On April 9, Shabot Obaadjiwan Elder Danka Brewer was presented with an Outstanding Service Award by the Limestone District School Board. The award was presented by Trustee Ann Goodfellow.

The LDSB citation reads:

"Danka Brewer’s contributions to education in the Limestone District School Board over the past few years have been invaluable as she increases our understanding of Aboriginal cultures, histories, and languages. Her genial interactions with staff and students have enhanced their knowledge of Algonquin and other cultures, but have also put a positive face to Aboriginal people in our area. More than anyone else, she has worked to build bridges between her community and culture and the Limestone DSB.

Danka is an Elder from the Shabat Obaadjiwan First Nation in the Sharbot Lake area. While her influence within our board has been extensive, she also contributes to her community and to Aboriginal activities in Eastern Ontario. She cares deeply about students and constantly tries to support teachers and to link her work to curriculum.

Danka’s interactions with staff and students in the LDSB have been positive and enriching. She has been a member of the board’s Aboriginal Advisory Council since its inception five years ago, and has provided insight and support. She is the Elder in Residence at the Elementary First Nation, Metis and Inuit program housed at Rideau Heights PS, providing a range of teachings and activities to the students throughout the school year. She has been a regular presenter at board-organized Aboriginal cultural events for both elementary and secondary students, including the Sharbot Lake Aboriginal Experience Days and the Four Winds Conferences on Aboriginal Cultures. She is a regular presenter at board-organized professional learning where she provides Aboriginal teachings, encouragement and support to teachers. When the Ministry of Education sought community input into its new Great to Excellent policy, Danka was one of our community partners we asked to provide feedback.

Danka has provided teachings at schools throughout the LDSB, including Land O’Lakes, First Avenue, Rideau Heights, Hichenbrooke, Bayridge PS, Harrowsmith, Clarendon, Tamworth, Odessa, and Sharbot Lake PS and High School, Granite Ridge, JG Simcoe and Perth Road PS.

It is hard to overstate the role that Danka Brewer has played in helping to develop Aboriginal Education in the Limestone District School Board. Her constant refrain is, “How can I help?” Her knowledge and positive persona have helped hundreds of students and teachers made crucial connections with Aboriginal culture.

To Danka we say Chi Miigwetch for all you do to help our staff and students."

Small school bus operators in Eastern Ontario have been at the forefront of a battle with the Province of Ontario for the past five years over a new method of awarding contracts.

The school bus operators formed a new association, the Independent School Bus Operators of Ontario (ISBOA) in the fall of 2008 to deal with a provincially mandated Request for Proposal (RFP) process for awarding busing contracts in Ontario.

ISBOA has argued all along that the RFP process favours larger operators in a number of ways. According to ISBOA, it left small operators vulnerable because although multinational operators can bid on contracts in virtually any location in Ontario, local operators are tied to their own communities. And once a local operator goes out of business, the result, according to ISBOA, will be higher prices in subsequent RFPs because of a decrease in competition.

In a recently released Youtube video (home.isboa.ca/ISBOAYouTubeVideo.html), a number of operators who lost out in RFP bidding in some of the pilot locations for the new system talk about how they have been put out of business.

The RFP process was initiated in 2008 under Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne. Later, after the pilot projects had been completed, a new minister, Leona Dombrowsky, declared a moratorium on expansion of the RFPs across the province in the run up to the 2011 election, and appointed a task force under former justice, Coulter Osborne, to study the impact of the pilot projects.

In his report, Osborne supported some of the assertions of ISBOA. “One does not have to be an economist or possessed of particular procurement expertise to recognize that if any procurement model works to limit or eliminate competition, the result is not in the public interest ... Costs will almost inevitably rise, at least in the longer term ... I support the view that a further review of lawful procurement options should be undertaken,” he wrote.

Catherine Swift, the President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said, “The whole request for proposal system from government is very, very difficult for small business to deal with ... it's not an economic issue in this case. It was a political decision to go with a process that benefited the larger players to the detriment of the smaller players.”

The Osborne report did not end the RFP process and in 2012, RFPs were issued in many jurisdictions including those of Tri-board Transportation and STEO (Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario) in Lanark and Leeds Grenville)

ISBOA challenged the processes in court and won favourable outcomes in all five cases that were contested. In the case of Tri-board Transportation, the RFP was rescinded before a ruling could be made, putting the case on hold. The STEO case is going to the next stage at a court in Kingston in early June.

The latest twist in this continuing saga came just last week when Stock Transportation, a multinational-based school bus company, announced that it will be pulling out of the Ottawa market if the fees for next year are not increased by 12%, instead of the 2% offer that has been made by the busing consortium.

In announcing their decision, Stock made the following statement: “In addition to the duty that Stock has to the boards, consortia, parents and children that we service, we also have a duty to our investors and financial institutions to provide value and security for their investment. The contracts in Eastern Ontario have neither provided a reasonable return on invested capital; nor have they provided long term security for some time. It had been our hope that the RFP process would enable operators to bid rates up to reasonable levels, leaving us with the decision to continue to operate at a loss, negotiate a higher rate, or exit the marketplace.”

This statement, according to ISBOA President Karen Cameron, reveals that what ISBOA has been saying all along is true.

“Where the RFPs were implemented, the multinationals bid low and all the smaller companies went out of business. They were counting on establishing monopolies and being able to force acceptance of higher rates. The RFPs, if they ever come in, will result in putting small operators, like those in Frontenac and Lanark County, out of business and raising the cost of transportation in the medium to long run,” she said. “What Stock is doing in Ottawa shows what this has been all about all along. They are just getting impatient.”

Fifteen North Addington Education Centre students competed at the Limestone District School Board, Skills Competition, held on April 3 at St. Lawrence College. “Build something that lasts,” was this year’s Skills Competition motto, and that is exactly what they did.

Training hard leading up to the competition, the NAEC Skills team competed against students from Limestone District, the Upper Canada and Algonquin Lakeshore boards.

The competition hosts many different hands-on, curriculum-based events that fall under the skilled trades sector.

Mike McEwen & Devon Salmond (Silver Medals), Devon Deruchie & Lucas Parks-Delyea competed in 2D Animation team of two, a competition that has competitors using a program called Flash to generate a computer animation.

Summer Andrew, Allya Garey competed in Graphic Design Presentation, completing their advertising materials for Skills Canada before the competition and then presenting it to a team of judges.

Drake Murphy (Gold Medal), Zack McQuigge (Silver Medal), Brittany Wood (Bronze Medal), Brody Munro, Tristen Veley competed in Graphic Design Studio, which consisted of designing packaging and marketing materials for a product.

Amey Sauvageau represented NAEC in the Photography event, bringing a portfolio of work, completing a Photoshop task and shooting and editing photographs on site.

Andre Tryon (Gold Medal), Josh Blackwell, Wyatt Keller competed in the Small Engines competition where they had to diagnose electrical circuit issues, write a test and tear down and reassemble an engine.

A bus full of NAEC students also attended to cheer on their school mates as they took on the day’s challenges.

Andre competed at the Regional qualifier held at St. Lawrence College on Saturday, April 12th, placing second. Both Andre and Drake Murphy now advance to the Provincial Skills Competition representing Team Limestone in Waterloo, Ontario on May 5, 6 & 7.

Two machines have been slowly, steadily, inexorably dismantling the former Sharbot Lake High School over the past few weeks. The school, which was built in three stages over decades, is being taken apart one attached building at a time.

Its replacement, Granite Ridge comprehensive school, built in a style that could be called 'modern institutional', is just a few feet away.

Although the process was announced in advance, it has still been disheartening to see the building where so many children grew into young adults being torn open and turned into piles of rubble.

Even though the school principal told the school community that removing trees was a regrettable part of a process that will be setting the stage for a new parking lot and playground for Granite Ridge Education Centre, it did come as a shock when the large oak that graced the front lawn in front of the main doors of the school was chopped down last week. It is laid out on the ground in pieces, as if it were nothing more than the rubble gathered in piles beside it.

A number of maples behind the school have come down as well, but this tree was a major feature of Sharbot Lake High School, and judging from its size, it was likely far older than the school that was built around it.

There is, I hope, a good reason why this particular tree had to go, because any replacement tree will not attain anything like the majesty of that oak in the lifetime of even the youngest JK student at GREC.

When the landscaping is being done around the school, we will see whether the Limestone board is bringing some vision to the process that justifies removing this particular tree. Hopefully it has not just been jettisoned in the same way that the contents of the school were tossed into dumpsters when the school was being emptied before being demolished.

Whether the reason is a good one or just a matter of lazy expediency, it is sad to see that tree laying in pieces on the ground.

The 24 student artists and members of this year’s Land O' Lakes Art Club wrapped up the results of their ten-week course at the Land O' Lakes Public School on April 2 in a very arty celebration. The students gathered in the school’s main pod, which was transformed into a gallery space where the paintings were on display, each on its own wooden easel.

Parents of the students helped to make the occasion one to remember. Linda Tremblay, owner of Nomad's Rest Bed and Breakfast in Mountain Grove, whose son Boris participated in the class, offered guests a mouth-watering array of and colourful art-inspired treats, which included a colourful three-layer cake, blueberry parfaits in tiny glasses, little croissant sandwiches and fruit speared on wooden paintbrush-shaped skewers.

Music played in the back ground as students, their families and friends studied the works, which covered a wide range of artistic styles. Student artist Charlotte Hilder served cheese and crackers to guests who sipped virgin strawberry daiquiris and cappuccinos.

LOLPS teacher and acclaimed artist, Lee Hall, was the instructor of the group, who focused on figure painting this time around. Their model, which the students appropriately named LOLA, stood in the midst of the displayed works.

Young grade four artist Gabriel Hull said it was his first time participating in the club. He said that the fabric folds on the model LOLA were some of the most challenging parts for him.

Grade seven student Aurora French joined the art club for her second year and she said she loves making art. She said that getting the shape of Lola's face and her shoulder right was difficult, as was painting the fabric folds. She said that she enjoyed painting from a model and the fact that “there was always something there that you could constantly look back and forth to.” She explained how she achieved her colourful textured background by dabbing the paint onto the canvas with her brush.

Lee Hall was impressed with the work the students created and he explained how individual works exemplified many different artistic styles. “I am really pleased with the variety of work that we have here. There are works that remind me of Matisse with their big broad patches of surreal colour and there are others, more blurred and abstract that remind me of the works of Francis Bacon. Others like Gabriel’s and Aurora’s have a more realistic, classical feel.” Hall added that all of the students were very enthusiastic and at each class, after receiving instruction they happily set to work on their paintings. Hall said that he hopes to continue the art club next year. The club has been able to run at the school thanks to a grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation that covers the cost of all the materials for the club.

A career in educational administration is the best way to get on the Sunshine list in Frontenac County, according to the latest version of the Ontario Public Sector Sunshine List, which was released last week.

While there were eight employees of Frontenac County on the list for 2013, of whom five work for Frontenac Paramedic Services, and three from South Frontenac Township, 129 employees of the Limestone District School Board made over $100,000 last year.

Most of those who made the list do not teach classes, however. They come from either the board office or from the ranks of principal and vice-principal. Although the board serves the City of Kingston and the Town of Napanee as well as rural Frontenac and L&A Counties, virtually all of the principals and vice-principals in the eight schools in Frontenac County and Addington Highlands are on the list.

The biggest change in the Frontenac County list, which includes Treasurer Marian Vanbruinessen as well as Fairmount Home Supervisor Julie Shillington, and Chief of Paramedic Services Paul Charbonneau and four of his staff, is the amount that was earned last year by out-going Chief Administrative Officer Elisabeth Savill. She was paid $148,900 in 2012, and even though she left the township's employ six weeks before the end of 2013, she received $170,000 in 2013. When contacted, Frontenac County Treasurer Vanbruinessen explained that Savill's income in 2013 was inflated because when she left the county's employ she had a significant amount of accrued vacation time built up and received a one-time payment.

When the salary range for the yet to be hired new CAO was being considered as part of the recruitment process, the upper end of the range was set at $157,000.

The highest payouts listed in the sunshine list are not found in either the municipal or educational fields. Top administrators of large health care institutions received the highest salaries, such as $297,000 for Dr. Gemmill at KFL&A Public Health.

Demolition crews have begun to pull down the 60 year old Sharbot Lake High School building.

The process began two weeks ago, and this week the demolition crews are working in earnest, removing the walls where the former wood and auto-shops were located.

A letter to parents from Heather Highet, former Principal of Sharbot Lake High and now Principal of the new Granite Ridge Education Centre located just north of the former school, said that the project “is expected to take about 8 weeks.”

“There will be some noise associated with the demolition, but we shouldn't expect any more noise than was experienced during the construction of Granite Ridge,” she said.

As part of the demolition, the removal of some trees behind the old building will be necessary

“Any trees that will be removed will be provided to our forestry program, which can use these trees inn several school projects thanks to a recently acquired sawmill.”

Additional trees are gong to be planted around the property.

On March 28, musician, drummer and percussionist Leo Brooks brought his talents and musical know-how to students at the Granite Ridge Education Centre. Brooks’ presentation was part of the Blue Skies in the Community music program, which strives to bring musical education into local schools throughout the year. Brooks, who works as a musician, drummer and educator, has his own workshop in Aylmer, Quebec where he builds and repairs instruments (visit his website atwww.treefrogprecussion.com).

He arrived at GREC in Sharbot Lake early in the morning with a selection of over 80 drums and other percussive instruments that included African-styled drums called djembes, dunduns, plus a number of hand-held percussive instruments like maracas, guiros, (wooden ribbed rasp instruments played with a stick), and many clapperless bells from different cultures around the world.

Brooks began his day leading a large drum circle for students involved in a leadership training program at the school, which aims to teach students various life skills like teamwork, self-respect and cooperation. “Drumming is the perfect metaphor and vehicle for teaching those important tools and skills,” Brooks said when I spoke to him after the presentation. “I like to use the metaphor of building a house. The idea is to start by building a solid foundation using the large, lowest sounding drums, which are powerful and keep our ongoing attention and whose sound penetrates our bodies. Next we build the framework of the house using the smaller drums by adding their rhythms on top of the foundation, and lastly we add the various other elements, the windows, doors and framing of the house by using the other smaller percussive instruments which add the decorative color to the whole.”

School-to-Community students were also invited to take part in the drumming circle, which Brooks said offers a kind of immediacy to students of all levels of development and musicality. “Drumming is the kind of musical activity where you do not have to have years of training to be able to make a sound - which is needed when playing other instruments like violins and guitars,” he said.

Brooks' presentation included lessons in how to create a foundation rhythm using the dun dun drum; how to add to it and create interesting rhythms using the djembe drum; how to add different sounds and individually created rhythms using the hand-held instruments and bells; and lastly how to accentuate certain rhythms by highlighting individual drummers within the group.

Grade 11 student Ivan Wilson was so moved by the drumming that he burst out in song, adding his own original chanting rhythms into the mix, which was both a creative and effective addition to the circle. Marily Seitz, who is the publicity and outreach coordinator with Blue Skies in the Community, was thrilled to see students take part so enthusiastically in the presentation and workshops at GREC. “Our aim is to bring music to the broader area throughout the year rather than just at the Blue Skies Music Festival. Workshops are a great way to encourage students to experience and feel first hand that they have music inside of themselves. I also strongly believe that it's important for kids to learn from real musicians who know their instruments and also the ins and outs of how to encourage students to express themselves musically.”

Leo Brooks will also be giving workshops and presentations at Land O Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove and the Stewart School in Perth. Any schools looking to add the gift of music to their students can contact Marily Seitz at 613-479-2855.

A preliminary meeting will be held on Tuesday Night, November 24th, at 6:30 to talk about a planned educational tour of sunny Italy in March of 2011.

Claudio Gerebizza, who is an educational travel ambassador with Education First Tours will be on hand to talk about the itinerary of the five city, ten day trip to Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi and Piza.

Among the tours’ highlights will be St. Peters Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Ufizi Gallery, the Roman Coliseum and more.

The tour is being organised on the Sharbot Lake end by teachers Erica Kresen and Randy McVety, who have already been working out some of the logistics of the trip and planning fundraising events to defray some of the costs.

Students from the entire school, grade 7 to 12, are eligible for the trip, and adults are welcome to join as well.

In order for the trip to go ahead, about ten students from Sharbot Lake must attend, but students from other schools, and their parents, are eligible to go as well.

For Erica Kresen the fact that trip will includes students from grades 7-12 will be a great opportunity for students that don’t always interact at the school to experience something together and bring that camaraderie back to the school.

The trip represents her first opportunity to levve the continent and travel with her 12 year old daughter, who is a student in Sydenham.

“We’re already starting to save up,” she said.

Randy Mcvety was part of a school rip to Costa Rica a few years’ ago, and he found it to be an excellent experience for he students.

“The company that runs the trips keeps the students busy from morning until night. The days are packed with visits and learning opportunities. I can’t say enough about Education First.

Matt Green, now a grade 12 student, is the only student still at SLHS that participated in the Costs Rica trip.

He still lights up at the mention of it.

“It’s hard to remember all the things we did” he said, “because there was so much, but seeing a real volcano was certainly a highlight. All ina ll it was the experience of a lifetime.”

The Italian trip will feature more human history than natural history, and the artwork and architecture that the students will see is unrivalled anywhere else in the world.

Education First is offering some incentives for people to enrol in the trip by the end of November, and there are payment plans available as well.

At the meeting on November 24th, Caludio Grebizza will have all the details.

For further information about the Italy trip, contact Erica Kresen or Randy Mcvety at Sharbot Lake High School, 613-279-2131

The Limestone District School Board as begun the conversation about the future of schooling in Kingston's west end, as the next stage in the Accomodation Review for the Sharbot Lake family of school has been delayed once again.

A meeting of the Board's school enrollment/school capacity committee to receive a staff report in response to the Program and Accomodation Review Committee report that was completed in August had been re-scheduled for December 10th at the Board office in Kingston. The December meeting has been cancelled, postponing the decision until January.

Once the staff report has been received by the Board committee, the report will be released and a public meeting will be scheduled, probably in early 2010.

The public meeting had originally been scheduled for November 19th, but according to accomodation review co-ordinator Ruth Bailey the process has been delayed because the Board has been seeking a further funding commitment from the province in order to build a kindergarten to grade 12 school.

The Sharbot Lake PARC, which included parent and teacher representatives from all 5 schools in the region, recommended the closure of Sharbot Lake High School and Public School as well as Hinchinbrooke Public School. A new kindergartent o grade 12 school, to be built “at the Sharbot Lake High School site or at any other suitable location” would be built to replace them.

Land O'Lakes Public School (Mountain Grove) and Clarendon Central Public School (Plevna) would remain open under the scenario reccomended by the committee.

The Board will be holding it's inaugural meeting under its new Executive Committee on December 7th.

Ann Goodfellow, the board representative for Central and North Frontenac, has been the board chair for the passed two years.