Huron Expositor, 2017-05-31, Page 88 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Photos by Justine Alkema/Clinton News Record
Principal Carol Rauser and Vice Principal Rob Holland in front of the school at its 50th anniversary open
house on Saturday, May 27.
On the right, Gary Jewitt, principal of the school from 90-98, looks through memorabilia in the gym
beside Diane Morrissey.
50 years of Huron Centennial celebrated
Justine Alkema
Postmedia Network
Huron Centennial Public
School in Brucefield opened
its doors in 1967 after the
amalgamation of 19 school-
rooms from Egmondville to
Bayfield. Now, this vibrant
school has 342 students and
32 staff. They celebrated
their 50th year with an open
house on May 27.
Alumni, past and current
staff, students, families and
other community members
packed the school which was
filled with memorabilia and
displays. Enough lunch was
made for 500 people.
There was a display
devoted just to the storm of
1971, when students and
staff were stranded at the
school for two days. They
had areas to honour bus
drivers and alumni who
have passed away. They had
awards, photos and a time
capsule.
At 1 p.m. the chair of the
board, Randy Wagler, said a
few words as well as the
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school's first principal,
Arnold Mathers.
Principal Carol Rauser
said an alumni committee
has been planning the event
since January.
The school has a very large
catchment area.
"We have a real mix of kids
within this school," she said.
"You have a large agricul-
tural piece of course, but
then you have the town of
Bayfield and the community
of Vanastra."
They also draw from
Brucefield, Kippen and Hen -
sail, and have some students
from Egmondville.
In past years, 500 students
at the school wouldn't have
been unheard of. However
with declining school popu-
lations all over the county,
they are down to 342. Rauser
said that has been stable in
the five years she's been
there.
"This is probably the larg-
est school [in the area] with
Vanastra Lions launch
Message in a Bottle
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
When time is saved, lives
are saved. Following that
vital slogan, Vanastra Lions
Club has joined the trend-
ing Message in a Bottle
project.
A project started by the
Napanee Lions Club a
number of years ago.
Message in a Bottle has
been developed for emer-
gency services or first
responders to identify the
specific health care infor-
mation of individuals
when called to their
homes.
Linda McLachlan, treas-
urer at the Vanastra & Dis-
trict Lions Club said it has
been established primarily
for the vulnerable people in
the community.
"These factors may be
potentially lifesaving and
will provide peace of mind
to users, their families and
friends:"
People are asked to fol-
low the simple instructions
on the form in the bottle.
After the form is complete,
it is placed in a bottle inside
the door compartment of
the fridge, and then green
stickers are placed on the
fridge door and inside the
front door of the house.
McLachlan said when
EMS responds to a call,
their attention will be
drawn to these green
stickers.
"The more info people
have available (for) first
responders, the better," she
said.
Currently Vanastra Lions
Club members are going
door-to-door handing out
the bottles free of charge
throughout the village of
Vanastra.
At the moment,
the exception of Upper
Thames and Goderich."
She said she believes the
school has captured what it's
intended. She said while it
was difficult for communi-
ties to let go of their smaller
schools back in the 1960s,
you can offer so much more
in a larger school that you
can't offer with a staff of 7 or
8 teachers. She said they
have the resources offer a
wide variety of programs,
especially extra curricular.
Here is photo of the Message
in a Bottle offered by the
Vanastra Lions Club.
McLachlan said they have
run out of bottles but have
ordered more and expects
them to arrive within the
next few days so they can
hand more out next week
All emergency person-
nel are aware of this life
saving initiative; since the
launch of the Message in a
Bottle, there have been
12,000 bottles distributed
by 31 different Lions Clubs.