HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-11-27, Page 6Two students have taken a
dormant project under their
wing and hope to brighten up
Central Huron Secondary
School as early as next year.
Katelyn Watson and Nicole
Greidanus, who are both in
Grade 12, decided to inherit a
memorial garden project that
had been discussed, but not
acted on at the school as part
of their leadership class.
The idea began when
Laurie Forrester, a longtime
physical education teacher
died of breast cancer in 2006.
She left her two sons and
husband.
Forrester’s untimely death,
coupled with the current
shabby condition of the
school’s courtyard sparked
discussion of sprucing up the
area with a memorial garden.
The girls have spent their
time brainstorming
fundraisers and doing the
legwork associated with the
fundraisers for a project of
their magnitude.
The school’s vice-principal
and woodshop teacher have
been collaborating, working
on plans for the garden. There
will be a walkway throughout
with an archway and benches
for the students to sit on.
Currently the pillars in the
courtyard are being
sandblasted so they can be
repainted, but those involved
are hoping the garden will
begin construction in fall of
2009.
So far there has been a hat
day fundraiser at the school
which raised $105 for the
project and on Dec. 4, the
project’s biggest fundraiser to
date will take place, a silent
auction from 5 p.m. to 9:30
p.m. The auction is taking
place at the school on the
same night as the school
band’s Christmas concert.
The pair has collected
donations from businesses
throughout Blyth, Clinton and
Seaforth, but hopes to receive
much more before the actual
auction date.
The leadership class
teacher, Cindy Carter, saysshe is very pleased the girlshave accepted this project andis thrilled with the work theyhave done so far.“They have really goneabove and beyond the call of
duty here,” she said. “They
have put a lot of time into this
project and it’s going to be
great when it’s completed.”
Ever since they decided to
take on the project, both
Greidanus and Watson say
they have received
tremendous support and
advice from many staff
members as well as members
of the community.
They have set up individual
goals for each fundraisingevent. Their first event, the hatday fundraiser’s goal was$100, which was barelysurpassed, the goal for thesilent auction is $800, whichthey feel is attainable.
The first fundraiser into
2009 will be a Winter
Wonderland dance for the
students. However, all of the
focus right now is on the
silent auction.
While Watson and
Greidanus will no longer be
students at the school by the
time shovels are planned to be
in the ground, they hope next
year’s class will continue their
work.
Their hope is that thememorial garden lives on andthat honouring Forrester isjust the beginning. “Our courtyard has thepotential to be beautiful,” saidGreidanus. “Hopefully, once
it’s completed, people will be
able to go outside and sit and
have lunch there.”
Watson also has very high
hopes, saying she plans on
coming back often to see the
progress of the garden long
after she leaves the school.
“If it stays the way we hope
it will, it can be enjoyed for
years to come,” she said.
Donations are currently
being welcomed at the school.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2008.
Taking the lead
Katelyn Watson, left, and Nicole Greidanus have taken a lingering Central
Huron Secondary School project under their wing with hopes of getting
results. While a memorial garden has been discussed there for years,
Watson and Greidanus are finally taking the initiative to begin taking steps
towards actually putting the garden in place. The first teacher the garden will
honour is Laurie Forrester, formerly of the Physical Education department.
Forrester died in 2006 of breast cancer and was well-loved at the school.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
CHSS students take on project to honour teacher
THE EDITOR,
The Christmas season is
coming upon us quickly. The
snow has covered the ground,
the shops are full of music,
sparkle and Christmas cheer.
However, for some
families, this is a very painful
time of year, especially when
one of their loved-ones has
died. The empty chair at the
table, the one less person
around the Christmas tree, the
family gatherings… remind
us of the losses we have
experienced.
Huron Hospice Volunteer
Service wants to help in
making this season more
bearable. We have set up a
Memory Tree in the Wingham
Hospital.
Anyone can come and
place an ornament on the
tree in memory of their loved
one. Bring a special
memento of your own, or use
one provided by Huron
Hospice.
Come, sit a while with the
memories of your loved one,
and, write a note about that
person in the Memory
Book.
We hope that this Christmas
season will become a time of
‘remembering’ your loved
ones.
Sincerely,
Kathy Procter
Huron Hospice Volunteer
Service
Letter
Hospice service strives
to make holidays better
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Please call Angelo:
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Toll-Free 24 hours 7 Days a week
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Sunday morning, Nov. 23
at Huron Chapel Evangelical
Missionary Church the
recently-returned mission
team spoke on their trip to El
Salvador. It was great to
finish the work in the same
village where last year’s team
had worked.
The six houses went up
quickly and there was time to
spend with the children and
villagers.
One team member said that
although there is a cost to
going, you come back with
something that money cannot
buy.
Another team member
talked of the gospel of peace
and encouraged the
congregation to read Acts 9.
The extreme poverty and
lack of food for many of the
people of El Salvador was
evident and is a reminder of
how fortunate people are here
in rural Ontario they said.
At Knox United Church,
Nov. 23 Rev. Pat Cook gave
the message. Scripture
readings were Psalm 100 and
Matthew 25: 31-46.
Their white gift service is
Dec. 7.
The Olympians theme this
week is to dress as for a
career of your choice. Parents
are invited to attend the award
ceremony on Dec. 3.
Operation Christmas Child
area collection is this week at
Huron Chapel.
Huron Chapel’s Christmas
concert is on Dec. 14 at
7:30 p.m.
COMMEMORATE THE NEWEST
FAMILY MEMBER'S 1ST NEW YEAR
Join the gallery of faces in The Citizen's
baby photo display January 8, 2009
Send or bring a picture of your little one born in 2008
along with a writeup which includes full name, birth
date and parents' names, to be featured in The Citizen's
Gallery of Faces on January 8, 2009, for only $20.00
(GST included).
Please send picture (with name on back), along with a
cheque, to The Citizen prior to December 19. Photos
may be picked up after January 8.
THIS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
- Sample -
Please Complete
Baby's Full Name ______________________
Birth Date ____________________________
Father’s Full Name_____________________
Mother’s Full Name ____________________
$20.00 Enclosed
DEADLINE - December 19
2 pm in Brussels • 4 pm in Blyth
❑
Alex John Smith
May 18
son of
Mike & Laura Smith
BB aa bb ii ee ss oo ff tt hh ee
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By Gail Dobie
Call
519-526-7539
PEOPLE AROUND
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