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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-11-19, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015. Brussels PS reborn as Old Colony School After being closed by the Avon Maitland District School Board several years ago, the former Brussels Public School is having life breathed into it once again in the form of the Brussels Old Colony Christian Mennonite School. After the Municipality of Huron East bought the school with the initial intention of creating a small business incubator, members of the Mennonite community contacted the municipality hoping to rent one classroom where 12 children would be educated. The school has now expanded to include just under 130 children, serving just under 50 families in seven of the school’s former classrooms, including the library. On Friday, The Citizen sat down with the three-member board that oversees the school, which includes a chair and a treasurer. The members spoke to The Citizen on the condition that their names, or any of the names of the school’s students or teachers, not be published, in accordance with the beliefs of their faith. The school’s catchment area is far- flung, with many students coming from the Listowel area. However, one board member says that if you were to draw a circle encapsulating communities within a 45- minute drive of Brussels, that circle would contain the vast majority of the student body. The board itself is spread throughout that community. One member is from Brussels, while another is from around Listowel and the third is from Fordwich. Members say the students come from a number of different schooling backgrounds as well. Prior to the establishment of the Old Colony School, some students were being home-schooled, while others attended public schools and some even attended a private school in Donegal, just east of Newry. One board member says the school was born out of a concept from two teachers and six parents, who proposed the idea for a private school. Meetings were held and the details were hashed out and in June, 2013, members of the community contacted Huron East staff about renting a room at the Brussels Business and Cultural Centre, formerly the Brussels Public School. The first day of classes was held in September of 2013, and since then the school has continued to steadily grow. By the end of the first school year, in the spring of 2014, the school had expanded to two classrooms. In September, 2014, it expanded to include three classrooms and now it rents seven – nearly the entire school – running classes from Kindergarten to Grade 7. Members of the board say that the school operates just as any other school does. Parents in the community pay tuition so their children can attend the school and the funds are reinvested, paying for supplies and anything else that might be needed. Huron East Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight says that while those behind the Old Colony School have invested a lot of the community’s money into the school to fully supply the seven classrooms currently in use, they received a little help from the Avon Maitland Board when they first started up. When Brussels Public School closed, the Avon Maitland Board moved its equipment and supplies to other facilities, but there were a number of chairs, tables and desks that were surplus to the board. With the Brussels Community Bible Chapel already in the school, this furniture was made available to the church, with whatever was left going to the Old Colony School when they first started. After that first classroom, however, the Old Colony community has been on its own and doing great. Religion remains at the centre of the school’s teachings and it is the reason the community sought to create its own school, rather than to depend on the public school system or home-schooling. “We want [the students] all to know to live for Jesus,” said one board member. “That is most important. We want them to learn about the Bible, because they are our future church.” All three board members agree that the school is very much about educating the young people who will one day carry the torch for the community’s church when the board members, who are all rather young now, are “old and grey”. But while religion is the focus, an average day at the Old Colony School runs very much like any other elementary school day. The school starts at 9 a.m. and lets out at 3:20 p.m. and in between there are lunch and snack breaks, recess and lessons that span all of the major traditional subjects like math, science and reading. Since the school began, one board member says he has seen a great improvement in the community’s children in everything from how they dress to the language they use. The board makes all the decisions for the school, but acts as a liaison between the school and the community. They also serve as a place teachers can go if they’re having a problem with a student, or if something is wrong at the school. The relationship between the board, the school and the community has been great, board members say, and the relationship between those behind the school and the Municipality of Huron East TERRY DONALD PANNABECKER It is with deep sadness that Ross and Glenna Pannabecker announce the passing of their beloved son, Terry Donald Pannabecker on Nov. 11, 2015 in London. Terry formerly resided in Blyth and Goderich. Terry was the dearly loved brother of Krista Nesbitt (Marc), and uncle of Courtney, Maison and Cassidy Nesbitt. Cremation has taken place. A private family gathering will take place on Nov. 21. If so desired, the family wishes for donations to be made to the London Salvation Army Centre of Hope or London Men’s Mission in memory of Terry. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6:30 am - 7 pm, Sat. 8 am - 7 pm, Sun. 11 am - 5 pm WALTON 519-887-8429 Orders taken for fresh Hayter’s Turkeys until December 6th FILL YOUR FREEZER Norwich Packers & West Grey Premium Beef• Strip Loin Steaks AAA • Roasts • Sausages • Hamburger Patties Metzger Meats Pork Products • Sausage (Farmers, Smoked, Garlic) • Pork Chops (Fresh, Smoked) • Bacon • Cottage Rolls • Peameal Bacon • Sausage (Plain, Honey Garlic, Hot Italian & Maple) • Bacon • Ground Turkey • Turkey Breast Schnitzel • Roasts • Turkey Burgers Hayter’s Turkey Products The Poultry Place Products • Chicken Breasts • Chicken Wings • Nuggets • Strips • Frozen Campbell Soups • Frozen Fruits Broken Dryer? Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 The dawn of a new day The concept of an educational facility has been reborn at the former site of the Brussels Public School, which closed a number of years ago. The Municipality of Huron East purchased the building and it’s now home to seven classrooms full of students through the Old Colony Christian Mennonite School. Here is one of the classrooms, complete with a blackboard at the front of the room. Those on the school’s advisory board asked that no students or teachers appear in pictures, in accordance with their faith. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 9 Obituaries North St. West, Wingham Mac & Donna Anderson 519-357-1910 A cemetery is a history of people, a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always Distinctive Memorials of Lasting Satisfaction BOX 158 WINGHAM ONT NOG 2W0