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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-09-14, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017. Threshing It wouldn't be the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association without some threshing and this year's reunion did not disappoint. Unfortunately, threshing demonstrations on Friday were postponed due to the wet weather late last week. (Denny Scott photo) Local schools' enrolment down With the exception of Huron Christian School, local schools are looking at numbers just below last year's for enrolment. Hullett Central Public School is welcoming 271 students, which is slightly down from last year, including 18 new Junior Kindergarten (JK) students. The school also welcomes new Technical Resource Assistant Nicole Donnelly in the Library. Maitland River Elementary School has 470 students this year including 60 JK students over four JK/Senior Kindergarten (SK) mixed classes. The school also welcomes nine new staff members, including Vice - Principal Tracey Swart and bids farewell to long-time teacher Kim Walker, who had retired last year. Other new staff members include Strive Educational Assistants Stephanie Allen and Victoria Zeinstra, Kim Albers in Grade 2D3A, Julie McCall, who is temporarily filling in for Sandra Murphy in Grade 3D4A, Traci Mallory filling in for Sarah Young in Grade 6C, Designated Early Childhood Educator Laura Albers in Kindergarten class JDKD and morning secretary Meaghan Myers. "We have lots of changes, but a lot of things are remaining the same," Principal Angela Cowley said. "We want to provide excellent customer service for our students and families." Huron Christian School is continuing an upward trend according to Principal Nick Geleynse. "Our enrolment is up this year a little bit," he said. "We're at 167 students which is slightly up from 163 last year. We've been trending upwards for the last several years." The school has 15 students entering junior kindergarten. Geleynse said the school community is looking forward to significant construction projects continuing this year and a large renovation project starting next year. North Woods Elementary School outside of Ethel saw enrolment drop a little to approximately 160 and the school has the same number of classes. "We're off to a great start," she said. The school has several staff changes this year. Alex Nutt has been welcomed as a school resource teacher and Grade 1 and Grade 2/3 have new teachers in Nadine Hanna and Erin Henderson respectively. Laura Johnston is a new technical resource assistant in the library and the school welcomed three new educational assistants; Cara Stoll in Kindergarten B, Alison Gibson in Grade 1 and Joshua Richardson in Grade 2/3. Principal Wendy Armstrong - Gibson said the school has started on a positive note as the students and school community celebrated winning the International Plowing Match's beautification program in the school's category. "That kind of win doesn't happen without a lot of community support," she said. A new addition Over his two-year term as president of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, Peter Hendriks has been able to implement some significant changes to the association's annual reunion. The Memorial Building, which was completed last year, was one such project that he says has been the product of years of work before he took over. Above, the Huron - Perth Trappers Association is shown making use of the new space at this year's reunion over the weekend. (Denny Scott photo) Dec. 31 event ends 140th celebration The Blyth 140th committee is planning its final event to mark the end of the community's anniversary year. The celebration will be set for Dec. 31 and could resemble the New Year's Levee celebration that was held on Jan. 1 of this year. Committee Chair Crystal Taylor said the committee was hoping to have snowshoeing, sled dogs and possibly a Christmas tree burn, as well as refreshments. "We're also contacting the fire department to see if we could do a small fireworks show," she said. "That will be in addition to free skating and things like that." Taylor said if the fireworks are allowed, the committee would be approaching local businesses for donations to cover the cost of the attraction. E-MAIL DECISION MAKING Recently -named BIA Chair Karen Stewart wants BIA members to have the ability to make decisions between meetings via e-mail. However, it won't be allowed any time soon according to North Huron Council BIA representative Bill Knott. Stewart brought the idea up at the BIA's Sept. 6 meeting, however Knott said that, as a committee of council, the BIA was bound by council's rules which don't allow motions to be dealt with through any means other than public meetings. He explained it wasn't just against North Huron's rules, but also provincial mandates. STREETFEST The Blyth Streetfest Committee will soon be having its close-out meeting and discussing the future of the event. Chair Irene Kellins explained that this year's Streetfest, which was relegated to sidewalks instead of closing the street, had been a success. Kellins said that whether the event would continue on sidewalks or by closing the road going forward would depend on the number of volunteers. While the event was a success, Kellins said the lack of clear communication between the marketing committee and herself led to the event not being advertised, which would have resulted in higher attendance. STRATEGIC PLAN MEETING A special meeting to discuss the BIA's strategic plan will be held on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Emergency Services Training Centre (ESTC) in Blyth. At the meeting, members will review a strategic planning initiative the organization undertook and they will map out the organization's goals for the coming years. The meeting will be held just prior to the regular BIA executive meeting. VISION COMMITTEE CUT During a review of standing committees, the retail and service vision committee was eliminated from the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA). The BIA had four standing committees for Streetfest, Lighting of the Lights, marketing and the aforementioned vision committee. Chair Karen Stewart moved to have the committee disbanded. The Lighting of the Lights will be held in the courtyard of Memorial Hall this year as the committee was kept on. Stewart said she wants to have a Christmas tree erected in the courtyard after the courtyard's former tree was cut down during Memorial Hall renovations. A plan for the event will be discussed at the BIA's next meeting on Oct. 5 at 7:45 p.m. at the ESTC. Senior's bay Thursday 1O' off Rif SHEAR TALENT A Hair Design & Tanning 45 West St., Goderich 519-524-6555 • Colour Printing • Posters • Letterheads • Envelopes • Business Cards WE CAN • Business Forms • Brochures • Flyers • Carbonless Forms • Labels DO IT ALL!