Pre-Tubie Race, Duck Race

 

One could say that Morrisburg Public School teacher Jim Lamoureux went the extra mile to bring the world to his grade 3-4 class.

In fact, Lamoureux delivered Japan to his class via an Art Miles Mural Project which linked his students to elementary students in Takasago, Japan.

The project began with an exchange of information on each of the students in the two classes.

“Throughout the project, we shared a lot of things about our schools and about our countries,” says Lamoureux. “We started with an exchange of pictures and information about ourselves and communities.”

The Art Miles Mural Project, is an international movement promoting global peace and harmony through mural art.

It was started to bring people closer together, to create an environment that fosters communication and understanding between cultures, promote literacy and to ultimately, through their own experiences, learn respect for one another.

The project began last September with the information exchange. After the decision was made between the two schools to have a cultural and nature symbols theme, collaboration was carried out on the mural layout.

It was decided the mural would include four large central circles, with smaller circles around the outside edges.

To these circles the students in the two countries would showpiece their cultural/nature artwork.

The mural was started last fall by the students in Japan who filled in every other outer circle with their artwork which includes their country flag, their animals, birds, fish and famous buildings. 

In the two central circles the two countries join hands in friendship…the MPS students selecting the late Terry Fox as their ambassador.

After the Japanese students completed their half of the artwork, the mural was shipped to Morrisburg Public School where Lamoureux’ students set to work to finish it.

The MPS artwork features native Canadian animals…the polar bear, the beaver, the moose, our native birds and fish…the parliament buildings in Ottawa, Niagara Falls, the Canadian Flag.

Along the way, the students in the two countries kept in touch. The highlight was a video conference on January 23.

The Morrisburg students returned to their classroom at 6 p.m., on January 23, which was 8 a.m. in Japan.

“The students introduced themselves during the video conference, songs were sung and information was exchanged.”

The MPS artwork continued on the mural until two weeks ago, when it was declared complete and showcased at a school assembly on Thursday, February 28.

Following the presentation, the mural was packed for return shipment to Japan. It is destined to become part of a children’s exhibit that will be travelling and displayed around the world.

“They did a wonderful job, and they are really proud of it,” says Lamoureux, who recorded the students as they worked  and posted it to a private YouTube channel. It’s an incredible video.

Many of the students were eager to speak about their contributions to the mural as it was being prepared for shipment.

“I worked on the Niagara Falls part,” explained Lilly Lewis. “We were supposed to make cars, so I drew the limo to make it really cool.”

Kayla Gillard, who provided her artistic talent to help paint the Mountie, said, “the best part of the project was the web conference. That was really neat.” And Airreanna Brown, who contributed to the fish painting, said “everybody getting to get to work together was the best part.” Leah Barkley agreed, adding that it was also neat to hear and then spell some of the Japanese words.

Breanna Kirkwood, whose artwork created the polar bear, thought it was great to have pictures and to learn about the Japanese children.

[…]

It is time for students to head back to school and for motorists to be on the lookout for school buses and students.

The OPP in East Region would like to remind everyone that some school buses will be back in service early next week, while others will be back on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.

The public is reminded that every driver while on a highway while meeting a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing. (Section 175(11) of the Highway Traffic Act).

“Many of our children walk to school and motorist should also be aware of the increased pedestrian traffic around our local schools, as children make their way for their first exciting day.  Reduce your speed in school zone and be extra cautious. Let’s make it safe for our children!” says Sgt.Kristine Rae.

[…]

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services will continue to  operate its marine rescue program.

The only municipal water rescue service offered between Prescott and Cornwall, South Dundas council had to decide whether or not to continue to offer the service.

The 1985 Zodiac used by the unit is no longer suitable for emergency services.

Council unanimously agreed that the service is an important one, that needs to continue, so they subsequently agreed to the purchase of a $30,000 replacement vessel. Not new, the replacement vessel is a 2001 630 Zodiac Hurricane. The larger size is more suitable for rescue purposes.

South Dundas’ water rescue program is a partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary which aids in training and deployment. The partnership with the Morrisburg station has been in place since the early 1980s.

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