MRHS gearing up for dinner and auction

By Lawrence Powell

Spectator



When the gavel drops October 14, it will be the next step in fundraising for a new gym and renovated music room for Middleton Regional High School. And it’s expected to be a night to remember as well.

Two years ago the School Enhancement Dinner and Auction attracted a large crowd and thanks to donations of auction items by individuals and businesses, raised $13,000. At that time the enhancement committee was still waiting for word on funding from the province, and last year put their fundraising efforts on hold.

But in January of this year then acting education minister Angus MacIsaac announced $2.2 million for a new gym and upgraded music room.

Of necessity, and by demand from those who attended the 2004 dinner and auction, the event is back and stacks of donations are piling up as organizers get ready for the October 14 event at the Nova Scotia Community College.

“Two years ago was a huge success,� said Jan Davis, and event organizer. “And I bet we’ve had 50 calls since from people wanting another one.�

“The community is so accepting. They have such a great attitude towards this,� said Janet Pickrem, another organizer. “We’re getting huge donations. The talk after the last one was that everyone wished they had gone. This time they’ll be there.�

A table displays limited prints, photographs, power tools, gift certificates, and numerous other items already donated – even hand-knit socks. But the school enhancement committee needs lots more to make the event viable.

Principal Heather McCormick said the school received the government funding because of community involvement and the hard work of the enhancement committee which was incorporated in 2002.

The committee has a goal of raising $180,000 to enhance the gym and music room projects, but as time passes and costs rise, the group isn’t sure if that will be enough – and they won’t find out until an architect completes plans. A tender for that job goes out this month and McCormick expects contractors will break ground for the gym next spring with completion in June of 2008.

McCormick doesn’t know if construction will be for a double gym, which could be used by the public, or for a single gym which she says wouldn’t put the school much further ahead. And location of the facility depends on the architect.

The music room should be completely renovated by September of 2008.

The current music room is condemned and can’t be used for practice for any more than 22 students at a time. “That’s hard to do when you have a 65-piece band,� said McCormick. Not only that, band students must take down all their gear and pack it away when they’re done so the multi-purpose room can be used for other things.

In a letter to supporters, the MRHS School Enhancement Committee outlined the project and asked for some help.

“We are asking community members, alumni, businesses, parents, students, and MRHS staff to donate goods and services to this event. Please consider something unique, perhaps something such as craft work, paintings, garden produce, a dinner for six, a carving, a plane ride, a gift certificate to an event, inn, or restaurant, shrubs, antiques, two hours of roto-tilling or leaf raking, a guided tour, a weekend at your cottage, fly-tying lessons, homemade pies.�

The School Enhancement Dinner and Auction is an evening-long event that starts at 5 p.m. with a cash bar, raffle, and silent auction until 6:30 p.m. Dinner, by Pasta Jax, is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a live auction runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Live entertainment will also be provided.

Cost is $22 per person and tickets are available from Valley Pharmasaves in Middleton and Kingston, Remax in Middleton, Loyla’s Touch of Beauty in Middleton, and the MRHS office.

Anyone with items to donate can contact Davis at 825-4949, or McCormick at 825-5351.

The dinner and auction isn’t the only fundraising event. On September 29 students will be holding their annual Walk of Support for the project, with each student asked to bring in a Toonie.