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8--The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 20, 2004 48 lue v.878-2881 Left, four-year-old Justin Mayhew, a junior kindergarten (JK) student at Chrîs Hadfield Public Sahool, checks out astronaut Chris Hadfleld's wlngs whlle holding his very own space mission patch. Above, Col. Hadfleld chats wlth a group of JK students during a vidmo on his flight into space.. Photos by GRAHAM PAINE 'Hadfield tells young students to 'dream bi*g' Astronaut on hand for opening of elementary school named afler him By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion T four-year-old Justin Mayhew, the words Col. Chris Hadfield spoke as he bent to look him in the eyes seemed a bit puzzlmng. And why was everyone watching themn? But he wasn't about to complain, and he lis- tened attentivcly to the mustached man while fingcring his new space mission patch. "Do you ever hear anyone who says tse sky's Use limit?" Col. Hadtield asked Justin. "Don't helieve them." To Use adutts within earshot, the comrment made perfect sense coming from a man who had travelled to space twice. And if anyone haa earned the right to, impact wisdom about the power of dreams, it's Milton's home-town hero Col. Hadfield, who's now chief of rohoties at NASA's Astronaut Office in Houston, Tex. Col. Hadfield - who grew up in Milton and attended Milton District High Sehool - was in town Friday morning to celehrate the officiaI opening of Chris Hadfield Public Sehool on Woodward Avenue, which has heen open since the hcginning of this school year. When it was his tum to take the stage, Col. Hadfield opted for the floor and talked to the students, who ranged from junior kmndergarten to grade 7, ahout the importance of helieving in themselves and dreaming hig. 'Il rememher my first day at school," he said. "My mom and I went to register, and I was 50 nervous. I neyer thought I'd corne hack to a achool named Chris Hadtield School." He spoke about how it was while hie was in grade 4 that hie decided he waa going to hecomne an astronaut and fly to space. "Amazing things have happcned since 1 was in kindergarten. And amazing things are going to. happen during your lime at Chris Hadfield,' hie said. Even the youngest of students listened intently as Col. Hadfield, who was the first Canadian to leave a spacecraft and float free in space, charged themr with the task of neyer limiting themselves. "Who's going to live on the moon? It's not gomng to he me, l'mi too, old. It's going to he one of you. But you have to go to school to learn a lot of things." He admitted that visiting a school namned after him still seemect"weird," hut said it was a "huge honour." "It's a hig responsihility. I have to make sure I live my life like the type of person who has a school named after him," he said, only haîf jok- ing. Principal Rick Nodwell told students toi take time to enjoy each moment of the presentation. "Many years from now, you'll have the oppor- tunity to look back and say, Il got to meet Col. Hadfield. I was there when the sehool opened," Mr. Nodwell said. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Col. Hadfield presented the school with a collage of photos that mncluded a picture of Milton taken from space. His mother, Eleanor Hadficld, said she always enjoys watching hier son interact with kids. "Chris is at his hest with youngsters. ut's such a pleasure to sec. He neyer talks down to them, he's right with them," she said. Grade 6 student Christine Forsythe said she'l always rcmemher hearing Col. Hadfield speak. 'il thought it was cool when Chris walked out with the hagpipes playing," she added. Madison Slade, also in grade 6, said she likes atsendmng the new school. "It's fun hcing part of a hrand new achool," she said. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. WVCOGECQ Mu "M KÀA 60*69 aL ProgLrammingi Schedule - Tuesday, January 2Oth - Monday January M6t, 2004 Druly Local TefleIsI w w c g c . 5,,,m 6pl Plugg.d InI EaryWWe spm. 6,s PI,,5595n! Ealy 51Sp, Psd Ety Week 5pin. 6pw PSggde In ,1ýW 5pn sPuge n 5 , PSgd15 5".5 6515 5555.511, 5 -7= 1 555 7:30p.geco.ca &7365. & Edlts, Editi&7 S~, &5,~ 57305115 t 5Week Editio 5735,15 Lat. W.55dfts, & 7:30p. Lat Wek Edition &i.Z ýýLpteNe9""i NORTH MALTON STUJDIO 5:0ms ens -s-,ss.s S37p Peo5epek in Hakon 530m OslrHeafth C-lds, 53OP. B. .p,,7d '5 5pm W1h Gd Tast 62750p. l5,t1Bingo5(L5l) 30PM Be SIl5P1d 5:33p5 Mey Week 530P.~ Saine.Sna., -SOps OH55h Cs,5,s, Larir laa op HaIton HiIs ourici 7 0011 Sap Talk (Li.)1 7:007, Th.I,- 1ý, 7 G0p,, PsplaSpe.k in H.Mts .Op 5sIb.~~ 500 Laurier Avenue J.~5" 210,, 8,,t5 OOpn M.00yV5 5075, S,,5Z5E,,(,0 Milton, ON L9T 4R3 New Day for Halton Region Council - WodnedaiM Gpm 905-878-9306