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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-04-25, Page 24Page 24 The Huron Expositor • April 25, 2007 News SPS peace garden seeds starting to sprout Toyota donation funds trees while school waits for rocks to build amphitheatre Susan 1iu n d e r tnt a r k GEMMESMOD After a dormancy period of more than two years, the seeds of Seaforth Public School's peace gar- den look like they're about to sprout. The school accepted a donation of $2,000 from the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds Program Friday, -which will go towards 14 shade trees already planted on the school property and more trees planned for the peace garden. And, as the weather warms up this week, plans are in the works to bring in a number of large rocks to serve as the seats for an outdoor classroom as well as preparing two garden beds for shrubs and flowers. "We've been over two years in the planning stage so when I see those rocks out there, I'll know we're on our way," says SPS teacher Nancy Kale, who is heading the peace gar- den committee. Kale says the rocks will be posi- tioned in a semi -circle with three layers, "sort of like an amphithe- atre" for student seating. "That's the infrastructure we've got to start from and it's the most expensive part," she says. The peace garden will be located just behind the school in the central U between the primary and senior wings and is a result of students of all grade levels sharing their visions of a peace garden with mod- els and drawings. Four trees were the first things planted in the garden last spring and shade trees are also planted along the asphalt and a sitting area was created in the "primary nook" on the north side of the school. The nook was paved with one - foot square red and black paving stones in a checkerboard pattern and one student's grand- father made wooden checkers - which must still be painted - to allow students to play checkers outdoors. "A lot of kids know how to play and I'm sure the teachers will be teaching them how if they don't know," says Kale, adding that the checkers should be ready to use in a few weeks. She says the nook is designed to be a seating area for students to sit and talk with friends or to play quiet games. Planters will also be located in the nook with shrubs and flowers and plans are still in the works for a trellis up the wall. Benches in the nook have been built from cedar by students at Central Huron Secondary School and another bench is planned to cir- cle a big tree in the schoolyard with cedar decking underneath. As the peace garden beds are pre- pared, Kale says it's planned that one will become a butterfly garden and one will have perennials and native shrubs. "We're going to be asking for help from parents to plant the beds soon," she says. The school has sold close to 20 memorial stones as a fundraiser for the garden. Anyone who wants to be remem- bered, including graduating classes, retiring teachers or families whose last children are leaving the school, were encouraged to include their stones in the garden and Kale says the committee will start up the memorial stone sales again once the large stones and two beds are in place. Others who have contributed financially towards the peace gar- den so far include the Seaforth Horticultural Society, the Avon Maitland school board's Foundation for the Enrichment of Education, the education director and SPS's principal's annual charity of choice campaign. Mitchell Family Doctors is pleased to announce that Dr. Mark R. Powell is currently accepting new patients to his practice of family medicine. Call 519-348-8402 7 Frances St., Mitchell Justine Frayne, of Exeter Toyota presents a cheque for $2,000 to Nancy Kale and principal Kim Black of Seaforth Public School for its peace garden. Kale says efforts continue to fundraise and the committee has yet to hear from an application to the TD Bank. She adds that while SPS had a garden club at its last location on Market Street, attempts will be made to restart the group to help look after the beds and the planters. "Right now, it's an idea. I don't know who's going to run it yet," she says. Eventually, she hopes to see the other plans for the garden, such as a arbour with vines and sturdy benches, blossom and grow. "This began as a vision of retired teacher Bill Farnell to have a place of beauty, reflection and quiet activ- ities and it's important to remember we're all caretakers," she says. 414P' IitR�1v PE.Rtf HEALTHCARE 11.1.1 NCE HURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE Volunteer Opportunities Board of Directors • one Director from outside the City of Stratford who resides in the catchment area served by Stratford General Hospital. Local Advisory Committee • members for the Stratford Local Advisory Committee. You must be prepared to commit your time and energy to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance business and offer a good community perspective on health care issues. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the Alliance's Website www.hpha.ca and attend the Information Session as follows: Information Session Monday, April 30, 2007 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Stratford General Hospital Site W1 N Conference Room - W119 Please RSVP to Brenda Mitchell, 519-272-8210, Ext. 2437 or by e-mail at brenda.mitchel (hpha.ca, if you plan to attend. Information Packages and an Application Form will be available at the session. SEAFORTH INSURANCE • BROKER LTD./HIMG ` • Home • Commercial •Auto •Farm • Out of Province Travel Insurance t 41 Main St. S. Seaforth 519-527-1610 Ken Cardno, Joanne Williamson, lik Colleen Bromley and Barb Watt Justine Frayne, of Exeter Toyota presents a cheque for $2,000 to Nancy Kale and principal Kim Black of Seaforth Public School for its peace garden. Kale says efforts continue to fundraise and the committee has yet to hear from an application to the TD Bank. She adds that while SPS had a garden club at its last location on Market Street, attempts will be made to restart the group to help look after the beds and the planters. "Right now, it's an idea. I don't know who's going to run it yet," she says. Eventually, she hopes to see the other plans for the garden, such as a arbour with vines and sturdy benches, blossom and grow. "This began as a vision of retired teacher Bill Farnell to have a place of beauty, reflection and quiet activ- ities and it's important to remember we're all caretakers," she says. 414P' IitR�1v PE.Rtf HEALTHCARE 11.1.1 NCE HURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE Volunteer Opportunities Board of Directors • one Director from outside the City of Stratford who resides in the catchment area served by Stratford General Hospital. Local Advisory Committee • members for the Stratford Local Advisory Committee. You must be prepared to commit your time and energy to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance business and offer a good community perspective on health care issues. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the Alliance's Website www.hpha.ca and attend the Information Session as follows: Information Session Monday, April 30, 2007 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Stratford General Hospital Site W1 N Conference Room - W119 Please RSVP to Brenda Mitchell, 519-272-8210, Ext. 2437 or by e-mail at brenda.mitchel (hpha.ca, if you plan to attend. Information Packages and an Application Form will be available at the session.