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11-1i WVIUI L*&... jMfajl' t J ý_m1L2 R-llR4L- ýII W Orono Weely'fMmes, Wednesday. April 15, 1998 - 9 by Elisha Ribeiro The month of April must be one of the busiest limes at St. Stephen's. Between the Easter break and midterrns, the students have had their hands full. Somehow they have still managed ta, make lime for Grease week, whilch was put on by s tudent caun- cil. The week mncorporated a series of events including a hula hoop contest,' root beer float chugging contest, a dance competition and a dress up day in recognition of the re-release of the movie Grease. Stu dent Council is also in the process of plan- ning the next school dance which will take place on May 8th and getting feedback about the recent, presenta- lions of the uniforrn policy for next year. Senior students have also been gettlng ready for gradu- ation whlch will take place on June 24, 1998 at St. Joseph's Church in Bowmanville. Graduates have ta pay a graduation fee of $45.00. If you only attended first semester and would like ta graduate, do not forget ta contact the school and tel them you will be graduating. Also, a reminder ta those who are planning ta attend the Prom: a deposit Is now due. It will be held on May 29th at Cullen Gardens, speak ta Jenn Megesi and Kelly Eeuwes for more information. In sports news, the bad- minton team had an excellent showlug -at Cobourg East. Girls' soccer tryouts will be beginning this week and a jogging club has been started for those who have intentions of getttag fit for the summer holldays. The annual spring play is also under production. It will be presented on April 22, 23, 24 and 25th at 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium. It is the biggest production ever pro- duced by St. Stephen's. The cast consists of 31 students, the pit band bas 10 members, and 20 other stu dents and teachers are invalved in the other aspects of the play. The production is a musical based an the story of Samson as it is tald in the Bible. The script was written by aur dramatic arts teacher, Mr. Sheridan. He and Ms. Hickiing are directing the play. The iyrics were written by Bridget Hogan and Stephanie Jeranima. The pit band is being directed by Ms. Harrison. The singmng for the musical is belng directed by Ms. Heffemnan. The set is up and was designed by Mr. Mllella, who is aur visual arts teacher and Is responsi- ble for the overail visual pre- sentation of the -production. The crew responsible for the costumes consists of 'Ms. Sanders, Mrs. Fabian, Mrs. Goodine, Ms. Wytka, Ms. Hickling, and Robyn Bloye. The lead raie of Samson is being played by Chris Cook. If you would like ta attend the production the tickets are $8.00 for stu dents and $10.00 for aduits andf can be reserved by calllng 623-7583. In other news, Michelle Heffernan, a staff member at St. Stephen's, has volun- teered her musical group -The Heffernan Famil.y and Friends" from Lakefield ta present an evening of folk and liturgical Music at St. Joseph's Church on May 12th from 8:00 -'10:00 p.m. at a cost of$ 10.00 per ticket. Please contact Fr. Pat Herfihy at school If you would like to buy tickets. Flnally' durlng the Easter season a 24 hour fast has been planned by our stu- dents. They are also involved in collecting food for the St. Vincent de Paul food bank. The OAC art class Is selling hand palnted mugs at a cost of $5.00 wlth proceeds going ta adoptlng a child in Africa. Congratulations ta everyone who is lnvolved ln making this holiday special toalal. (intended for last week) VIP PROGRAMME Our grade six programme offred by the grade six teach- ers. in conjunction -with the Durham Reglonal Police Constable Bramma Is in ful gear. The students are learu- ing about'the effects Values, Influences and Peers have on their lives and the need ta' make good choices in life. on may 12, the students who have successfuily com- pleted the course and have demonstrated the application of the lessons in their daily life will be attending the VIP graduation. Again this year, through the very generous contributions of the Newcastle Lions Club, the students will be presented wlth t-shirts, pins and-certifi- cates. SCHÔOL MUSICAL The staff and students of the Newcastle School Musical Production Company under the leadership of Ms. Brousseau, Mrs. Henderson and Mr. Taylor, are now in rehearsal for the Newcastle premiere of the school revue Everybody Has Music Inside. The premier will be in the aftemnoon of Wednesday, May 6, followed by an eveniug per- formance. Stay tuued for tick- et information. We hope ta see you there! ARTHUR PLACK 0 CANADA:ý IS THERE ANY PLACE- YOU'D RATHER BE? Canada's bird aught ta be the grause. Ananymous Old Anon was on ta sorne- thing there. lias there ever been a niation on the face of the earth that did mare complain- ing? We grouse about the GST. We moan about the fate of Canadian hockey. We yam- mer and mewl about Ottawa, potholes, the Banks, big cities, the cost of living, the seal hunt, too maniy immigrants, not enough immigrants. We fili the pages of aur newspapers with letters ta the editor about the price at the gas pump, the lineups'at the hospi- tai, crummy television from the US and the plight of the belu- ga. And of course there's the weather. Every Canadian worth his Stanfield trap-door long johns can deliver a- 20- minute peroration an the lousy Canadian weather. Without notes.1 Spring is 'way too late. The summer is 'way tao hot. The auturmn is 'way too short. That brings us around ta the Caniadian winter, which needs no introduction. Canadian winters are .. ..challenging. The rest of the worid doesn't-caîl us "frostbacks" for nothing. No question about it: Canada is just Too Imperfect ta support life and foster happi- ness. Sa 1 put it ta you: where in the world would you move ta be happy? At first glance, the answer seems obviaus. Somewhere with lots of sunshine and per- petual blue skies. A place where no one understands the WHAT A BASKETBALL RUSH! During the months of January ta early March, the grade 5-6 studeuts of Newcastle Public School par- ticlpated in the grade Seven Girls Basketball League. The students flnlshed the regular season wth a 2 and 3 record, good enough ta make the playoffs. Iu the round-robin play- offs, the team lost its first gaine ta the eventual winners, The Pines. Iu thebronze medal gaine, the teain camne away with a thrilling four point wn over M.J. Hobbs. This was a great way ta cap off the season. The team members were: Kaylelgh B., Emily B., Nathaniel B., Amber C., Adam C., Stephanle F., Ashley F., Jonathan F., Kevin L., Ed M., Stephanle M., Dylan P. and Erin W. concept of umbre lias, earmuffs, block heaters or thermal under- wear. A lot of winter-weary Canucks do go that route -- at least for short breaks.' The beaches of Florida and the Caribbean, not ta mention Hawaii and southern California, are s peckled each winter with the fishbelly-white bodies of Canadians looking for a little natural Vitamin C. There are trailer parks and beach villas in Texas, Arizona and other southern U.S. states that, came December, fly mare Canadian flags than even Don Cherry could stand. 1But thase are touriets, not citizens. Most of those "snow- birds" fly back narth with the geese each spring. Sa 1 put the question again: where on earthwould a persan move ta have the best chance of happiness? You're noat going ta believe the answer. Iceland. 1 am not suffering from cabin fever and I haven't been into Grandma!s blackber- ry cordial. Ruut Veenhoven, a Dutch psychologist, wondered where the happiest people on earth cail home. Veenhoven analyzed longevity figures from almost every nation. Then the professor initiated follow-up public opinion polls that delved into quality of lite. The findings were subsequent- Iy extrapolated ta calculate how many years of happiness an average citizen could expect. Some of the findings are not eyebrow-lifting. The citizens of What's Left of Russia can expeet only 34.5 years of rela- tive bliss. Americans came in with 57.8 years. Switzerland took third place with an average happiness expectancy quotient of 59.8 years, and cantrary to if's saur reputatian, frigid, gloomy old Sweden emerged as the second most blissful nation a-body could cail home. According ta Veenhoven, Swedes can expect, on average, ta, experi- ence 62.5 years of good times. Iceland, as 1 said, was first with an average of 62 happy years per lifetime. 1Aha, you say, but where does Canada rate in the Delirium Sweepstakes? Gaod question. Professor Veenhaven didn't produce any statistics for Canada.Perhaps the Dutch psy- chalogist unconsciously assumed that Canada is just an extension of upper New York state. 1 prefer an alternate expia- nation. 1 like ta think that Canada is sa far ahead in the happiness category that Professor Veenhoven deliber- ately left us out so as not to skew the results and make al other countries hopelesslyjeal- ous. After ail, the United Nations declared Canada the best place ta live in the world three years in a raw. We must be doing same- thing riglit. 1 -wish someone would tel Professor Veenhoven. And then 1 wish they'd tell Quebec. MASARU RICK JONES, Instructor 4858 Regional Road 18 Newtonville, Ontario LOA 1"' Tel: (905) 786-2793- Fax: (905)'786-1031 Classes for Chlldren and Aduits ý SERVING DURH-AM REGION SINCE 1841 FUNERAL SERVICES PRE-ARRANGED & PREPAID '<Whre fProfjessiotatEtiquette is Important' FuneralDirectors Paul R. Mors Robr E. Williams Gary M. Conway Doug R. Rutherford ANSWERING YOUR CALL 24 HOURS 623-5480 4 DivisIon St. Bowmanvllle L