Ferris Glen kicks off school year with annual fall fair

4-year-old Ethan Yates is pleased his rooster won a first place ribbon in the annual Ferris Glen Fall Fair.

From scarecrows to pumpkins to bearded dragons Ferris Glen Public School in Corbeil, had it all Thursday as they hosted their annual Fall Fair and Pot Luck Dinner.

The fair, which has been taking place for the last 20 years, is an opportunity for students and the community to meet the faculty, celebrate the fall harvest, and show off their agriculture.

“The students bring in exhibits for the fall fair it can be a collection,” explains staff member and committee member Christine Loreto.

“It could be their animal, it could be arts and crafts, they can grow things so they can learn a lot at home about growing things and plants and how to take care of things ... or how to organise collections or different things like that and how to take care of their animals,” explains Loreto.

“It is their responsibility to bring it in with the exhibit form and to find the right area where it goes in and transport it and take it home so the kids take a lot of ownership in bringing it to and from school and we’re very proud of them,” adds fellow committee member Kelly Kerr-Beaulieu.

School Principal Dave Radcliffe, who had a crowing rooster in his office for the event, says the energy the day manufactures is only rivalled by a major holiday.

“Someone called and wouldn’t believe me that the rooster was making all the noises, they thought I was pressing a button,” he laughs.

“It was very electric here today it was almost like Christmas. They looked forward to bringing in their exhibition stuff and seeing what everybody else is bringing, and knowing that we were having the pot luck dinner and their parents are coming - it was just amazing”

Unlike the standard urban meet the teacher nights, this agriculture centered fair is unique because it is set in a rural setting and offers learning opportunities on a number of different levels that urban kids might not get to experience.

“We had a chicken lay an egg here today at school, so that was really interesting and the kids was screaming with delight,” adds Loreto.

“But yes we want them to learn about their environment and their community.”

“The school is the focal point and meeting place of the community,” says Radcliffe.

“It’s an open house to meet the teacher that really ties in the whole community plus tying it in with meet the teacher night it’s been a really awesome tradition for this school over the years.”