Seaway Valley Singers Hold Spring Concert

 

On November 27th, Pastor Duncan Perry of the Morrisburg Pentecostal Tabernacle, shared his life-changing experiences from his recent Mission Trip to Africa during a Sunday evening service.

Perry left for Africa this past October with his wife Sandra and 14 other like-minded individuals. They left Canada on October 12th, headed for the Village of Hope – Malawi, in Lilongwe, where they spent three weeks breathing in all things Africa through work, play, and prayer. 

The group of missionaries raised over $10,000, all of which went to the children in Malawi. The money was used to buy things like furniture for the dormitory they helped to complete.

In addition to personal items, each traveler was permitted one hockey-sized bag full of items on the airplane. The group carried along things like clothes, tools, food, Tim Horton’s coffee, and anything they thought might be needed by the village’s people.

In addition to finishing one of the dormitory buildings, including furnishing it, the group also did various repair jobs, painting, yard work, and other menial, but necessary, tasks.

Members of the group also helped in the schools, ministered, played with the children and socialized with the adults.

While Perry and his group accomplished much on the trip, there is still more to be done.

As for this article, he asked that the pictures focus on the children, not on him or his group because, as he said, “it’s about them.”

Listening to Perry talk about the children, about the village, and about the neighbouring towns causes a host of emotions to flow. While his appreciation and awe for the beauty of Africa shines through, it is also very clear that his heart has been deeply touched by the hardships and loss these young orphans face on a daily basis.

In September, prior to his trip to Malawi, Perry told the Leader that he expected his outlook on life to be drastically changed after the trip. As he will attest, he was right. 

Perry shared that knowing children are starving in another part of the world is different from seeing it first hand. He tears up each time he talks of the orphans who receive food only three days of the week.

He also spoke, in admiration, of their spirit, their love for God, and their unwavering belief in God despite the daily hardships they face. 

Perry encourages others to remember these children and to show compassion for their plight.

[…]

 

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.”

[…]

 

“If we can make ourselves laugh, I guarantee we’ll make an audience laugh,” says Richard Bauer who is directing the final Cow Patti production at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall in February.

For its 11th and final curtain call in the Seaway Valley, AnnaMarie Lea’s Cow Patti Theatre is producing Marc Camoletti’s Boeing-Boeing.

“Boeing-Boeing is a wonderful farce,” says Bauer. “It takes place in this bachelor pad in Paris. Garfield (Andrews) plays Bernard, and he’s decided he can have three mistresses at the same time. Over the years, he’s devised a time schedule. But, you know, schedules change, weather happens and planes get faster.”

“Bernard is a ladies man,” says Andrews of his character. “He’s formulated a way to live out his fantasies and never have these women meet. He’s on top of his game.”

Boeing-Boeing is set in the 1960s, and Bernard’s lifestyle becomes unravelled in a very short 24 hour period when his carefully arranged time schedule falls apart.

Joining Andrews, a longtime favourite on the Cow Patti stage and on the stage at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg, is Jamie Williams playing Bernard’s old school chum Robert. The two haven’t seen each other in more than 10 years, and Robert just happens to drop in.

“I’m from the country and have a farm where we make oil…walnut oil, apparently,” explains Williams. Robert quickly learns of his friend’s lifestyle and “at first I just react to things, but, eventually I find myself involved with keeping the three air hostesses from meeting.”

Also enlisted in keeping the hostesses apart is Bernard’s French housekeeper Bertha, played by AnnaMarie Lea. “I think Bertha quite likes her boss, and I think she wants to please him,” says Lea. The difficulty however is, “one minute I’m cooking sauerkraut, then it’s pancakes and molasses and then frankfurters.”

That’s because each of Bernard’s flight attendants hails from a different country…Germany, the southern United States and Italy.

Thoroughly enjoying their characters, just a few days into rehearsals, are Susan Greenfield, Kate Gordon and Katie Lawson.

Greenfield is playing Gabriella, the Italian, “who is very passionate. I love being in love, and I’m jealous and possessive.”

Gloria, the American from the South is played by Katie Lawson. “Gloria is very confident, and she has a strange appetite.”

Hostess number three is Gretchen, the German, played by Kate Gordon. “Gretchen is assertive, definitely not delicate, and she has a big personality.”

“The women in this farce really drive the show, they provide the spice,” says Bauer. 

Lea is hoping that the five Boeing-Boeing benefit shows will push the Cow Patti 11-year total to over $200,000 raised for local charities.

This year’s Benefit Shows are scheduled for February 22 for the SD&G Highland Dance Association; Thursday, February 9 for Water for Life; Sunday, February 12, for the Ontario Senior Games District #8; Thursday, February 16 for the Knights of Columbus; Sunday, February 19 for Glengarry Memorial Hospital.

Boeing-Boeing opens Thursday, February 2 and runs through Sunday, February 19. The dinner theatre ($58 tickets) and Brunch Theatre ($48 tickets) include the always delicious Ramada Inn buffets while evening and afternoon cabaret tickets sell for $27. 

This year, Cow Patti has added a TGIF cabaret on Friday night, February 3. “I’m trying to encourage younger couples to come and see the show, so I thought I would change it up a bit for the Friday night (Feb. 3) show, make it a bit more affordable with the cabaret.” For information or tickets call 1-877-552-9166 or visit www.cowpatti.com.

Bauer says it is an honour to direct the final Cow Patti show in the Seaway Valley. “I’ve worked with all of these people before and it is an honour to work with established professionals.”

Excited about the show, he says “it’s like a plane taking off…it’s off…it’s flying…then it hits the turbulence.”

It’s that turbulence that Cow Patti promises will have the audiences “airborne with laughter!”

[…]