Times Advocate, 1998-05-27, Page 19EppNTHERpq
Watch for this
page the last
week of every
month
Blood Relations a succe
By: Jennifer Hodder, Crelene Duck & Lyndsay Lewis
Our school play, "Blood Relations", written by Sharon
Pollock, was performed by Drama students on May 21 and
22 to an enthusiastic crowd. This play tells the true story of
Lizzie Borden. Accused of the murder of her father and
step -mother, Lizzie, played by Sarah Vermunt and Vanessa
Laye, tells the story of her life leading up to the murders.
With a cast of seven and a crew of more than 35, this play
was, In our opinion extremely well presented.
We spoke with Anthony Robert Timer, who plays Andrew
Borden In this production:
"We started rehearsing this play in November, originally
for the Series Festival. We had a good tum out last night but
1 hope the second night of the play will be even better. 1
enjoyed working on this play and the people 1 worked with
were really great, we had a great time. I would really
encourage people to join the drama program, it's a great
way to bring out your creative side and it's a lot of fun!"
Actors, Ryan Gibson, Anthony Robert Turner and Darryl
Romphf as well as Sarah Vermunt, Vanessa Laye, Kerlann
O'Rourke and Kristina Cowell all put on great performances
-- the reactions from audience members were all positive.
Everyone enjoyed a professional and riveting depiction of
this Intriguing tale.
The lights went down to the eerie echo of children chant-
ing these words:
"Lizzie Borden took an axe
Gave her mother 40 whacks
When the job was nicely done
She gave her father 411"
We left the performance in complete agreement --we
would have paid far more than a mere'five dollars to be At top:the cast of Blood Relations. Bottom left: Andrew (Llzzle'8
brstellar cast. caughtup ithe excitement of Lizzie's life, as shown to us father) played by Rob Turner. Bottom right: Vanessa Laye and
by r stDarryl Romphf - roles: (actress Lizzie and Dar. Patrick).
SH students take trip to Cleveland
by Karen Passmore with Kyle Fusick
On Thursday, May 7th, the Senior Concert Band and the.Black
Jazz Band pulled away from the school for a 4 -day trip to Cleveland.
Ohio. A total of 55 people went on this trip, and all were anxious to
reach Cleveland --mostly to get off the bus! Finally, after 8 hours (with
a stop or two) they arrived at their hotel. Students then had a short while
to relax , unpack, and eat before going to Severance Hall for a concert
by the Cleveland Symphony.
On Friday , a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was arranged-- a
- highlight of the trip. After this, the band got ready (and nervous) to play
at the Heritage Festival, which was the main purpose of the trip. Senior
concert hand was,up first. They played well. and everyone was pleased.
A short while later, after finding out what the Festival school's idea of a
"drum set" was. and cutting up Mr. Rohilliard's score. the Black Jazz
Band took the stage.
Their program went well, and everyone headed back to the hotel in
good spirits. This night marked the free night of the trip, in which some
went howling, some played arcade games, (someone decided to do a
cartwheel in the hall:kicked the smoke detector, and set off the fire
alarm), and most students just hung out. It was also.karoke night at the
hotel. Participants from South Huron were eliminated very quickly -
what can we say -they were there for instrumental. not vocal.
Saturday was a trip to the Cleveland Zoo, and a free afternoon to
shop or do otherwise. In the evening, students attended The Festival
Banquet, whcrc two silver awards were given to our hands. Everyone
was eager to get hack to the hotel to get,somc sleep and rest for thefol-
lowing day's activities --a trip to Cedar Point was the finishing touch to
the trip.
The bus ride honk was a quiet one --most people slept to the back-
ground noise of Austin Powers, and a very few actually watched the
movie. After a stop in Windsor. and one in Corbett, the road trip ended
as students arrived horns at 10:30 pm, unloaded the bus, and raced
home for those 10 precious hours of sleep before first class on Monday
morning.
SH Co-op Program is a big hit with
students and community
By AnnMarie Hodgert (with Cynthia Crete)
This year, at South Htiron, co-op is a big hit. There are between 75
and 1(X) students involved (which is a lot of students for staff supervi- .
cors, Ms. Shore and Ms. Richards, to oversee at once.) About 10% of
students involved in co-op arc hired for after school or summer jobs at a
community workplace. The most popular placements arc usually in the
education, automotive, and business fields. The advantage of co-op is
that it gives students the opportunity to experience the job and dedica-
tion that goes with it. so that they know for sure that is what they want
before making college or university decisions.
While in the classroom. students study resumes, learn how to create
cover letters, develop interview skills and many more essential skills.
Students taking co-op must he at least 16 years old, and have obtained a
minimum of sixteen credits. The students arc required to spend 170
hours in the workplace. M the end of a successfully completed course,
students will receive two credits.
We had the opportunity to visit a student while on their co-op place-
ment. Bridget Wuerch told us what she docs. Bridget is a co-op student
who works with a 14 -year old girl who came from Thailand two years
ago. The girl's name is Vannaly Chansamone. Vannaly speaks Laos, but
is learning English quickly. Bridget works one on one with Vannaly and
explains difficult wording in assignments such as math, history, sci-
ence, French and English.
Bridget commented that she had once contemplated becoming a
translator at a major corporation. but now she says she might be a
teacher and work with students like Vannaly. It is quite obvious, from
talking with teachers and students involved in the co-op program that it
is an excellent forum for South Huron students to explore future career
opportunities in a realistic way.
Staff supervisor,
Ms. Richards
and Co-op
student Melissa
Rowan at her
placement at
Exeter Public
School Junior
Kindergarten/
Senior
Kindergarten.
SAC news
• The School Advist�ry Council held their annual meeting on May 12th -in
the South Huron library. Reports were given by the fund raising committee,
report card team. code of behaviour team. treasurer. and the chair.
Elections were held --Sandy Shaw Young is the chair for the 1998-99
year. Donna Shapton is the vice -chair. Student representatives will be nomi-
nated by June. and teachers and support staff will he nominated in
September.
The School Advisory Council parents arc going to help sell, for a mini-
mal fee, non- alcoholic fancy drinks at this year s formal.
All parents arc welcome to the SAC meetings. so check the student •
handbook for the dates of the meetings. Please come out and support your
children.
A farewell to nothing:
Goodbye to Seinfeld
by Bram Steele with Ken Rattana
After 9 years of nothing the farewell to NBC's Scinfeld leaves fans miss-
ing everything. Yet while many fans adored the show, thcrc are a select few
that were happy to sec the legendary show go. Well to them I say no soup
for you! Scinfeld was a brilliant show with writers who could precisely
weave a story line that perfectly meshed with so many other story lines
that when everything crumbled apart you'd he laughing so hard it would be
difficult to breathe.
Even when the show didn't have a handful of stories, there was never
any question --the show was funny. For example. in one episode the whole
show is based on the characters waiting for a table at a restaurant. Only
Seinfeld could pull that off --as he did for nine years.
The final episode of Scinfeld aired on Thursday. May 15th, the same
night as South Huron's Retro Dance. While our school dances usually pro-
duce quite a turnout. Scinfeld definitely stole the night. Out of a student
body of 850 people. only 15%, attended the dance. On the same night as
Scinfeld's last hurrah --coincidence'? I think not. In a survey conducted at
South Huron. of 50 people. 15 students went to dance, 15 students watched
Scinfeld, and 5 people did something 'other'. Scinfeld obviously won for
the hest way to spend a Thursday night.
And so, with a sigh, we say .farewell to our Thursday nights with Elaine,
George, Kramer, and Jerry --it was funny, it was entertaining...it was
nothing.
The Road Less Travelled:
The making of a hero
by AnnMarie Hodgert
lir take the road less traveled means to go the way no pian has ever
gone, feel the things no man has ever fell. and do the things no man has ever
done, not to just be shy and say that might he dangerous .
Think about this --if Nellie McClung had not taken the road Icss traveled,
then we would not have equal rights for Wren and women. I think the person
that can take the Icss worn road without turning hack would have to be an
individual person who can say 1 think this is right so I am going to do it
even though you wouldn't or didn't .
This person would also have to be brave, because they would be going
where no man had ever gone. If Ncil Armstrong had said, 1 don't want to
be the first, 1 am afraid, then there would never have been anyone on the
moon.
A person would have to be smart, because they would have to be able to
react quickly and effectively if anything goes wrong. This person would also
have to he detcrmincd.because thcy would have to say 1 made this choice,
and just because something went wrong. I am not going to turn hack.
Thomas Edison, when he invented the light hulk, was unsuccessful many
times, but he said I'm not giving up ...and because of him, we have lights.
People that take the road Tess traveled arc individuals, they arc brave,
smart, determined and curious. If people of the past or present didn't take
the road Icss traveled then we wouldn't have hydro, phones, planes, trains or •
automobiles...to name but a few things we owe to pioneers of untraveled
roads.
REMINDER...
The South Huron newspaper "Paw"
will be coming out the last week of
school. Students can purchase a
.copy at South Huron High School:.
•
Times -Advocate, May 27, 1998 Page 19
*From the Principal's desk
By Deb Homuth
South Huron District High School
On Nye pesday May 27 South Huron took a
moment46 thank the 117 volunteers who had lent a
hand in one way or another during this school year.
From Co-operative Education employers to School
Advisory Council members to volunteer drivers and
coaches for extra curricular activities and enrich-
ment trips, we are so grateful for your time and sup-
port. Please accept our thanks!
Our school, like others across this province, also
benefits from the support of private citizens and
business people as evidenced by the addition of the
cross -curricular computer lab now found in our
school library. So many gestures of help are made
during the course of a school year. For example,
recently Jim Guenther of Huron Motor Products loaned a van to the
school so students could participate in the field trip described in last
week's article. Thanks HMP!
Large corporations, too, have given generously to South Huron
over the years. Recently, our Auto Mechanics teachers, Keith
Wonnacott and Rob Peat, were able to encourage General Motors of
Canada to donate a $33,000 1998 fully loaded Buick leSabre to the
school's Auto program. Over the last 18 years, two Chryslers, two
Toyotas, a Geo and a Ford have all been donated so the Auto
Mechanics students would be able to learn on up-to-date engines.
That sort of corporate support is certainly a terrific addition to the
school's curriculum.
Embedded deep in our history, is the concept of offering time, tal-
ent and treasure to the local school. Pioneer parents would make
donations of a bushel of apples, some time spent working on the
school house, or a load of firewood as a way of supporting their local
school. It is wonderful that this earliest of Ontario customs is still
continued at South Huron today.
Oakridge Secondary School in London recently became a regis-
tered charitable organization raising many questions about this rela-
tionship between the school and its local community. Although the
intention is to benefit the school, personally I think there is a tremen-
dous danger in a democratic society when schools need to rely on
charitable donations as their major source of revenue in order to exist.
Some things, I would suggest, are endemic to a democracy not the
least of which is a publically funded education system for everyone's
children. Never mind what will happen to all the other true charities
if schools come in competition for local citizens' charitable dollars.
For me, it requires a tremendous shift in thinking to see schools as
charities.
Another fundamental change in direction may come in September
with respect to the school's extra -curricular program. The legislated
increase in teaching time is resulting in many teachers re-examining
how much time they will have to volunteer for the extra -curricular
clubs and teams. For many years, students at South Huron have
benefitted from a rich extra -curricular program operated primarily by
teacher volunteers. Occasionally, we have had to seek volunteers •
from outside the school to coach a team or lead a club. All of this
could very well change in September when teachers are assigned
more classes. The value of a wide variety of activities can only be
measured in the difference it makes in students' lives. How it will all
be worked out remains to be seen. .
Volunteerism, in all its forms, helps make good schools better.
May it all continue for years to come.
Deb Homuth
School Council elections- results are in
by Matt Littlechild
This time of year is very busy for most people, and busier still for oth-
ers. Several of South Huron's students have high hopes of working for our
school next year. Yes, these brave students want to be on the Student
Council for the 1998-99 school year. Some positions are appointed, but
some positions, one has to work hard for. These people must stand up in
front of their peers and say a speech. The school listened to these Student
Council speeches on. Friday, May 22, and voting took place on the same
day. Those voted for are the following:
Premier
Sarah Vermunt
A.C. Representative
Jamie Reaburn
Co -Deputy Premiers
Julie Darling
Marcy Swancc
Grade 11 Represeruatives
Jan Fisher
Sarah Hodge
The appointed positions for SAC/ OSSA, Public Relations, Secretary,
and Treasurer were not available at the time of publication.
Congratulations to all those who will represent the student body next
year --well done to all the candidates. All speeches were quite humorous
and campaigns professional and effective. We had a strong, positive group
of people to select our council from.
Student Council members: Marcy Swance, Sarah Vermunt
and Julie Darling
DATES To KEEP IN MIND
Tuesday, June 2, 1998. Athletic Banquet (6 pm)
Wednesday, June 3, 1998 School Trip to Air Show
Friday, June 5, 1998 School Formal
Wednesday, June 17 --Tuesday, June 23, 1998....Examinations
South Huron student excels
by Adam Cyr and Jarrett Palen
The Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation Western Ontario Leadership
Seminar was held from May 2-4, 1998. The event was held at Ridgetown
College of Agricultural Technology-- Ridgetown, Ontario. The purpose of
the Hugh 0' Brian Youth Foundation is to find, recognize and reward lead-
ership potential in grade 10 students. The objective is to create an atmos-
phere where students can think for themselves and personal development
can be encouraged.
r
The committee of the foundation chooses one second year high school
student from every school in Ontario to sit in a seminar designed to assist
students in their quest for self- identification and self -development. This
year, Anne -Marie Parsons was selected from South Huron's grade 10
populous, to represent us at the seminar.
When we asked Anne Marie what the experience was like , she said, "It
was a great experience and an excellent opportunity." She also commented,
"I met a lot of new people." All in all, she considered this a great learning
experience and would recommend any interested grade nines obtain infor-
mation about this seminar from Ms. Garvey in the Resource Department.