regional news - Performance Printing

REGIONAL NEWSNightSaturday June 15, 2014 7:00 p.m.Perth and District CollegiateTom Wilson &Border BluegrassFEATURINGConnected to your communityCDSBEO students tell of life-changing March Break mission trip to GuatemalaEMC News – The following arehighlights from the Catholic DistrictSchool Board of Eastern Ontario’sMay 21 board of trustees meeting atthe board office in Kemptville.The CDSBEO Board of Trustees hadthe privilege of hearing testimonialsfrom Catholic secondary students whohad the opportunity to participate in theGuatemala Mission Trip over Marchbreak. Clearly moved by their lifechanging,profound experiences, thegroup gave an emotional and heartfeltaccount of their time in Guatemala, andhow they were particularly moved bythe children at the Nuestros PequenosHermanos (NPH) Orphanage.Forty students, along with tensupervisors, from seven secondaryschools, participated in the experience.Upon their arrival, the group travelledimmediately to the NPH Orphanagein San Andres, approximately onehour from Guatemala City. Working atthe orphanage is truly the core of theGuatemala Mission Trip experience.Here, the group stayed for six days,assisting with construction projects,gardening, helping in the kitchen, andworking at Castillo Magico, a home fororphans with special needs. After-workactivities at the orphanage includedSpanish lessons, dancing, a visit to thenearby village of Parramos, and lots ofinteraction with the children.Participants then left the orphanageand visited the lakeside resort townof Panajachel, had a guided tour ofa Mayan village and visited a localmarket. On day ten, participants had aguided tour of Antigua, the old colonialcapital, and enjoyed a group dinnerat a local restaurant. This specialevening was an opportunity to reflectupon and discuss the experiences theyencountered throughout their time inGuatemala.The trip provided students withthe opportunity to make a differencein a global community, and manycommented on how they now feelcompelled to contribute more locally,in their own communities. Studentsalso noted how they have come torealize the importance of family, aswell as how they now have a betterunderstanding of poverty.St. Michael Catholic High School(CHS) teacher, Mary-Kate Bridson,who travelled with the students,remarked, “This trip is just soworthwhile and unique. The studentswere able to immerse themselves in theNPH family. We saw the sadness, butwe also saw the possibility for hope.”The students presented the boardwith a hand-painted card, as well as apurple woven cloth, in recognition oftheir support of the mission. The cloth,which will be used as an altar cloth inthe Advent and Lenten seasons, waspurchased in a women’s cooperativein Guatemala, and has been blessed byboard chaplain, Father John Whyte.Catholic Education WeekThroughout Catholic EducationWeek, CDSBEO schools shone a greatlight on the ways in which the OntarioCatholic School Graduate Expectationsare being met throughout the system.The week began by highlightingthat students and staff are discerningbelievers formed in the Catholic faith,through the celebration of the annualCatholic Education Week Mass,presided by Archbishop BrendanO’Brien. Across the system, schoolcommunities also gave witness to thisexpectation through school masses,living rosary celebrations, and bibleactivities.Superintendent of SchoolEffectiveness, Marg Shea-Lawrence,gave an overview of the week’sevents, which was followed by a videoslideshow presentation. In addition tovarious religious celebrations, studentsalso participated in social justiceevents such as the poverty marchin Brockville, a Russell communitybarbecue fundraiser for Lesotho, andfundraising for local food banks,among other causes.These actions exemplify howCDSBEO students understand the callto be responsible citizens who givewitness to Catholic social teaching.Other activities such as a Mother’sDay tea and special parent eveningsremind students that they are called tobe caring family members.Interim financial report presentedAdministration presented an interimfinancial report to the board of trusteescovering the period Sept. 1, 2012 toMarch 31, 2013. The interim reportincludes a financial sectionalong with reporting on two nonfinancialindicators, enrolment andstaffing. The report also includescomparative figures for the samereporting period last year.The financial summary presentedindicated that the board is currentlyspending within the 2012-13 revisedbudget, with only a slight savingsindicated to March 31, 2013.The savings to March 31 are mainlydue to timing differences in the recordingof expenditures and are not expected toresult in a significant surplus for the2012-13 year. Enrolment and staffingcomparisons were also presented, andare in line with the estimates submittedin December 2012. Lyoness &Judy WoodstockPLUS SPECIAL GUESTSR.A. Cameron Jennifer Keating George LackeyTICKETS ON SALE NOW AT:Carleton Place Remembrance Gift Shop Smiths Falls Lockwood’s Sight & SoundPakenham Nicholson’s Sundries Westport Murphy’s Barber ShopPerth The Word, Dodds & Erwin Lanark Lanark Landing Almonte Kentfield Kidsor call George at 613-257-3730 or Dave at 613-284-6209$15.00 pre-concert or $18 at the door. Net proceeds to Calvary Christian Academy.R0012126914_0530THE EMC - 49 - Thursday, June 6, 2013