Tears shed at final school assembly By JOANNA WONG . PARENTS, STUDENTS and staff grew teary-eyed last week as they said goodbye to Copper Mountain Elemen- tary in an emotional final assembly. oe Although many were disappointed with the school district’s unexpected decision to close the school in an attempt to save money, staff tried to keep things upbeat. - The assembly gave out awards to outstanding students and featured a painstakingly assembled slide show se- lected from 1,500 photos. Students cheered and laughed as they re-lived memories of trips to the fire department, - castume contests, slow dances and hot days on the lake. “There was a lot of the girls who were really upset today,” said grade 7 student Tracie Haasjes. “We were all in class and we cried for about two hours straight.” Next year, Copper Mountain’s 171 students will be transferred to Thornhill Primary and Elementary, “They’re going to be stuffed to the rim,” said Copper Mountain teacher Terri Cameron of the Thornhill schools. Cameron, a kindergarten teacher, is one of the schoal’s 28 staff who are still in limbo and awaiting stable placements for next year. The schoo! itself will remain empty. “They’re boarding it up,” said Cameron. “It kind of makes you want to puke.” Parents seemed equally distressed. “It’s not just a lit- tle school — this is a whole community,” said Copper Mountain mom Caro} Haasjes. She is particularly upset because the school was the only one in the area that went from kindergarten to grade seven, allowing siblings to stay together for a longer per- iod of time. The loss of the schoo! is heartbreaking, says Haasjes, who’s angry at provincial school board officials. “They’ve thrown our hearts on the pavement and stomped on it,” said Haasjes. “I want to call up [Education Minister] Christy Clark when I can’t sleep at night.” Other parents were more pragmatic. “It’s really unfor- tunate but with our economic situation, with work around Terrace, it’s something we have to do,” said parent Al Cameron of the closures. “It’s sad because they’ve done a fantastic job — they’ve really set a standard.” Teacher Keith Gosse echoed Cameron’s feelings of pride about Capper Mountain. “ve watched this school grow from a reputation of being one of the tougher schools to a community family school,” said Gosse, who’s been at Copper Mountain for 23 years. “Parents have become more and more involved in a positive way.” Principal Phillip Barron says he’s disappointed with the decision to close the schaol, but is happy he'll be able to continue on with his students when he takes over as principal at Thornhill Elementary next year. “It had a different feel. to it this year,” said Barron of the last day of school as he stood outside waving good- bye to his students. “The kids weren’t their usual excited selves for summer-~ but they'll be over it by, oh, three p’clock.” sft na tbe tonto agi? 3 5 pis GgFian ad Moe Ao) bos vine tadt bids. i CALLING OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER « STUDENTS WALKED out of Copper Mountain Elementary’s doors for the final : time last week after provincial budget cuts forced the school to close. Hera, students Tanner Harris, Jason Haasjes and Chad Dignard, all 8, show off the class t-shirts they received as a farewell present. JOANNA WONG PHOTO, From front Packing up Parkside the PTA, “The only way I can describe how I feel is broken hearted,” she said. transferred to E.T. Kenny and Clarence Michiel. The school’s 15 staff will be redistribu- ted among existing schools and the prin- Last week, students and staff said cipal, Christine Foster, is to take over as goodbye to Parkside in a special assemb- principal of Clarence Michiel. ly Parkside Primary itself is slated to be revamped into an alternate high school for students from Lakelse Junior Second- ary and the Teen Learning Centre. “I think they've made a horrible mis- take and I think they’re going to regret it but we are going to take the spirit of Parkside out to E.T, Kenny and Clarence Michiel,” said parent Lesley Ljungh. Ljungh has been highly involved with Parkside,’ a8‘a°coach‘ and ‘as a member of” “It was highly emotional,” said Ljungh. “It was supposed to be 45 min- utes and it was two hours.” With the students finished as of June 21, teachers are cleaning up, taking in- ventory and getting ready for whatever next year will bring. “We've been so busy you hardly have time to blink,” said Weismiller. “I sus- ‘pect once we stop, runing, around it will a ough. 1 1 vat Le hoe Dy ctate Peo a, “i ~S Sy OPEN WEEKNIGHTS UNTIL 7:00 P.M. 47188 LAZELLE AVE. © HAIR STYLING © ESTHETICS, ¢ TANNING. - 635-4997 OR 1-800-251-4997 AAPPY CANADA DAY 3210 Clinton Street, Terrace, B.C. 639-7283 STANDARD A ACTIVITIES & EVENTS TERRACE, B.C. Monday, July 1, 2002 A Firefighters Breakfast - 8-11 a.m. 3215 Eby St., Terrace Fire Hall $4.00 each, Children Under 3 FREE The Bakery 635-7117 +) Cookie Jar 4647 Lazelle Ave., Terrace Fantastic Door Prizes, Booths with great safety information, fire truck rides for the kids and much, much more... A Heritage Park Museum - 4113 Sparks St. Picnic in the park 12-4 p.m. BBQ sponsored by Jackpine Flats Community Association Events - Kids Games & Races ~- Face Painting - Live Entertainment - Silent Films (Shown in Dance Hall) - Visit The Heritage Buildings CEDARLAND TIRE SERVICE LTD. 4929 Keith Ave., Terrace, B.C. 635-6151 - Enjoy A Piece of the Huge Canada Day Birthday Cake donated by Cookie Jar Bakery - Daily Tours available 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. A Drag Races - Terrace/Kitimat Airport SATURDAY, JUNE 29 STREET LEGAL DRAGS Gates open 5 pm, Racing Starts 6 pm SUNDAY, JUNE 30 KING OF THE YXT AND GAMBLERS Gates open 8 am, Racing Starts 10 am MONDAY, JULY 1 BRACKET RACING 4912 Hwy 16 W, Terrace B.C. 250-635-6558 www.terraceautomall.com Gates open 8 am, Racing Starts 10 am WEATHER PERMITTING $5.00/person, (Children Under 12 & Seniors FREE) A The Canoe: A Canadian Icon 4427 keith Ave. The exhibit explores the role of the canoe in Canadian history Sunday, June 30 - 1 p.m. - BBQ held by First Nations Terrace 1 Nisga’a Dancers 2_p.m, ~ Dance performance by First Nations Nisga’a Dancers ly 1 : 2. WET’SUWET’EN SUMMIT at the Moricetown Multiplex — fe Monday, July 22. - “All Clans Feast Celebration to Recognize “.’ Educational Achievements. Starting at noon — 8 ~' $8000 Evening Bingo: donated by CWC Tuesday, July 23 ¢ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Treaty and Administrative Progress Reports Dancing * Salmon Barbecue Culture Camp at the Camp Ground Wednesday. July 24 ¢ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Program Updates for Fisheries, Lands and Resources, & Human and Social Services Summit sponsored by the Office of the Wat'suwet'en and Wet'suwet’en Enterprises Ltd. Limited travel and accommodation subsidies avallable on a first come, first served basis. You must preregister! Daily shuttle van from Hagwilget and Smithers.. Info contact Monica, 877-5090 or 847-3630, Please preregister for early bird prizes and travel subsidies. See you therel! Proud supporter of Canada on it’s 135th Birthday! HOUSE OF COMMONS Andy Burton Member of parliament for Skeena Constituency Office 4654 Laval Ava, Terrace, B.C. V8G 154 Phone: (250) 635-1601 Fax: (250) 635-4109 Toll Free: 1-800-661-2208 E-mail: andy@ondyburton.ca - Website: vrewwcndyburton