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June 2014
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
Nootka school’s 50th anniversary celebration a huge success Families flock to Nootka’s Spring Carnival and playground fundraiser by Deanna Cheng In one corner of the field, kids jumped frantically on the giant yellow bouncy castle while in another corner, crowds enjoyed the entertainment and info booths under the festive white tents. A red fire truck parked beside the gym blasted music from the covered area. On May 3, families with strollers and umbrellas flocked to Nootka’s Spring Carnival and Auction event to celebrate the school’s 50th birthday. Proceeds from the carnival will cover the Nootka Parent Advisory Council’s budget and the rest will go towards a new playground. “It was a huge success,” said Hollie Brooks, carnival organizer and volunteer on Nootka PAC’s fundraising committee. “We raised around $15,000 for the playground.” “We sold over 500 hot dogs and there was still a demand,” she said.
A dapper Jeff Brooks coaxes people to enter Nootka’s 50/50 draw. Photo by Sam To
The family who sold the pulled pork sandwiches has catering experience and prepared 250 sandwiches. “They sold out too.” Brooks was blown away from all the people who showed up and she was happy to see how the PAC committee and its volunteers reached Grade 3 teacher David Epp braves the cold and light rain as “the dunk guy.” A out beyond couple kids succeeded. Photo by Sam To the Nootka community through social Assistance Class for kids grades media and flyers. “It was the 4 to 7. first time we did this and we didn’t know if there’d be Nootka alumni supported the 50 people or hundreds of carnival, spreading the word. people.” Anna Altwein, a teen volunteer at the giant Jenga station, According to Vancouver School said, “My friend used to go to Board archives, the school this school and when there are was originally named Lord volunteer opportunities, she Beaconsfield Annex and the lets quite a few of us know.” official opening was November A couple of Grade 12 physics 27, 1959. It became Nootka students stopped by, she said, Elementary on December 6, and decided to break the record 1963 with 352 kids in total. for the highest Jenga. The original record was 19 blocks Being named Nootka, the school high. The physics students set a grand opening had an “Indian” new record with 32 blocks. theme. “Six large foot totem “Two nine-year-olds beat it poles made of heavy cardboard after that,” Altwein said. “They were placed throughout the got it at 33 blocks. They were school,” according to the the sisters of the grade 12s and Nootka history book. they were, ‘have to beat them.’ Large “Indian”-theme murals “I did help them out a little,” graced display boards and little she admitted. cardboard “Indians” pointed directions to visitors and Family members helped out guests. where they could. Portrait artist Faron Mar held a charcoal, Today Nootka has 428 students deliberating the next stroke with three programs: the on the white paper as a young Volunteer Anna Altwein helped regular kindergarten to grade 7 girl squirmed in her chair. “I two determined nine-year-olds curriculum, a fine-arts program volunteer because my nephew break the Jenga record their and an Extended Learning comes to this school.” older siblings had set. Photo by Sam To