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Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette Vol. 44 Number 6 Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 Price 80 cents incl. GST LIFE IS BRIGHTER UNDER THE SUN We'll Help You Understand Your Options, and Make The Best Decision For You Schooler Financial Services Corp. 'We will visit you in your home to d Call: 1-866-683-4 Adam Schooler*, Advisor Scott Schooler*, Advisor Sun Life Financial Alcoholics Anonymous Nipigon: Grace United Church Monday & Thursday 8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous NDMH: Rotary Room Meetings Sunday 3:00 p.m. Canadian Cancer Society LET’S MAKE CANCER HISTORY For information about cancer, services or to make a donation phone 1-888-939-3333 www.cancer.ca Serving over 6000 readers in Nipigon, Red Rock, Dori-on, Hurkett, Beard-more, MacDiarmid, Jellicoe & Area George O’Neill Public School Grand Re-Opening..... Below: Special thank you cards were presented to Mark Manisto, Superior Greenstone Board of Education chair and Patti Pella, Director of Education by Casey Clearwater and Courtney Odahl Above: this bevy of young girls greeted visitors to the George O’Neill Public School grand re-opening, helping with the tours of the school - Darla Kwisses, Kristen Marceau, Cheyenne Wawia, Casey Clearwater, Courtney Odahl and Samantha Taisey. The photo above and to the right: ribbon cutting done by Crystal Hardy, with Courtney Odahl and Casey Clearwater holding the ribbon, assisted by Kristin Marceau, Bette Bartlett, Board trustee, Bernadette Langthorne, chair of the School Council and Nicki Morden-Cormier, principal. Photos Submitted by Glena Clearwater A long 8 months of machines, hammers, workers coming and going, setbacks and changes all came together last week when a Grand Re-Opening of the Renovated George O’Neill Public School took place. A special ribbon cutting ceremony took place in the gym(WAAAAAAAAAY to cold to be outside!) with Crystal Hardy chosen to cut the ribbon, held in place by Courtney Odahl and Casey Clearwater assisted by Bernadette Langthorne, chair of the School Council, Bette Bartlett, Board trustee and principal Nicki Morden-Cormier. Everyone was welcomed in the new front doors of the school and into the lobby to meet staff, student tour guides, view over 30 photo albums/photos and enjoy refreshments following the ribbon cutting. As Bernadette Langthorne, chair of the School Council said “Now we know which door to enter!” During the early renovations and into the fall everyone went to school not knowing for sure which door was being used that day. She spoke of the mill fire, exactly a year ago, that made the planning group wonder, would the renovations even happen. But, the Board stayed with its decision and the $2 million plus renovations began early in the spring, finally finishing in December. There are still a few small items being finalized. Present for the opening was Mark Manisto, chair of the Board, Patty Pella, Director of Education, Colleen Cappel, superintendent, Kay Notwell, trustee for Terrace Bay-Schreiber and Mylene Chouinard, chair of the Brass Bell Early Years. Congratulations were given by the guests, as well as some words of the dedication of so many people to see that it happened. Mrs. Morden-Cormier spoke of the disruptions the renovations caused when they were not completed by September and how everyone went the extra mile to work around them. She spoke in detail of some of the unexpected problems -like the job of packing an entire school into boxes to fit into a transport and then unpack it all and have everything in place in one weekend. A slide presentation showed the chronological progress of the renovations but could not capture the noise, the layers of dust, the hold ups, the re-installations of some items or the coping skills of staff and students to work, play and learn around the many distractions. A video concluded the presentation with Mrs. Morden-Cormier interviewing students to get their comments on the “new school” â€" all positive from great computer lab with flat screen monitors, to bright rooms, wide open stairwells and long corridors - comments from Brooke, Caleb, Carter, Teemo, Eden, Crystal, Kristin and Casey. Casey Clearwater and Courtney Odahl thanked all those involved with the school renovations and presented thank-you cards to Mr. Manisto and Mrs. Pella, both signed by all the pupils and staff. Mrs. Pero’s class sang a welcome song and Mrs. Crichton’s class choir sang 2 songs while Mrs. Pella led the pupils in a rousing Hip-Hip-Hooray cheer. Open house was also held in the evening and was very well attended with staff members offering tours for those interested in hearing about the facilities. During the opening former teachers and staff showed up, plus residents like Anita Lange, Helen Wheeler and Ray Huntus who went to school there - Helen doing all 12 years at the school! There is no doubt that, as both Mrs. Morden-Cormier and Mrs. Bartlett stated, “A bright, cheerful learning environment is conducive to positive learning” and these renovations will certainly help.