, layering both the pages and leaf illustrations. Children may spend a lot of time looking to see what creatures or details they can see amongst the leaves and to listen for the sounds they imagine or hear outdoors. They may also become inspired to create or tell stories of their own leaf man with leaves they find outside.

The board book I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis tells a simple story of a child who takes the moon with him, discovering the mysteries of his world at night, as well as light and shadow as the moon rises and sets.

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost is an exquisitely photographed book for young children. Each photo magnifies insects that we most frequently only glimpse quickly outdoors. The words, though simple, invite children to become patient and curious observers.

As winter turns to spring, as snowsuits give way to rubber boots, we too can “Step gently out, be still and watch a single blade of grass.”

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Morgan Cowdy (14) and Austin Barker (8) are the bus monitors on a Martin’s bus that takes them to Land O’Lakes Public School (LOLPS) each day. On Monday (March 27) the bus was running late because of icy roads. It was almost at the end of the route at 8:30 in the morning when it crossed over Hwy 7 from the Frontenac Road to go  a short way up the Bell Line Road to pick up the last of its students before turning back and heading to the school.

As the bus was heading up a hill it hit glare ice and began to slide sideways and it eventually came to a stop, blocking the entire road. The driver, Joe Borg, told the two monitors to make sure everyone stayed in their seats, as he got off the bus to put out flares on the road to warn oncoming traffic about the hazard.

“Then he fell pretty hard on the ice,” said Morgan Cowdy when interviewed the next day.

It was clear that Borg was injured, as he did not move right away after falling, and then was struggling to get back to the bus.

“Morgan said she was going to help him get back and asked me to watch the kids on the bus and make sure no one came to the front,” said Austin Barker.

So, even though bus monitors are told not to leave the bus, Morgan Cowdy got off the bus to see if the driver needed assistance.

“I didn’t go far, because we are not supposed to leave the bus but he was looking pretty shaky,” she said.

In the end Joe Borg made it back to the bus on his own.

“Joe sat in the driver’s seat at first and then he  sat down on the floor because he was dizzy. He told us to use the radio to call for help, and I asked Austin to make the call because I was so nervous,” said Morgan.

Austin called the bus company on the radio, and was trying to explain what was going on, when he noticed a Central Frontenac sand truck headed towards them from the other end of the road. Morgan called her father, who works for the township roads department as well, and her father called the sand truck operator on the Bell Line Road just as he was reaching the bus and he was the first one to arrive and offer assistance.

“He asked Joe if he wanted to lay down, but he said he didn’t and he stayed there, leaning on my leg to keep his balance,” said Morgan

By now the school and emergency services had been notified, and Austin went over to help the rest of the kids on the bus, some of whom were visibly upset.

Emily Yanch, Principal of LOLPS, was the next on the scene,  followed by a backup driver.

“The kids had done a great job already and I did what I could. I don’t know how the bus even made it that far up that hill because it was glare ice. My car barely made it.

The ambulance arrived and made it to the scene. Joe Borg was taken to Perth hospital and was then transferred to Smiths Falls for a scan. He was released later but reportedly then returned to the hospital later on. There was no further word on his condition as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Two of the kids on the bus were crying because they were scared,” said Austin.

“We went to them and held them a bit, and they were ok after that,” said Morgan.

The students ended up staying on the bus, which did not turn around but traveled to the far end of Bell Line road where it meets Road 509, before taking 509 south and then Hwy 7 west from Sharbot Lake to Mountain Grove, not reaching the school until 10:10.

Morgan said she was feeling a bit “weird” for the rest of the day, and on the bus ride home. She said she was feeling better the next day, “but I am worried about how Joe is doing,” she said.

Austin also said he was worried about Joe.

“The kids came through, they did an amazing job yesterday. Some kids would not have the where with all to do what they did,” said Principal Yanch.

Cathy Borg, Joe’s wife, said that he is suffering from a severe concussion and deep bruising. She said that the children did very well on Monday to help him out, but that the accident should never have happened because the township should have ordered their road crews out before the buses were on the road.

“I hold the township responsible for this. Joe drives up and down the Frontenac Road and the Bell Line Road every day and we have asked many times this winter for crews to sand and salt and clear the roads before the bus goes out and they haven’t done it.”

She said that the road crew that came to help out after Joe fell should not have been sanding the road at 8:30, but should have been there a couple of hours earlier.

“It’s pretty basic to sand the roads before the school bus comes. We are lucky that none of the children were injured. I don’t know what Joe is going to do. He is pretty badly injured. Who knows when he will drive again,” she said. “It is time the township did something about this. The have been told about it again and again and now this happened. They are at fault.”

Once again, the North Addington Education Centre Skills Team brought their “A” game to the Limestone District Skills Competition, held at St. Lawrence College last Friday. Taking on students from LDSB, Algonquin Lakeshore and Hastings County, the Vikings competed with the top students in four events.

Jared Mieske, a grade 9 student, competed in the Small Powered Equipment contest, with a very strong showing.

In the Graphic Design Presentation competition, Mackenzie Johnson (grade 10) and Natalie Reynolds (grade 12) competed against very strong designs, presenting a poster, t-shirt and button designs they made, advertising the Provincial Skills Competition. Natalie Reynolds won the gold for a second year in a row, with an outstanding design.

In the Graphic Design Studio Production competition, Bradley Kavanaugh-Sweeney, Kaden Snider (grade 9), Zach Andrew (grade 10), Gaven Burke (grade 11), Denver Lucas, Emma Fuller and Brittany Delyea (grade 12) completed a rigorous challenge, designing a logo and several pieces of media based on specific criteria at the competition. Emma Fuller won gold for a second year in a row and Brittany Delyea won the bronze medal.
In the Photography Competition, Brianna Bolduc (grade 11), Emma Grand, Terri-Lynn Rosenblath and Shannon Delyea (grade 12) brought their best photographs, completed an editing test and shot photographs then edited on site, in fast paced schedule. Shannon Delyea won the gold medal and Terri-Lynn Rosenblath won the silver.  

The Skills Competition is a curriculum based competition that has students compete in real life scenarios of the skilled trades. It is an internationally recognized event. The gold medal winners have qualified to move on to compete at the Provincial level in Toronto, May 1st to 3rd as part of Team Limestone. Congratulations to the entire team!

The 1st Sydenham Brownie & the 1st Frontenac Guide/Pathfinder Unit visited Casa Loma on Saturday, March 25, 2017.

After touring Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada the Units stayed overnight with the sharks in the Dangerous Lagoon pictured here.

It is Girl Guide Cookie time so find a Spark, Brownie, Guide or Pathfinder to get your classic chocolate and vanilla GGC cookies for $5.00 box.

It went like this: Game 1, 6-3 Flyers win at Frontenac Arena; Game 2, 7-1 Flyers win at Wasaga Beach Stars; Game 3, 9-0 Flyers win at Wasaga Beach.

And just like that, the Novice Flyers rep team is the top dog in the OMHA Novice East CC-C loop this season.

Before the team bus left for Wasaga Beach last Friday, South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal, himself a veteran of many, many hockey campaigns, came on board to give the guys a pep talk. Next, there was a an inspirational video from Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith, who grew up in the Frontenac Minor Hockey system.

“He (Smith) told the team ‘just enjoy it,’” Flyers Head Coach Jamie Craig said. “This is a big deal for 7 and 8 year olds.

“You could go through your whole life and not do it again.”

The final was a “great game,” Craig said.

Drake Thomas with four goals, Kayson Antoine with three goals and an assist, Rhett Coulson with a goal and two assists and Jack Craig with three assists paced the Flyers’ attack.

But once again, goalie Hayden Consack stood out, notching the shutout.

“We kind of built from last year (when the Flyers reached the final but fell 3 games to 0 to the Sturgeon Lake Thunder),” Craig said. “It’s been great and they (the team) handled it very well.

“But we also had great support from the parents and without that, we couldn’t do it.”

Next season, Craig and most of his team will be moving up to Atom, leaving only four members of this team in Novice.

“It’s not just about one team,” Craig said. “It’s about the organization.”

But for this season, this championship, it’s about this bunch.

“I think it’s just starting to sink in,” Craig said.

The Sharbot Lake branch was puppet central last week as part of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library’s Puppet Show Extravaganza Tour Imagine.

Strega Nona (Grandmother Witch), the story of the endless Pasta pot that almost destroys the village when handled carelessly, was the first show that was performed for children who were off from school for spring break and the second play was The Monkey and the Crocodile. The show was performed at the Sydenham branch on Tuesday March 14, and in Sharbot Lake on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day.

Both shows were well received by area children and their caregivers, a treat for the March break.

“Later on, you can say to yourself, ‘Me and my grade 4 class wrote this play.’ Acting in the play makes me feel great. It makes me turn on my brain and makes me think that maybe I wanna be an actor when I’m older.” (student’s journal)

Teacher Jerri Jerreat’s Elginburg Public School class, whatever grade she happens to be teaching, has an annual tradition of producing a play. Most years Jerreat has written the play, or adapted an existing one, usually based on a classic story such as King Arthur or even Romeo and Juliet.

This year was different. Through a series of workshops and discussions, her 9-year-old grade 4 students wrote their own play on a topic familiar to all: their anxieties. Real worries, chosen by the students, based on their own experience, were tackled. Some examples: strife at home; fear that parents might divorce; hassles with siblings; bullies; feeling different, clumsy, not ‘fitting in’, not having any friends. Wondering how it would feel to be from another country and unfamiliar with customs in Elginburg, unable to speak much English. Dreading the daily bus ride.

Everyone was costumed as an animal: a clumsy turtle, a bossy bunny and a shy one, a leopard who’s being hassled by a pride of lions. Costumes were all home-made, and intriguing for their simplicity and inventiveness. Who would have thought of using a belt-full of stuffed socks to create an octopus? But it worked!

In the brief course of the evening, the characters in the drama look at both ineffective and effective ways of dealing with the things that worry them, act out some of the positive scenarios, and discover some of the ways daily social interactions might become a whole lot more comfortable.They also conclude that bullies may even be anxious and unhappy sometimes, too.

The finale is a happy dance that invites audience members to join in.

In the creation and performance of Animal Academy, Jerreat and her class pulled off a nearly impossible feat. Together, twenty-three nine-year-olds with no previous experience in live theatre wrote a multi-scene play that was both funny and full of relevant, useful information. Then they produced it as an entertaining, fast-paced performance, using the most basic of theatres: a stage in a gym with no lighting, sound system or sets, and only one bench as a prop. They projected their voices well, managed the timing of numerous quick scene changes, all with stage blackouts (using the one light switch available at the side of the stage), and seldom missed a cue. They had command of their lines, covering the rare line-fluffs by prompting each other.

It was a treat for the proud enthusiastic audience to witness such a fine example of creativity, learning, and excellent, interactive teaching skills.