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MAY 26, 2009

May continued to be a month of many activities. On Friday May 8, feast of Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Graces, the school headed out for a tour of the all organic farm of the Hartman family, in which the primary focus is the raising of pigs. Along with a wagon ride, the children were given an explanation of how organic farming works, how important crop rotation is, how the animals require a balance of nourishment, how they can be kept healthy by natural means, as well as a class on the nature of soil, the ways or enriching the soil, and the important of woods for the development of top soil. The children had the opportunity to become acquainted with pigs of all ages. Lessons for the different levels of children, adapted to their age, on seeds and planting, followed lunch.

Mr. Hartman explains how in organic farming, where pesticides cannot be used, intense cultivation between the rows of plants is necessary, and how the equipment is able to do this.

Some of the children make the acquaintance of the sows, resting in their pen in the middle of the day.		Seed identification competition at the Hartman farm, for students and faculty alike to try their skills.

All aboard for a hay ride at the Hartman farm on May 8.		Mr. Hartman explains the value of the forest to an organic farmer, and shows the children the complexity of the soil on the forest floor.

Sunday May 17 was day for the long awaited first soccer tournament challenge, between the parishioners of Transfiguration church in Toronto, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, played on the school’s soccer field. In the absence of their pastor, the men from Toronto were “creamed”, with a score of 8 - 0. It was also on this Sunday that the boys of the Brebeuf Scout troop held their first fundraiser, a hot dog and hamburger sale to raise funds for equipment. The net profit after expenses was $274.

Soccer Tournament on Sunday May 17. The two teams pray together with Father May before beginning the big match.

Monday May 18, Victoria Day, the school held its annual athletics day, to which the home-schooled families were invited. Mr. Kevin Dias organized a variety of activities, dividing the children up into four teams of eight. Amongst the games was a baseball game for the boys on the school’s diamond, to which had just been added a truck load of limestone. At the same time the girls played beach volleyball, on the sand volleyball court outside, to which two truck loads of fine sand had just been added. Prizes were awarded to the winning team, and the day ended up with an outside barbecue.

The children begin the sprint race on Athletics Day, Monday May 18.		View of the boys playing baseball on May 18, Athletics Day, on the school baseball diamond, taken from the roof of the school building.

Father May and the Athletics Day organizer, Mr. Kevin Dias, encourage the children in a game of soccer, on May 18.

There was no school on Ascension Thursday, but the following day, Friday May 22 the entire school took off on another field trip. This time it was to Midland, Ontario. Mass was celebrated on the outdoor altar at St. Ignace II, the place of martyrdom of St. John De Brebeuf and St. Gabriel Lalemant, with lots and lots of friendly mosquitoes joining in the praise of Almighty God. After a quick lunch, nearly 50 school children, teachers, and homeschoolers were given a guided tour of the re-constructed fort of St. Marie among the Hurons. The presentation lasted for three hours, and included a good historical background on the work of the Jesuits, but very little on the reason behind the sacrifices they made, the supernatural beauty of their way of life, and the glories of their martyrdom. Fathers Scott and May were able to fill in these holes. After a quick visit to the museum, we all walked over to the Shrine of the Canadian martyrs across the road, to pray before the relics of the great martyrs, for the school, the Society and for the Church. Finally, the school headed to the home of the Rugman family for an outdoor picnic supper, followed by a wagon ride.

The children assist at the explanation of how the church for the Hurons looked like, given by a play Jesuit, dressed up for the occasion. The children noted that it is just like our chapels, except for the dirt floor and brazier for heating near the altar. The original burial places of St. John de Brebeuf and St. Gabriel Lalemant can be seen at the back of the chapel.		Some of the children in the semi-obscurity of a Huron "long house", hearing how the Indians lived in the smoke filled environment, how they stored the corn and dried food on the rafters, and how they kept warm.

The students and home schoolers from Our Lady of Mount Carmel all try their hands with a quill pen, just as the Jesuit Fathers did in the 17th century, from the feathers of a turkey.

Saturday May 23 was the day appointed for a work day at the school. Much grounds work had to be done. Several families gave their time and Brother Matthew spent several hours cutting the grass. A low area adjacent to the school had recent been filled in, and so it was covered with top soil, spread and prepared for seeding for grass. A small vegetable garden was also prepared.

On May 14 Father May levels ground on the south-east side of the school, so that grass and a garden can be planted.

Sunday May 24 was a day long awaited and prepared by the boys of the Brebeuf Scout troop. For weeks, in fact, they had been working on their rockets, building them, and painting them. May 24, feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, was the day set aside for the launch. After Mass over 50 of the parishioners stayed to see the succession of successful launches, sending rockets at lightning speed into the sky, and out of sight, to float down on parachutes, not all of which were successfully chased down. Before the launching, with the unavoidable loss and damage of rockets, Father Scott was asked to judge the best rocket, and the adjudicator awarded the prize to a red and black rocket, with carefully writing on it: “You know neither the day nor the hour”.

This is a shot of a launch of a rocket, caught with a high speed frame as it looks the ground amongst the smoke of the explosives in the rocket, leaping up to the highest heaven.		View of Father Scott judging the best rocket amongst those prepared by the Scouts: it is the rocket that expressed the rapidity of time that won!

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