Queen Elizabeth II school shows off revamped schoolyard

Queen Elizabeth II Public School, winner of the 2008 Ugliest Schoolyard Contest, hosted a grand opening of its most beautiful schoolyard June 5.

Students, staff, parents/guardians and members of the City of Greater Sudbury’s Vegetation Enhancement Technical Advisory Committee (VETAC) joined the celebration.

During the grand opening, the school officially named its outdoor classroom in memory of the late Sarah Gonawabi, an Ojibwe teacher at the school for more than a decade.

“Sarah Gonawabi’s philosophy reflected what we teach here at Queen Elizabeth Public School - set realistic goals for yourself and stick with it,” said principal Jane Davey, in a release.

“She encouraged the older students to stay in school, emphasizing that more education means more freedom and more job choices. Students loved Sarah Gonawabi’s gentle but firm manner.”

The celebration included a smudging ceremony. Students constructed a tipi for the tipi teachings workshop, enjoyed aboriginal stories, created recycled art and played soccer on the new soccer field.

Three of the Rainbow District School Board’s elementary schools will receive funding from the Ugliest Schoolyard Contest for 2009 thanks to a generous grant from Xstrata Nickel – R.L. Beattie Public School, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School and Valley View Public School.

In consultation with VETAC, these schools will each receive up to $12,000 to assist with their schoolyard regreening efforts.

The City of Greater Sudbury and Queen Elizabeth II Public School extended thanks to major corporate sponsor Xstrata Nickel, as well as the following organizations and businesses:

Armand's Auto Clinic
Botanix Azilda Greenhouses
Brown's Concrete Products
BT Paving
Canadian Tire (on Regent Street)
Echo Rentals
Eco-Logic
Freskiw Farms
Gisele's Greenhouses
Hollandia Land and Environmental Solutions
Holla's Produce and Greenhouses
Horticulturist James St. John
Nordoors Sudbury Ltd.
Southview Greenhouse Growers
Sudbury Horticultural Society
Sudbury Master Gardeners
Vale INCO
WD Tree Removal
Whitewater Greenhouses & Yard Art Centre