Month: September 2012

 

There’s a new film maker in town. 

He’s still a little young, but judging by his enthusiasm for making movies, this grade four student already has a bright future ahead of him.

Derrik Jansen, nine, a student at Iroquois Public School, taught by Madame LaCroix and Mrs. Mac, has been awarded first prize in the Upper Canada District School Board’s Summer Fun Holiday Video Contest.  

The contest encouraged area families to submit short videos showing their favourite moments from summer vacation. Contestants posted their videos on the Board’s Facebook site.

Derrik’s award winning short film was created around his family’s camping vacation in Stowe, Vermont. 

“We wanted to create a fun way in which families in the UCDSB area could share their summer memories while drawing them to our Facebook site to learn about registering for our quality programs,” said David K. Thomas, director of education with the board. “We are excited to announce that Iroquois Public School student Derrik Jansen has won the grand prize of a two night stay at the Ambassador Conference Centre Resort in Kingston.”

The Leader had the opportunity to talk to the young film maker on Friday, September 7, at his school.

“I am really interested in making films,” Derrik said. “I’ve been making my own videos, lots of them, ever since I had the chance to attend the Real to Reel Film Festival in April. (The UCDSB has held this film festival for the last six years, and IPS teacher Mrs. Moorhouse took her students, including Derrik, to the event in the spring.) Mrs. Moorhouse taught me all I know about making movies.”

Derrik’s mother read about the Board’s video contest, and encouraged him to enter. 

“We’ve been going to Stowe, Vermont, camping, for about 13 years,” Derrik explained. “It’s a place really special to my mom and dad. Originally, when I was thinking about my film, I thought I might call it Stores in Stowe, but then I thought, who wants to see a lot of stores?”

With his camera constantly in his hands, Derrik followed his parents and sister Ruby as they vacationed. 

“I’m one of those kids who follows his family around with a camera,” Derrik laughed. “Basically, they’re used to me being there filming. We went to familiar places and some new ones.”

He filmed the Jansen family’s visits to Cider Donuts, to Spruce Peak and to Ben & Jerry’s factory (“we were eating ice cream cones at 9:30 a.m.”). Derrik himself appears in the film at a bungee trampoline site.

“My parents said this was the  most hilarious part of my video since there I am, hanging from a bungee line, and I’m whining because the harness is too tight.”

Back home, Derrik had to edit a lot of footage on his mother’s e-machine, using Windows 7, in order to get his video down to slightly over one minute in length (contest rules). His opening titles were shot over a Stowe, Vermont, license plate. “My dad thought of that,” he said.

While he could check voting on line after he submitted his entry, Derrik had no idea he had actually been awarded first place until August 30.

“I was out in a tiny fishing boat with my grandfather, when my dad called on the cell phone and said, ‘I’ve got good news. You won.’ I immediately started doing my excited dance, which is not easy,” he laughed, “on a small fishing boat. Lots of stares.”

Derrik’s interest in film making is already pointing him in a career direction.

“I really love this. I hope that it does become more than a hobby one day. I am very interested in making short films, maybe even commercials. Not educational films at this point. I don’t want to make Sesame Street.”

In the last months he’s made movies like Nerf Gunshots, Horror Film, featuring his sister, Ruby, and just this week, he made Crazy Dancing.

“After this, I would really like to experiment with special effects, but I would need a new program, and that will be expensive. Maybe down the road. 

In the meantime,” Derrik Jansen, South Dundas’ newest film maker, said, “my camera and I will be out there working hard.”

[…]

 

Seaway’s new vice principal, Ann Blackburn, is already impressed.

“Everyone has been very warm, very friendly,” she said. “Seaway has a very welcoming staff, dedicated and professional, but also very welcoming.”

While she has not yet had the opportunity to meet many Seaway students, she is definitely looking forward to it. “I plan to attend the grade seven orientation event, and hopefully, I may even get to meet some parents and members of the school council. So far, I have gained a great impression of this school.”

Ann Blackburn has assumed the role of vice principal in the administration of Seaway, but she will also be doing some classroom teaching. Her extensive educational background in the classroom, in administration and in board related assignments, gives her a unique perspective on all levels of education.

Blackburn, who grew up in Ottawa, is no stranger to the Upper Canada Board. When she began her career in education in 1989, her first jobs were with the old SD&G board. A graduate of Queen’s University with a B.A., and a B.Ed. from the University of Ottawa, she served a year in Cornwall, then was two years at Stampville School and five years at Dixon’s Corners. Her field was special education.

“When I first began, we used to have more self-contained special education classes than is common now,” Blackburn explained. “When I came to Seaway, I was delighted to find that Nicole Hummel, who was my first EA at Dixon’s, is now an Educational Assistant at Seaway. It was great to see a familiar, welcome face at my new school.”

Following her time at Dixon’s, Blackburn accepted a position at the board as a Special Education Resource teacher. Her job was to go to all schools, providing support in programming and assessment for teachers, as well as professional development.

“I worked with autistic, and learning difference students, anyone with special needs,” Blackburn explained. “Since this was my job for six years, I feel that I gained much practical training, and gained a wider perspective ahout how schools were coping and working with these students.”

She further increased her experience in special education when she returned to teaching, this time in a Section 23 school. 

Section 23 schools, which are operated in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Services, are designed for students with strong behavioural needs. Their emotional issues, sometimes coupled with learning problems, make it impossible for these children to function in traditional classrooms. Again, Blackburn views the experience as broadening, an opportunity to learn about often challenging children. 

She spent time at Winchester Public School as an LRC (Learning Resource Coach), a consultant to other educators. This was followed by a position as vice principal at Morewood, twinned with Chesterville Public School. In 2010-11, Blackburn served as VP at South Grenville High School, and from January to June in 2012, became principal of all five Section 23 programs. 

“Now I’m at Seaway,” Blackburn said, laughing. “You could say I have been around, bouncing to many places. However, I enjoy the challenges, and not being stuck in an educational rut. Mixing it up, for me, really works.”

The mother of a 16-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son  ensures, Blackburn said, that “you really stay current with the teenage world.”

While she will take some time to immerse herself in Seaway’s culture, Blackburn does have some projects in mind.

“My background in Special Education keeps me interested in programs in that field. I also have a deep interest in visual arts, and I hope we might get some new murals here at Seaway, art that is both a source of beauty and pride, but also serves an educational purpose. I must let Heather Lauder, the art teacher, know about that one,” she added, laughing.

Also interested in environmental issues, the new vice principal was impressed with the greenhouse at Seaway, and looks forward to the next school “Farm Day.”

“With my background, I truly believe all students need the opportunity to become successful. Success can assume many forms, but we need to create the ideal conditions for learning to occur,” said Seaway’s new vice principal, Ann Blackburn.

“We have to start by building a positive relationship with our students. When we know them well, we can better meet their needs. It is also critical to involve families and the community to build the future of our students.”

[…]

 

“We often choose a play that revolves around a family for our last show of the summer season,” said director Donnie Bowes. “I read the script for A Nice Family Gathering some time ago, loved it, and decided this would be the right year to perform it. I knew I was going to need a blue chip cast for this one.”

Director Bowes has assembled that blue chip cast for the final production of the regular theatre season at Upper Canada Playhouse. A Nice Family Gathering opens on September 6 and runs until September 30. His actors are in final rehearsals on the striking, split set designed by John Thompson, built and lighted by Sean Free. 

“I like to do something a little different as we go into fall,” Bowes explained at a recent press conference. “This play is more in the tradition of Over the River and Through the Woods, On Golden Pond and Having Hope At Home. It’s not a door slamming farce, but rather a play that revolves around a particular family, and their conflicts, when they come home to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is really full of laughter.”

The play, by Phil Olson, deals with the (understandable) chaos that erupts when often squabbling siblings get together for a “nice” holiday dinner, then discover that the late family patriarch has also chosen to ‘appear’ at the gathering, but only to one of his sons, and to no one else.

Doug Tangney, as ‘Dad,’ the ghost, says that his character, who hasn’t quite ‘moved on’, gets “caught up again in the family web. He still has some issues, and since he’s the man he was before, with all the same passions he had in life, a certain havoc follows him. I think of him as the match thrown into a box of fire works.”

The on stage ghost presents some interesting challenges for Tangney and for his fellow players. 

“I have to have movements that are not distracting,” Tangney said. “I am more of a feeling in the room than a physical presence.”

Richard Bauer, who plays son Carl, laughs that it can be “interesting to be talking to a real person, and then hearing and responding to a ghost at the same time. When you try to cover it up, everyone naturally thinks you’re mad. But that leads to a lot of comedy.”

“Early on in the game, we decided that our ghost had to be treated as a real person,” director Bowes said. “It was interesting and a lot of fun to insert him into the action yet the characters can’t see him.”

“You can’t see him, and you can’t anticipate him,” Jamie Williams added.

Williams, fresh from his run in On the Flight Path, plays Michael, the eldest Lundeen son. “He’s the favourite son,” Williams laughed, “because he became a doctor to fulfill his parents’ expectations, but his success has come at a certain cost.”

His wife, Jill, is not helping his  peace of mind. Kate Gordon jokes that her character is “the perfect, lovely wife who can do no wrong. Actually, she really, really wants a baby, and she gets highly emotional at times.”

As the youngest Lundeen sibling, Stacey, played by Liz Gilroy, is very much a loner. She has also come to the family gathering with at least two major bombshells to drop on her family.  “Stacey is smart, but really a little wierd,” Gilroy explained. “What’s more, although she can’t see him, she senses Dad a bit, can sometimes even almost hear him.  That adds to the confusion.”

Linda Goranson, (who commuted to rehearsals at UCP while still starring in Calendar Girls in Belleville), is Helen, the mom. “I just want my whole family to come together for the ideal (and what turns out to be largely mythical) Thanksgiving dinner. It’s fun, but challenging  for me to have Dad on stage as a ghost. You have to really concentrate not to see him or his activities.”

Rounding out the cast is Don Ciaschini, as Jerry. Jerry is not a member of the Lundeen family; he’s been invited to the gathering by Helen. “Now this definitely causes a few problems,” Ciaschini laughs. “The Lundeen boys certainly ‘misconstrue’ what I’m doing at their mother’s table.”

“This is a wonderful play,” said Donnie Bowes. “The humour is built into the reality of families and their issues. It’s a great show.”

Tickets for A Nice Family Gathering are available at Upper Canada Playhouse. Call 613-543-3713, or go on line at www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com. 

[…]

 

When the Leader spoke to Kelty Grant, the principal of Iroquois Public School, Thursday, August 30, plumbing and construction work was still undergoing a few last minute tweaks in the school’s three newly renovated kindergarten classrooms, but “everything is going to be finished, everything set up in time for our opening day on September 4. This is going to be a very exciting time here at IPS.”

Tuesday, September 4, Iroquois Public School joins other area elementary schools in offering full day kindergarten every day.

Morrisburg Public School and Nationview already have full day kindergarten. Timothy Christian offers full day kindergarten on alternate days. St.Mary-St.Cecelia’s has two full day programs, kindergarten and their Ready to Learn program, which alternate.

 There are currently 25 children registered for each of the three classes at Iroquois Public School. There is a full time qualified teacher and a full time early childhood educator in each classroom.

The teacher and the ECE work in partnership. They plan lessons and do assessments together, combining their skills and areas of expertise. Teachers tend to be more trained in curriculum literacy and numeracy, while childhood educators are experienced in building play based learning and the creation of centres. 

“The combination is a powerful and dynamic one,” Grant said, “and the children reap the benefits.”

Additional specialized training was provided for every teacher and the school’s administrator.

“Our teachers and I received several days of fantastic training for the kindergarten program this spring, at Morrisburg Public school,” Grant said. “Our trainer was from the Upper Canada District School Board, but had himself been trained by the Ministry of Education. We all walked away feeling energized and positive.”

How do teachers approach the challenges of full day learning in kindergarten? 

“The key thing is that each teacher has to know the curriculum for kindergarten inside out and backwards and forwards,” Grant explained. “Children this age learn, not by sitting in place, but by moving, working at special centres. There can be several activities happening in the class room at once. Some whole group instruction will happen, perhaps in the form of an opening song, or a circle, but then the children are off to various, exciting activities.” 

In these situations, thorough knowledge of the curriculum allows the teacher to adapt to whatever activities seem to most engage the small children. Open ended questions such as “What if…?” or “What would happen if…” demand ongoing teacher  flexibility. 

The emphasis is on hands-on skills.

How does assessment work in the kindergarten curriculum? 

“Traditional evaluation me-thods, which require reading and writing skills, are just not possible in kindergarten,” Grant laughed. 

Instead, the Ministry has provided teachers with individual Ipads. 

Teachers video tape the children’s daily activities, then show the tapes later to allow them to reflect on what they were doing and learning.

“This kind of assessment is visible and learning apparent,” Grant explained. “We are documenting, and assessing the progress of the children’s problem solving skills, and how they are understanding new knowledge. This helps us to know where to go next to build on those growing strengths. The taping also allows us to share with parents.” 

The three new classrooms (four old rooms were combined) are self-contained. Each has its own washroom, and cubby areas. There are areas set up for naps for children who need them. Walls in the classrooms currently look a little bare, but that is deliberate. 

“The intent is that everything on the walls must be child activity centred,” Grant said. “Teachers will take photos of the children, and these will decorate the walls. Children will be able to look at  these displays and make connections with learning activities and their part in the creation of every picture.”

Are there likely to be some tears on Tuesday morning, the first day of school?

“We’re ready for some tears,” Kelty Grant laughed, “maybe even from our parents. The kids will recover fast. They may even find the routine of every day school easier to cope with than the every other day approach of the past. The children are certainly going to find school a very exciting place to be.”

[…]

 

These actors are in final rehearsals at the Iroquois Legion for their exciting performances for the Iroquois Festival, “A Call to Arms…Dundas Militia…War of 1812,” taking place on September 15. The talented local actors will be presenting two comic short skits based on incidents in South Dundas’ rich history. The first is called The Marriage Proposal, the second, The Coach Ride, and they are guaranteed to leave audiences laughing. Left to right, Reina DeJong, Connery Brown, Jared Gibson, Jennifer Howard and George Menges (who couldn’t be present for the photo) will bring to life such fascinating and funny characters as the very British Lady Backwash, farmer William Loucks, Mary MacDonald, mail order bride, a native Canadian and Johnson, the Cockney man servant. Wendy Gibb is directing them. Don’t miss their performances on September 15. And don’t miss this wonderful community festival in the Iroquois plaza. 

[…]

 

 The Morrisburg & District Lions Club CIC are partnering with the Play It Forward committee for a Fun Run taking place on September 9.

“This will be our second annual South Dundas Fun Run,” said Mike Domanko. “It is a great opportunity for people to get out, get active and raise money for another great community project.”

On Race Day, Sunday, September 9, the 5 km walk/run starts at 9:30 a.m., while the 2 km walk/run begins at 9:40 a.m. On site registration will be accepted. Adults are $25, youth $20 and a family $75. People can register on line at www.runningroom.com.

Organizers promise that there are some new and exciting changes for the 2012 event.

There will be a free technical race shirt guaranteed to those who registered by noon, Friday, August 31. There is a new digital race clock to track finish times. And the two and five kilometre courses are newly laid out, starting from the playground.

“Funds raised from the Run will be directed to the playground and the splash pad, both integral parts of the overall project plan,” Domanko explained.  

[…]

 

Now starting its 88th season, Canadian Club has 23 corporate sponsors for the upcoming year.

The Club meets at the Canadian Legion in Morrisburg six times per year, each meeting catered  (wonderfully I might add) by the Legion ladies. We are happy, as the Canadian Club, to support this wonderful organization, and we are extremely happy with the venue. 

Canadian Club encompasses about 25 villages and hamlets, and reaches into four counties. It’s a very inexpensive way to communicate with people from a fairly large area.

Our meetings for the 2012-13 season will be held on the third Wednesdays of  September, October, November, March, April and May.  Everyone is invited to attend any meeting with a $20 ticket. We do ask that you reserve at least a week in advance of the meeting you plan to attend. You are welcome to attend the social time at 6:15. Dinner follows at 7 p.m.

We have an exceptional line-up  of speakers scheduled.

On September 19, Sergeant J. J. Marc Godue, Acting Officer in Charge of the Musical Ride Branch, will be the first speaker. His topic is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride and the Ride’s contribution to Canadian unity and to promoting Canada.

He will be followed October 17 by Robert Fowler, a Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. Fowler was kidnapped in 2008 in Niger by an al-Queda affiliate and held for nearly five months. An Order of Canada recipient, Fowler will discuss his ordeal, and comment on Canada’s role at the United Nations.

On November 21, following Remembrance Day, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ron Buck, CMM, CD, will be the guest speaker. His topic will concern Canada’s navy, its origins, its achievements and its importance in going forward. He is a former Commander of the Navy and Vice Chief of Defence.

Major John Grodzinski (not as yet confirmed) is scheduled for March 20, 2013. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the St. Lawrence War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance, and a professor of history at the Royal Military College in Kingston. He will focus on the War, events specific to our region, and provide insight on how this war made us who we are today.

The guest speaker for April 17 is Jim Brownell, a well-known person throughout Eastern Ontario, who served two terms as MPP in Queen’s Park for this region. Brownell, a former long-time teacher, and a volunteer with a host of community organizations, will discuss the Lost Villages Historical Society. He will focus on the Society’s role in history preservation and interpretation over the past 35 years.

The final speaker of the 2012-2013 Canadian Club season will be Wayne Domanko, M.D., a partner in the St. Lawrence Clinic since 1969. Over the years Dr. Domanko has been a main presenter and speaker at numerous seminars. He is a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and has conducted significant research. He has served on several committees at Winchester & District Memorial Hospital. And, of course, he has been “doctor” for many in the community.

At Canadian Club, we hope that if you are currently a member, you will rejoin the Club. If not, we hope you will consider becoming a member or a visitor. Our average attendance at meetings is just over 100, and we always welcome new faces. 

For the past few years (with our gratitude) piper Marc Calder has piped in the head table to begin each evening. Current president of the Canadian Club, Dave Black of Morrisburg, presides over meetings whenever possible.

Each month we draw for a 3X6 foot Canadian flag donated to the Club by MP Guy Lauzon. We close each meeting with ‘O Canada’ accompanied by Eleanor Allison. 

We offer our thanks to the volunteers who care for the sound system and table settings for every meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at Canadian Club this fall. 

For tickets to the 2012-13 season of Canadian Club, contact Doug at 613-543-2922 or Clara at 613-774-2407. 

[…]

 

 Irena residents were on edge last week when a neighbouring farmer chose breezy days to burn brush piles left over from a recent land-clearing project.

Smoke and ashes from the piles located directly on the north side of the Irena Road were falling onto the homes located on the south side of Irena Road.

The land was cleared by Dentz, who did obtain a burn permit to dispose of the left over brush. 

However, according Chris McDonough, fire chief South Dundas Fire and Emergency Service, although Calvin Dentz did obtain a permit from the municipality, he failed to comply with the rules laid out in the bylaw governing this type of burning.

“The brush was piled in wind rows, rather than piles, and was too close to the road and too close to property lines,” said McDonough, who warned the landowner to stop burning on August 27.

“We gave him a warning and then we had to come back (August 28) for six hours to put out the fires,” said McDonough. 

The firefighters from the Iroquois Fire Station attended the scene.

Area homeowners couldn’t believe the landowner didn’t heed the initial warning, as it was obvious to them watching from their front yards and front windows, that the situation could have easily gotten out of control.

“We had to close up all our windows in this heat,” said one of the area residents. “Our houses were filling up with smoke so bad it was hurting our eyes and it was hard to breathe.” 

All were worried for their safety and the safety of their homes. “They’re showing no regard for us or our homes,” said another resident.

Because the South Dundas firefighters had to attend the scene after the warning, McDonough says that the landowner will be invoiced for the cost, which McDonough estimates at about $5,000.

[…]