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w w w .in s id e h a lto n .c o m | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 | 14 am by Marta Marychuk Oakville Beaver Staff tudents at New Central Pub lic School celebrated Canada' s 150th birthday with a special ceremony. Earlier this year, the school received a donation of a sugar maple tree from an anonymous donor. Before the school year ended, the student body gathered around that tree to hold a flag-dedication ceremo ny -- including students and teachers singing O Canada, accompanied by music teacher Paul Landry on guitar. The school sits on five acres of greened property, which includes a mural, gardens and a new outdoor classroom. The school' s parent council paid for the outdoor classroom. The first school in Oakville, the Oakville School, made its hom e in the south end, near w hat today is the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on the bank of the Sixteen Mile Creek. W hen that school was replaced, m any new ones sprung up in various areas around town with New Central first opening its doors in 1959. In 2 0 0 9 , it celebrated its own 50th anniversary and houses the original school bell from the first school in E v e ry w e e k w e s h o w c a s e to p ic s a b o u t lo c a l y o u th s . SEND US YOUR NEWS: If you are a youth and you have a story or photo to share, we'll do our best to publish it on this page. Email it to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver. com , along with your name and a brief paragraph about why you want to share it with our readers. Oakville elem entary school celebrates C anada's 150th S All 253 students of New Central Public School participated in a hag dedication ceremony to commemorate Canada's 150th birthday. At top left, students Reese Close and Halle Fluit show their pride in Canada. | Riziero Vertolli/Metroland town. "Its a beautiful little school," says principal Nancy Rice. "I love this school. It' s small but mighty." New Central Public School has approximately 2 5 0 students, ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6. W h en asked w hat they think about Canada and how they plan on cele brating the country' s sesquicentennial birthday, here' s w hat the students had to say: "Canada is really special to me because I feel safe in Canada," says Keira, w ho is 9 but will be 10 soon. "Canada has lots of rules (laws) and I love how Canada has different types of regions." This Canada Day is important to Keira because the week before she is getting a new dog, a miniature Austra lian Labradoodle. She plans to name her new dog Dolly-- because it looks like a doll. "I like how Canada feels comfort able and safe," adds nine-year-old Maia. "And there are so many things to look at. It' s never too hot or too cold." This year on Canada' s 150 th birth day, Maia will be going to her family' s cottage in Kingston, Ont., where they will decorate their boat and partici pate in the annual flotilla. Carter, who 9 , also likes Canada be cause he feels really safe here. "All m y relatives live here and I feel at home. You can go wherever you w ant in Canada and feel very safe." On Canada Day, Carter and his family will be celebrating at their cot tage in Muskoka, before travelling to Nova Scotia. J JOHN PALADINO L A W O F F IC E w w w .jp la w .c a m w w w .jw a r c h ite c t.c o m KBI · REAL ESTATE · WILLS & ESTATES COMMERCIAL LEASING · CORPORATE 447 Speers Road, Suite 200B, Oakville, ON L6K 3S7 Phone: 905.842.3311 Fax: 905.842.7433 HOUSES OUR FIRST PASSION New ·Additions · Cottages · Interiors · Landscape