Prairie dogs and burrowing owls have become the muse of young artists at the Davidson Playschool.

Through a recently awarded $4,180 Creative Partnerships Exploration grant, the playschool has brought in Derek Pho, a Saskatoon visual artist, to help the two-, three- and four-year-old students create their own prairie dogs and burrowing owls through papier maché artworks.

Pho made his first visit to the school last Thursday for a session with the kids. During the morning art class with the pre-three students, Pho directed them into filling brown paper bags with other paper to make it into a full rectangular object. The students were then helped to wrap the piece in masking tape.

Pho said he and playschool volunteer Terra Fazakas along with teachers Angela Fahlman and Trudi Smith would then work with the kids to create a prairie dog by covering it with papier maché on his next visit to the pre-three class April 30.

“Being younger students, we hope to help them with the tasks to accomplish the project,” said Pho.

The toddler group will enjoy two visits from Pho for their artwork, while the three-year-olds will have three visits from the artist in making the prairie dogs and the four-year-olds will have five visits in making burrowing owls.

“This will be group art and not just individual,” he said, noting the completed pieces will be displayed as a whole and permanent structure to the public by June. “We’ll just see how it forms together. All the pieces will be involved in some way.”

The Creative Partnership Exploration grant is given out to explore how visual arts can enhance environmental awareness within the classroom, which makes the choice of the prairie dog and the burrowing owl perfect for the project, said Pho.

“The prairie dog is a local animal to Saskatchewan and the burrowing owl is an endangered animal,” he said. “Also we’ll be using as many recycled resources as possible with the project because we’re interested in a sustainable environment.”

In addition to the art classes, the playschool will welcome the burrowing owl centre to the classroom May 9 who will give the students a lesson in the life of the species as well as bring a few live birds into the classroom for the students to see.

Over 900 people attended the Davidson Trade and Hobby Show April 12 and 13 at the Davidson Communiplex to take in the 37 exhibits showcasing Saskatchewan business and talent.

Jim McCubbing, who manned the Davidson Golf Course booth with Tim Bruch, said they set up shop at the show to sell memberships and promote the nine-hole course with all grass greens. He said the golf course executive sets up a booth at every Davidson Trade and Hobby Show because it is easier to sign up members here in town than back at the clubhouse.

“There are lots of members who know we’re at the Trade and Hobby Show, so they come and sign up (for this year’s membership) here,” said McCubbing. “It’s easier than tracking people down if they know they can do it here.”

It wasn’t just the lure of summer golf that got people to head down to the show. There were a variety of exhibits set up in the hockey rink including one promoting the Davidson Library, another booth detailing the benefits of heading to the town’s New You Weight Loss Clinic on Washington Avenue and a third showcasing the advantages of bringing vehicles in for service at the NAPA Auto Parts garage on Railway Street.

The InSight Vision Care optician team of Laura Kjersem and Cristy Szymesko gave away free glasses cleaner bottles at their booth along with holding a draw for an InSight Vision Care gift basket.

Kjersem said this was their first time at the Trade and Hobby Show considering they only set up shop at the Davidson Family Practice last September, but she believes their exhibit at the show was a great success because it enabled them to promote their business as they get set to move into their new digs at the former CTRC building.

“This is a good event to come out to because there is a lot of foot traffic,” said Kjersem. “This lets everyone know that we are offering this service in Davidson and that we sell glasses and have an optometrist come out.”

To read more please see the April 22 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Dancers from Davidson, Craik and Loreburn hit the stage in front of a huge audience of siblings, parents and grandparents April 12 and 13 at Davidson School for the dance showcase and spring recital.

Eighty-one of the 83 dancers who train with the Davidson Optimist Dance Club (DODC) took to the stage over the two days. The dance showcase brought out solo, duet and trio dances on the Saturday night for the audience, while group dances occurred the next afternoon during the spring recital.

Vonné Johnson, president of DODC, said the club decided to split up the performances this year as a way to trim the time of the year-end dance presentation. She said by all accounts that she heard, the split was well received and the plan is to continue with the Saturday night and Sunday afternoon productions in future years.

“We have 30 group numbers and 19 private lesson numbers and in the past we did all of them together, but that gets kind of long for some people,” said Johnson. “For those of us who enjoy dance and are involved with a lot of it, it’s not that long, but if its your daughter and it’s her first year and she’s got only one number, then it gets a little long”

The showcase and recital brought the dance season to a close for the club, with the next event planned for late August. The club will be hosting their fourth annual Back to School Dance Camp Aug. 24 and 25.

Johnson said the camp would feature instruction from prominent dancers including Saskatoon’s Braiden Stevenson, who previously starred on So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

“The Back to School Dance Camp is usually the week before school starts and it’s used to get the kids back into it,” she said. ” We have guest instructors, so it’ll be a weekend of something special.”

Davidson School students are busy setting up the lights, studying their lines, decorating the stage and rolling out the red carpet in anticipation for the 2013 SaskEnergy Willow Awards Gala that will be held at the school next Wednesday.

“The students have been busy for the last few months getting the activities completed,” said Debbie Jestin, Davidson School librarian and co-chair of the 2013 SaskEnergy Willow Awards Gala. “All the decorations are student work and the students are in charge of the program and they’re the ones who are going to be presenting it. The emcees are going to be students. The entertainers will be students and it all revolves around the 30 books (up for awards).”

The school is welcoming Saskatchewan Lieutenant-Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield, authors, dignitaries and guests from across the province to the Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice–Willow Awards (SYRCA) Gala held in the Davidson School gym April 24. The day will begin with writing workshops presented by Canadian authors for Kindergarten to Grade 9 students before moving on to the Gala that will feature student writing, art displays, singing, public speaking and acting during the awards program and finally end with a reception in the school library.

The SYRCA is a volunteer-run, non-profit charity that promotes reading among

Kindergarten to Grade 9 students by granting Willow Awards to the best Canadian and/or Saskatchewan book voted on by Saskatchewan school students in three designated categories. Ten 2012 books are nominated in each category with a Shining Willow Award presented to the top young readers’ book (Kindergarten to Grade 3), the Diamond Willow Award given out to the best upper elementary readers’ choice (grades 4 to 6) and a Snow Willow Award handed to the favourite young people’s book (grades 7 to 9).

“It’s a celebration of Canadian authors that write for children,” said Jestin. “Students all across Saskatchewan read these 10 books in each category and then vote on which one is their favourite, so it is actually the kids that are choosing the book that is going to win the award.”

To read more please see the April 15 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Masich
Frances Joan Masich passed away peacefully in her sleep with family at her side, on Good Friday, March 29, 2013 at the Watrous Health Care Centre after a brief illness. Her funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Kenaston.
Frances is survived by her loving family: daughter Milly (Randy) Biederman and family Curtis and Aaron, son Tony (Margo) Masich and family Tyce and Tori, and son Bob, as well as nieces and nephews and other family members. Frances was predeceased by her loving husband Louis and daughter Teresa Masich, parents Steve and Mary Siroski as well as brothers, sisters and in-laws.
Frances was born and raised in the Kenaston district. Upon leaving her family home she started working as a cook and baker. One of the places she worked was the Kenaston Hotel. It was at the Kenaston Hotel that she met her future husband, Louis Masich. Frances and Louis were married in October, 1951 and began farming and raising their four children.
Frances was an avid homemaker and gardener. She often said her garden was the perfect therapy for her, a place where she could go and relax and connect with nature. She enjoyed growing flowers, fruit and vegetables.
Frances was an active member in the St. Andrew’s Catholic Women’s League, was a lector and participated in study of Sacred Scripture.
Frances spent the past few years of her life in residence at Jubilee Court in Watrous. She enjoyed the independent living, the active social programs and the daily interaction with other residents.
Milly, Tony and Bob thank all family and friends for their outpouring of kindness, cards, gifts and good wishes and for sharing their memories of Frances. We also extend our thanks to Brian and Todd for all their support.

Foster, Gary
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gary John Foster on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at the age of 64 years. Gary was predeceased by his parents William and Ruth. He will be lovingly remembered and forever missed by his wife Sandy; brother David (Kelly); sisters Joy, Joan (Troyha), Wendy (Henry) and Brenda (Gary); brother-in-law Allen (Elizabeth); daughter Christine; numerous nephews, nieces and great-nephews and -nieces; as well as many other relatives and dear friends. Gary was born and raised in Davidson, Sask. and farmed at Davidson for many years. Gary had a great love of life, and enjoyed fishing, square dancing, golfing and curling until his Parkinson’s of 20 years and Stroke of 10 years made it impossible for him to continue. A memorial service for Gary will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Regina Funeral Home, Hwy #1 East, Regina, Sask. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be made to the Parkinson Society of Saskatchewan, 610 Duchess Street, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 0R1 or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home (306) 789-8850.