North River community park a beehive of activity a week after completion

IN LOVING MEMORY
North River community park a beehive of activity a week after completion

See full article
http://cbncompass.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/pageview.aspx?issue=64962013061800000000001001&page=1&articleid=59bd3edb-422d-4ad1-a4a9-9a9c1ea99367&previewmode=2

— Alice Murphy  is consoled during a moving ceremony on the grounds of All Hallows Elementary in North River on Saturday, June 8. A new community park was named in honour of her son, Cpl. Jamie Murphy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in January 2004. Pictured with her are Sgt. James Butler of the Royal Canadian Regiment, and Lt.Gov. Frank F. Fagan. Coming around the corner to the rear of All Hallows Elementary in North River on a weekday afternoon last week, the scene that greets you is truly uplifting. The children of All Hallows Elementary had been waiting all day for the chance to use the new pieces of play equipment. When they finally got the chance to do so, they exploded in a scene of energetic chaos as they scrambled to use everything at their disposal. Looking up, you can see children zipping around the new Corporal Jamie Brendan Murphy Community Park, bouncing from one play structure to the other.
Each child carries with them a smile as wide as an ocean. They are shouting to their friends to come try this one, or join them in a rousing game of tag, or some other children’s pastime. These are the sounds of children being children, something that was restored when the impressive park was completed on June 8 in a moving display of communities coming together.“It’s just amazing,” Grade 4 student Andrew Tuck said on Wednesday evening, a smile lighting up his face. Andrew’s favourite new piece of equipment is the impressive and very unique rope dome, or what has been locally dubbed “The Cod Trap,” said to be the first of its kind in the province. It takes a village In a show of community spirit and pride that some say was unprecedented and heartwarming, more than 600 adults, students and special guests assembled on the school grounds June 8 for “build day,” a day-long process that felt just as much like a festival as it did a construction project. It was the climax of many months of fundraising and planning by a core group of some 20 parent volunteers and school staff members, led by co-chairs and parent volunteers Eddie Russell of Clarke’s Beach and Vincent Dawson of Cupids. Activities begin around 8 a.m., with hundreds of people donning special t-shirts and heading to the worksite (adults) to collect a shovel,
rake, wheelbarrow or wrench, while many dozens of children made their way to the soccer field for a day of activities.
Article rank 18 Jun 2013 The Compass BY NICHOLAS MERCER AND TERRY ROBERTS THE COMPASS
PhotobyNicholas Mercer/theCompass

Park ‘build day’ elicits range of emotions

Read full Story http://www.cbncompass.ca/News/2013-06-11/article-3273780/Park-build-day-elicits-range-of-emotions/1

Impressive new facility in North River dedicated in memory of fallen hero

Alice Murphy had kept her emotions in check all day at All Hallows in North River on June 8.
The new community park being constructed at the rear of the school was to be named after her son, Cpl. Jamie
Brendan Murphy.
A native of Conception Harbour, Jamie was killed during a suicide bomber attack on his vehicle on Jan. 27, 2004.
He was the first Newfoundlander killed during the war in Afghanistan. Three other Canadian soldiers were injured
in the attack.
Jamie was a member of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was just 26-year-old when he died.
Exhibiting an impressive amount of inner strength, Alice held out until it was time to unveil the sign depicting her
son’s picture.
As Sgt. James Butler and Master Cpl. Allan King tore away the plastic covering, Alice could no longer hold it in.
With Butler and King stepping out to salute the picture of her fallen son, and clasp around the arms by the
Honourable Frank Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, Alice let slip the tears she had
been holding back the entire afternoon.
With some 600 volunteers clapping behind her, Alice, along with daughters Rosemary Ryan and Norma Murphy
and granddaughters Kearsty Ryan and Jenessa Murphy, watched as the park was commemorated the Corporal
Jamie Brendan Murphy Community Park.
After the unveiling of the sign, Butler and King took turns hugging the emotional Murphy family.
“Today, we are giving a park in his memory, but it is more fitting than could be imagined,” sad Kearsty Ryan. “He
was my hero. He loved playing games, from softball to some games I’m not sure I know the name off. I know he
would have loved this park and would have been the first person out with each child to make them smile.”
Building a better play park
Putting together the Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy Community Park was a multi-day affair.6/18/13 Park‘buildday’ elicits rangeof emotions - News - TheCompass
www.cbncompass.ca/News/2013-06-11/article-3273780/Park-build-day-elicits-range-of-emotions/1 2/2
Members of the planning committee, as well as community volunteers all chipped in on the backbreaking labour to
erect the new playground and memory garden in less than eight hours on June 8.
However, that does not count the three-day preparation done on the site, and the months of planning that went
into the $200,000 facility.
That included the some $100,000 raised by the planning committee through corporate donations, grants and
fundraisers
Lending a hand to the building of the park was the Let Them Be Kids foundation. Earlier this year, it was
announced the project had received a Helping Hand Award from the non-profit organization.
This meant that Let Them Be Kids would match the amount raised locally, dollar-for-dollar, for the purchase of
playground equipment.
When asked what the building of the park meant for the children of the region, committee co-chairman Eddie
Russell struggled to contain his emotions.
“This is something else,” he said. “To see this many people come together in one day … and see it come to
fruition today, it is emotional.
“I’m proud of everyone.”
School love
Prior to the construction of the new play park, the playground at All Hallows was in rough shape.
The site had been condemned by the Eastern School District last year, and was only reopened last spring, albeit
with a limited amount of equipment available to children. This was following a spirited effort of a group of parents
and school staff.
“The boys and girls in this region, in this school, in all of these communities deserve what they’re getting today,”
said school principal Kevin Giles. “As good as what any boy or girl would get in the country. That’s been my goal,
and my hope and my wish all of the years that I’ve been here.”
In the middle of the ceremony, the All Hallows choral collection sang an original tune entitled “We Have the
Chance of Our Lives.”
It was a reflection on what it means to the students to have a new play park to enjoy during the coming recess
breaks and lunch hours for years to come.
“This park is great,” said Grade 6 student Jonah Rodway. “All of the new equipment will be fun to try out and play
on.”
Editor’s note: See related photo slideshow and video on website. For more coverage, pick up a copy of the June
18, 2013 print edition of The Compass.
nmercer@cbncompass.ca

Hundreds build memorial in one day to fallen soldier

See Full Video and story http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/06/09/nl-jamie-murphy-memorial-park-610.html

More than 600 volunteers turned out this weekend in North River to build a community park in memory of a soldier who died in Afghanistan.

The Corporal Jamie Brendan Murphy Community Park at All Hallows Elementary took a full school year to plan out, but just one day to build, thanks to help on Saturday from all the volunteers who turned out.

Eddie Russell, member of the park planning committee, said the idea started when the principal of the school called for parent volunteers to help clean up and repair the playground.

Eddie Russell, a member of the park planning committee, says it will uphold the legacy of the community's fallen soldier. (CBC)

Russell said that when the parents finished helping the school, they thought about what more they might be able to do.

"It's a wonderful feeling today to see the work," Russell said. "There's been over 600 people here today, throughout the day, coming and going."

He said they partnered up with Let Them Be Kids, an organization that helps communities build parks and playgrounds for kids.

Let Them Be Kids matched what the community fundraised dollar for dollar to help build the park and memorial garden.

Sgt. James Butler, who was in North River to help build the park, met Cpl. Murphy while they were stationed in Afghanistan in 2003.

"I had a flag up on my tent — a Newfoundland flag — and he came down and he saw the flag so we started chatting, and chatted for about an hour," Butler said.

He said that the work done on the park will make a difference in the lives of the community members.

"I think it's outstanding. I do a lot of work with other families of fallen soldiers, and what this does for the family is remarkable," Butler said.

"It gives them the sense that they still have their son or their daughter, their loved ones still with them, and to see the community come together like this really sets an example for all other places."

Russell said the park is already an important part of the community.

"This is about citizenship, it's about hope, justice, love — all that and the things that he stood for," Russell said.

"He's a fallen hero, and it just means a lot. You want to build that legacy, and to have something like this, his memory will be here forever — it'll be here for his family, it'll be here for the military people, it'll be here for the community, for the kids, for the teachers — it's just very special."

Excitement building at All Hallows Elementary as big day nears

Hundreds expected on Saturday to help build new community park; pay tribute to fallen hero
A tractor-trailer filled with colourful and high quality playground equipment pulled onto the parking lot of All Hallows Elementary in North River this morning (June 6), sending an immediate buzz throughout the school as momentum continues to mount in advance of a momentous event planned for Saturday, June 8. Children raced to the windows, jostling for a look as parent volunteers unloaded the equipment and began site preparation. It’s all in preparation for a massive “build day” and community festival, with hundreds of people expected to gather to construct an impressive new community park on the grounds of the school.
Organizers are also planning a day of activities for children. The park will be dedicated in honour of Cpl. Jamie Murphy, a Canadian soldier from Conception Harbour, during a special ceremony planned for 3 p.m. Among the special guests expected to be on hand include members of Murphy’s family, fellow soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment, Lt.-Gov. Frank Fagan and his wife, Patricia, cadets and hundreds of students and their families.

Read full article http://www.cbncompass.ca/News/2013-06-06/article-3270903/Excitement-building-at-All-Hallows-Elementary-as-big-day-nears/1

ALL HALLOWS BROADCAST LIVE AROUND THE WORLD

Our project will be broadcast live around the world! Our project is being broadcast live on the world wide web.  As a Let Them Be Kids community our project is being featured on their internet broadcasting network. Tell your family and friends to watch the action and celebrate with us, just have them go to www.ltbk.ca , and look to the lower right for the “live broadcast button or email them this link http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/broadcast to see your exciting work, LIVE!

BUILD DAY SCHELUDE JUNE 8th

BUILD DAY SCHELUDE JUNE 8th

Registration (8:00 am to 3:00pm)

Kids Activities / Construction Activities (8:00am – 3:00pm)

Break (10am) 

Lunch (11:30 am to 1:00pm)

                     

Group Picture (2:45pm)

Dedication Ceremony (3:00 pm) 

Effie M. Morrissey Cadet Band and Color Party

All Hallows Fiddlers & Elementary Choir

Recognition of Volunteers

Recognition of Donors

Commemoration Ceremony

The Lancers & Balloon Release

Declaration by Their Honours Frank F. Fagan and Mrs. Patricia Fagan Lieutenant Governor, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Helping Hands Ribbon Cutting

Clean up (3:00pm – 4:00pm)

Need for annuals and perennials...

We also still need some perennials and annuals for our rock garden so if
you can donate some or bring some along with you on Build Day we’ll
certainly find a home for them. Children who bring flowers will be able to
plant them if they want to. Make sure the flowers have your child’s name
on them and what time your child is at the build so we know who plants
what and when.

Noah Batten, a Grade 1 student, asked his family to help him support our
new park and they did in fine style! Donating $50.00 to the cause. A big
thank you from all of us.

Benefit Concert!

On June 4th, our friends in Ascension Collegiate's Music Program,
performed a benefit concert in support of our community play park. They
treated us with jazz, concert band and choir, fiddle music, tap dances and
much more. It was great having former alumni return with other talented
friends to spend some time with us. There was a special guest performance
by The Baccalieu Trotters who kicked up their feet with a traditional
lancer and then a square dance. Another highlight of the night was when
our All Hallows Fiddlers joined The Ascension Traditional Band for some
Newfoundland selections. We send a tremendous round of applause to Ms.
Deanna Power (AC music teacher), Ms Katie Cranford (chief organizer of the
event) and all other peformers in tonight's concert. Your talent and help
is greatly appreciated!

Play Park Walkers!

On Sunday, June 2nd, The Play Park Walkers rode by bus (thanks to an in kind donation from Donald Drake) to Marysvale and then walked back to All Hallows Elementary - just over 13 k. The weather was great so we made good time and arrived back at the school for a delicious pot luck. Along the route, Daniel and Michael Drake (students of All Hallows) had set up a water station and made cupcakes for us. Thanks guys:) Thank you also to the people who made donations along the way. Another thank you goes out to Adam Norman and The Bay de Grave Regional Fire Department for being our eyes on the road and making sure we all made it back safely. Hats off to all our walkers, their sponsors and their support as they helped us raise over $5000.00 for our play park!

Two more students help us reach our goal!

This morning two All Hallows students, McKenzie Mclean and
Joshua Lane, added to our walk a thon by bringing in donations that they
collected for the big day. Thanks so much for adding to your play park!

Another student donation gets us closer to our goal!

Shane Collett in Grade 4 wanted to help us with the Play Park so he
donated his Easter money  A grand total of $200.00. Thanks Shane!