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THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 THE NEW TANNER 9 UNITED CELEBRATION: Members of Ballinafad United Church celebrated their 134th anniversary with a service on Sunday. The Reverend Nancy Monteith led the congregation in prayer and thanks. ­ Ted Tyler photos Acton High `dark and silent' Acton music students excel during mock lockdown drill Red Gun Drill, a mock lockdown and police training exercise at Acton High School last Wednesday was "one of the best" of recent mandatory emergency rehearsals, according to Vice-principal Mary Jane Farrish who said students and staff in all but a few cases were "silent and un-seen" as outlined in the school board's safety rules. One 15-year-old Grade 10 student, who did not want to be named, said in a real incident, he'd "be dead" because although students are to remain silent and unseen, one startled boy in a storage room in the gym cried out in surprise, giving away their position, when an officer pounded on the door. Under the province's Safe Schools Act, mock drills are mandatory each semester, along with three fire drills. Parents were advised when and what would happen via e-mail in advance of the exercise. Parents of Grade nine drama students were asked to sign a release allowing their kids to volunteer as either a "victim" or "witness." Farrish said several parents kept their kids home for the morning to avoid additional anxiety. As Halton police officers ­ "armed" with red plastic replica guns ­ ran the training scenario involving an armed and dangerous suspect in the school, students and staff went into lockdown mode, which includes locking all classroom doors, turning off all lights, and keeping out of sight. Farrish said for security reasons, Halton police did not tell them much about the exercise, which she believed to be a "blockade" situation. Farrish described the exercise as a "relevant and authentic" simulation as the school was "dark and silent" as staff ensures that no one is seen and no one is heard as the staff and students have been instructed. Farrish said her job was to walk around the school; listening for violations of the noise and darkness rules. She said there was some telltale noise in the gym, but students had quieted down before she rattled the door. "If there is noise, I follow up and go into the class after and enforce the importance of being quiet or out-of-sight," Farrish said on Monday, adding teachers are encouraged to cover any windows they can, but there is no way to block off all of the windows across the offices at the front of the school. Farrish said during the debriefing, the importance of teachers reviewing the lockdown safety guidelines was stressed. Halton Staff Sergeant Roy Foster, who ran the exercise, gave his officers, school officials and students top marks. "I think we did well," Staff Sergeant Foster said on Monday, adding they learn new techniques with every scenario, although he would not detail what areas need improvement because it was a "response strategy" for police eyes only. Congratulations to music students of Jennifer Culpeper who performed in this year 's Milton Music Festival held last week. The medal winners included: Megan Robart Morgan-Bronze, Lindsey Yake - Silver, Aidan Grimason - Silver, MaryJane MacDonald - Bronze, Janet Chang - two Gold, Olivia Henriquez - Silver, Madelaine Henriques one Gold and one Silver, Michael Chang - two Silver and Cassie Coker - Silver. Special congrats to both Michael and Janet Chang, who were also earned scholarships at the Grand Recital in Milton Sunday evening. Janet received an award from the Milton School of Music and Michael was awarded the Wicks Scholarship in Memory of Glen & Alma Wicks. Town splits surplus Town Council recently approved transferring approximately $234,695 f r o m t h e Ta x R a t e Stabilization Reserve to cover a shortfall in building permit revenue. Sixty-five per cent of the Town's $753,024 surplus balance from last year will be distributed, as per policy, to the Capital Reserve, while 20 per cent is earmarked for the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve, and 15 per cent to the Building Repair and Maintenance Reserve. · Full & Partial Dentures ·Precision BPS ® & Implant Retained Dentures · Same Day Service for Repairs & Relines The denture that fits their lifestyle. Present, Past & Future www.actonhead2toe.com