Sir Adam Beck launches greening project

Sir Adam Beck’s Footprints Committee stands on the outdoor stage that’s part of the school’s new greening project that will see 41 trees planted around the playground over the next year.

Thanks to the work of a dedicated group of parents and staff at Sir Adam Beck School in Baden, students will have a greener outdoor play space filled with trees, shade and butterfly garden when they return next fall.

The group unveiled the  project plans at the kick off to Earth Week at the school last Thursday.

On hand was Dennis Wendland, the school’s “greening consultant” from Evergreen Learning Grounds, an agency that supports the creation of creative outdoor learning spaces and green projects.

The two-year $60,000 effort includes planting 41 trees, half of which will go in the ground this spring, to create shady spots and wind breaks.

The centrepiece is “a very cool outdoor classroom” students can play in at recess, said Footprints Committee member Sally Reijerse.

Rocks, sand and bridges will be added to create play spaces. The schoolgrounds will also house a naturalized area and flower garden designed to attract butterflies and other insects.

The Footprints Committee, made up of parents and staff, collected donations from parents in lieu of teacher gifts last December. Ongoing fundraising efforts will help make the full project a reality. The school also recently learned they are the recipients of grant money from the Region of Waterloo and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Sir Adam Beck principal Roger Boettcher said the project is a much needed effort at the two-year-old school where a lack of trees leaves the playground exposed to wind and sun.

Reading Week celebrated at Grandview PS

Students, staff and families participated in a variety of activities and presentations to celebrate Reading Week at Grandview PS in New Hamburg last week.

Author Eric Walters reads to students at Grandview School during reading week.

This special week to encourage and emphasize reading enjoyment and reading engagement was kicked off on Monday with a presentation to the Primary students by storyteller Derek Brisland.

Tuesday was Pajama Day, the Scholastic Book Fair opened and in the evening a Family Literacy Night was hosted by Kim Krueger-Kischak, an Early Literacy Specialist from the YMCA.

On Wednesday Eric Walters, a well-known Canadian children’s author, made a presentation to the students. Walters spoke about where he gets his ideas and inspiration for his many books. He shared his love of sports, Canadian history and nature and the many unsung and often unknown characters and events he has researched and included in his novels. Students were keen to ask Walters questions about his travels, his books and his experiences.

On Thursday local educator Mary Sasanow visited each class, bringing the Book of Awesome alive for the students. At the end of the day, students, grandparents, parents and staff were all invited to Stop, Drop and Read for the last period of the day.

Cooking for a cause

Fiddleheads in three applications: left: fiddlehead pancetta, center: a creme bruele, and right: a fiddlehead pretzel.

Local chef Lance Edwards has not only been whipping up culinary delights for the customers at Puddicombe House, where he is head chef, but he has also been doing it for Sick Children.

Edwards entered the fifth annual So You Think You Can Cook Fiddlehead Cullinary Challenge. An event put on by Norcliff Farms in Port Colborne.

The event, which tests chef’s abilities to cook with the tiny green fiddlehead vegetable, will be donating proceeds to the Hospital for Sick Children.

“I like doing events for kids and charities,” Edwards said. “It’s a good cause.”

Of the chefs who entered, only three recipes will be chosen by a panel of judges, and these will be served at a gala dinner in Toronto to culminate the competition. Tickets for the event are $100, all proceeds going to SickKids.

Edwards submitted a dish that showcased the fiddlehead in three applications. These included: a fiddlehead crème bruele, a fiddlehead pretzel, and a cured fiddlehead pancetta.

And while Edwards recently learned his dish was not one of the lucky ones chosen as winner, he is still happy to participate. Also, the competition allowed him to try things he would not otherwise have done.

“I’ve never thought of doing anything like this with fiddleheads,” he said. “It was a good opportunity to step out of the box and try something new.”

Edwards said he is always looking for such competitions, and is excited to compete in So You Think you can Cook next year.

Freedom Week at Forest Glen Public School

Kayla Sutherland (left) and Robynne Summerfield (middle) of Forest Glen Public School prepare for a silent auction at the school on April 18.

It was Freedom Week this week at Forest Glen PS. Events were held all throughout the week including: an Arts Gala, a bake sale and a guest speaker. The events, planned by the Global Issues Group at the school, were held to raise money for Free the Children.

Optimist Club of New Dundee hops to it for annual Easter Egg Hunt’s big turnout

John Underhill reports the New Dundee Optimist Club had a great turn out for their annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 7. Approximately 200 kids hunted for Easter treats. There were three big winners of a basket with more Easter treats. Pictured above from left, are winners Brooklyn Joyce, Easton Mayer and Anya Muskaluke. A good time was had by all on a beautiful sunny morning. The Optimists are sure the kids look forward to the Easter Bunny’s return next year.

Hop for Muscular Dystrophy

Lexi Lips and her classmates at the Wellesley Preschool take part in the Hop-A-Thon on April 5. The annual event is held to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy