Spring fling for sun shelter

April 21, 2016

Kindergarten teacher Katy Garrett was amongst several volunteers who served tasty homemade desserts at the Hastings Highlands Centre in Maynooth on Saturday, April 16, in order to raise money for outdoor learning equipment for the school. SARAH VANCE Special to This Week

By Sarah Vance

There were signs of spring at the Hastings Highlands Centre over the weekend as community members filled the Ron Emond Hall for the third annual Maynooth Public School Spring Fling.
Satisfied guests sampled a lavish buffet of desserts, prepared by the parents’ council and served by teachers, as local band The Road Jammers entertained with folk favourites.

“Our parent council began decorating the hall on Friday and have been working for two days,” said Valerie Loney, a teacher at Maynooth Public School who spearheaded the event. “We enjoy a very special relationship with the Hastings Highlands Centre, where school events are given priority.” Fresh cut flowers and tea lights helped transform the gymnasium for the festive celebration, and give it a seasonal flavour.

In the front foyer, guests posed with props and costumes for portraits by Tyler George, a Sir Sanford Fleming College student who is completing the practical component of a Social Services diploma at Maynooth Public School.

Inside the hall, guests were seated at decorative round tables, against the backdrop of a silent auction. The highlight of the auction was Teacher Valerie Loney’s donation of an acrylic painting of Wilno (Canada’s first Polish Community). Friends and family scrambled to out-bid each other for the chance to take it home.

The auction’s many gifts-in-kind served as a reminder of the strong relationship enjoyed between the school and the surrounding community. “We are very fortunate to have such a great relationship with the municipality of Hastings Highlands and beyond. Everything tonight has been donated,” reported Lisa Resmer, principal of Maynooth Public School. “And our parent council has worked so very hard; we are fortunate to benefit from their efforts.”

More than a hundred tickets were sold for the live-music night. “We are right at capacity tonight,” said Miranda Mitchell, Hastings Highlands Library co-ordinator, who volunteered at the event. “We have filled the gymnasium and everyone is really enjoying themselves.”

Saturday’s Spring Fling was organized to raise funds for the purchase of an outdoor sun shelter, for use by Maynooth Public School students.

“We envision an outdoor learning centre, with a music wall, with built-in instruments, and with a sandbox,” said Valerie Loney. “This is one of several fundraising events that will be required over time to meet the costs of this project.”

“I am very proud of our school community who have literally spent hours and hours volunteering – from preparing the desserts to transforming the gymnasium,” said Principal Resmer. “The time and energy invested in our school makes such a difference for the students.”