Volume 2 Issue 4

Ukrainian Christmas
By Audrey

Christmas is now over, but the Ukrainian Christmas is just beginning. Ukrainian Christmas is celebrated every year on January 6th and 7th. The Holy Supper is held on Ukrainian Christmas. The Holy Supper includes 12 dishes. Usually the 12 dishes do not involve any type of meat. The 12 dishes represent the 12 apostles. Hay is scattered around the table for remembering the manger where Jesus Christ was born!

A typical Ukrainian Christmas table features a braided bread called kalach, in the center of the table as a symbol of prosperity.

The following 12 meatless dishes are found at the Christmas supper.

1. Kutia - preparation of polished wheat wheat with honey and ground poppy seeds. In the Old Country, the head of the family would take the first spoonful of kutia and throw it up on the ceiling. If a lot stuck, it would mean a prosperous year and good yields for grain farmers.

2. Pickled herring. 3. Pickled mushrooms. 4. Borscht 
5. Baked stuffed fish. 6. Pickerel fillets 7. Holubtsi (cabbage rolls) with buckwheat. 8. Holubtsi (cabbage rolls) with rice. 9. Varenycky (perogies) with potatoes. 10. Varenycky (perogies) with sauerkraut. 11. Baked or piquant beets. 12. Mushrooms in sauce.

Deserts will include varenycky (perogies) with prunes or a compote of dried fruit. Pastries will be nedivnyk (honey cake), makivnyk (poppy seed cake) and krysticki (deep-fried pastry sprinkled with icing sugar) and other Christmas pastries.

Borscht Recipe

3 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 parsley roots, chopped
2 onions, quartered
1/2 to 2 teaspoons (7 to 10 ml) salt

Simmer all vegetables in water with salt and peppercorns for 30 minutes. Strain the stalk and discard the vegetables. Wash and bake the beets in the oven for 30 minutes at 3500 F. (180C) Cool beets slightly, peel, grate and add to the vegetable stalk. Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the lemon juice. Season with sugar, pepper and garlic to taste.

5 peppercorns 8 medium-sized beets 1 tablespoon (15 mL) lemon juice 1 teaspoon (5mL) sugar Pinch of pepper 1 small garlic clove, crushed.

Kutia Recipe

1 1/2 cups (375 mL pearled wheat
3 cups (750 mL) salted water
1/2 cup (125 mL) ground poppy seeds
1/2 cup (125 mL) clear honey
1/4 (50 mL) walnuts or pecans (optional)

Bring wheat to boil in 3 cups (750 mL salted water and then simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add water as needed if wheat becomes too thick.

Combine poppy seeds and honey. Add to cooked wheat.

If desired, add chopped walnuts to mixture or decorate top of kutia with pecans right before serving.

Kutia will keep in fridge for several days.

Serves 16 to 20 people.

Ronald Mc Donald
By Adam

Ronald came to the school to tell kids to read more often. He told the kids to read because its like taking a vacation. It included Ronalds' friends and the Bookworm. He read a book about a dog named Flower who was looking for his owner. Everyone enjoyed Ronald. I think that this will get kids to read.

Cookie Sale
By Jessica

During the month of February, Room 111 and P8 will be having a cookie sale. There will be all kinds of cookies like chocolate chip and oreo. There will also be cup cakes for sale. They are charging twenty-five cents for one cup cake or cookie. These two classes are having this sale because they have to raise as much as they can for camp Anishinabe Village.

Grandparenting
By Kasia

On January 25th, twelve students got to go to Holy Family Nursing Home. When the students got there they introduced themselves. Later all of the students got a styrofoam plates filled with gingerbread cookies in different shapes. Every student got a different animal. I got a camel, Ardelle got a cow and Janine got a horse. Every month the students that were pick get to do a different activity. We may play games we may even do more crafts. I know every time we go to the Grandparenting program we do something very exciting, entertaining and enjoyable. At the end of the grandparenting season we will go outside and have ice-cream and play a lot of outdoor games. Everyone will have a great time.

Humane Society
By Audrey

On January 20th a representative from the Humane Society came to our school. She went from class to class to talk about the Humane Society. She talked about the different types of animals that are kept at the Humane Society. There were animals such as dogs, cats, kittens, birds, iguanas and more. You can buy an animals there or if your dog or other animal gets lost, you can go to the Humane Society and maybe they might have your pet. They put found pets in a room where animals can be picked up by their real owners. They keep them there for about 4-5 days. If the owners don’t come they are moved to the adoption room. There people and families can adopt a pet. The Humane Society spends about 2 million dollars every year. The Humane Society appreciates any amount of donations. Since they have to pay 2 million dollars a year Room 111 is saving up pennies to give to the Humane Society.

Prairie Theater Exchange Love You Forever
By Ardelle

On January 20th, Prairie Theater exchange performed a play called Love You Forever. It featured the books of Robert Munch, transformed into a play! Students from grade 1 to 4, including nursery and kindergarten were able to see the great play! The grade sixes from Mrs. Duffy’s class had the pleasure of watching it too! There were three actors acting in the play. Their names are Jen, Glen, and Krista. They had lots of props, and did lots of practicing. After the play was finished they let the students ask questions. Some of the questions were how old they were, when they started and how long they practice. They have been acting since they were between 11 to 15. They hope that young students from different schools will participate in theatre when they are older!