HOPEWELL FAREWELL!

BY JC SULZENKO

IT'S OVER WHEN THE LADY SINGS

t's June, when a kid's fancy turns to summer holidays and leaving Hopewell's halls, if not forever, then at least for ten long weeks.

For me, it's a little different. I'm graduating - I mean my fourteen year old graduates at the end of June, so I must move on too, and this is my last column on behalf of Hopewell.

While my son can hardly wait to leave, I feel sad. I love the school, its range of children from tiny four year olds to strapping teens with gigantic feet ( the boys, that is!) I'll miss the teachers, administrators, School Council and families, the amazing spirit and wonderful events.

It's the School where my daughter six years ago picked up the euphonium and never put it down, except to play trombone in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. It's the school where my son took to the trumpet like a natural while he changed from boy to man in hardly the blink of an eye.

It's the School that gave me a base from which to write storybooks about Annabella and her tycoon and this year about Lilli and Zach and their creative mother. It's the school I have loved to cover for the OSCAR over the last two years. No wonder I feel the way I do!

Many thanks to the Hopewell Public School community: you gave each of us 'graduates' so much. We hope we were able to return some in kind.

END NOTES

• School board staff recommendations that could close from one to three schools in our area became public May 24. There are only five weeks (until the end of June) for families to give their reaction and input. Board staff will produce final recommendations by the end of August for decisions by Trustees just before municipal elections. Schools will close in June 2001. Don't miss your chance to influence these important decisions. Contact Hopewell School Council Co-chairs by leaving a message at the Hopewell Office, 239 2348.
• If your child is not returning to Hopewell in the Fall, let the School Office know before the holidays. It's open on June 26 from 8:30-4:30 pm.
• Before the last day of school, families will receive notice of what consumable supplies (such as workbooks) they will need for their kids in September, since  Hopewell's budget can no longer cover these materials.
• Hopewell will open a few days early before classes resume on September 5 to allow new registration. The list of supplies students will need to bring will be available then and class lists will be posted in the Atrium after 10 am on August 31.

NOTABLE MOMENTS

• 3,500 books devoured during Read-a-thon raised over $ 6400 for School projects and brought over 775 books into the Library
• office administrator Christine Marleau ran in the National Capital Marathon in the name of the late Maeve Hellyer Stewart and raised over $ 675 in pledges from the staff and community;
• Lynn Senecal-Watson's Intermediate students presented their own innovative adaptation of Hugo's Les Miserables;
• Grade 12 Students from Glebe Collegiate tested their original short stories for children in front of constructive critics in Merri Legris' JK class;
• the Grass Yard is looking good with Spring clean-up well underway and installation of tetherballs;
• a generous Volunteer Tea provided by the School administration and staff celebrated countless hours spent by family members at the School;
• chicks and butterflies emerged under the watchful care of JK students;
• the intermediate boys basketball team took a silver medal in the Regional Championships;
• 80 Grades 3-6 kids participated in the Annual Chess Tournament;
• SK students produced a wonderful new, illustrated cookbook From our Mothers' Kitchens, that included Rudmilla's Chocolate Milk (just "4 pours of milk, 1 teaspoon of chocolate)" and Edie's Roll-ups (" flat roll-up things for as many people who want them and two pieces of big chicken that's wet!");
• five Intermediate Hopewell Bands are off to the music festival at Canada's Wonderland!

Happy and safe holidays everyone!

UP COMING EVENTS

• Year-end Barbecue, Friday, June 9 (Raffle for Gourmet Dinner for 4)
• School Council, Tues June 13, Library, 7:15 pm.
• Junior Choir concert, June 15, 7pm, gym
• Grade 6 Graduation, Tues June 20, Library, 2:30 pm.
• Grade 8 Graduation, Thurs June 22, Large Gym, 4 pm.
• Last Day of School, Fri June 23
• First Day of School, Tues Sept 5