DEH CHO - The hard work of students and the expertise of a teacher has resulted in Thomas Simpson school gaining a sign.

From June 13 to 19 approximately 15 students and a number of teachers worked to construct a stone monument in the grass circle in the driveway in front of the school. The idea for the monument was born out of the need for a project.

Stephen Rowan lays the time stone in the new Thomas Simpson school monument as some of the students who helped build the sign watch. Project participants included, front left: Gerald Hardisty, Alex Porter-Heron, Daniel Lund, Donavan Peterson, Cameron O'Neill, Joseph Gargan, Lance Hardisty and Shane Kwasney. Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photophoto

When Paul Yanchus, a shop and social studies teacher, thought about what he could teach during the four-day career and technology studies course (CTS) he reflected on the fact that the school didn't have a sign. The students who had signed up for the course liked the concept and started thinking of ideas, said Yanchus.

One of the original ideas to purchase a pre-made sign had to be dropped because of lack of funds. Instead, Yanchus decided to put to use the expertise he gained during a 30-year career as a stonemason in Ontario.

The result is a monument made of stone that can be seen between the break in the trees as people drive by the school on the main street.

Students did all of the work for the project.

Construction started when the senior construction class poured the cement slab for the monument's base as part of a module on cement forming during the last weeks of school.

Work on the monument itself began on June 13. Students gathered stones from the Martin River, near the airport and at David Wright's house to be used in the structure.

On Thursday students mixed together Portland cement and pre-mix to hold the structure together and started laying the stones. During the project students learned basic stonemasonry including mixing mortar, placement of stone and finishing joints, said Yanchus.

"Some of them are really into it,” Yanchus said during a break in construction.

Watching the structure come together on Friday, Yanchus said he was pleased with the project and the students.

"They're getting a good taste of work,” he said.

While working on making the mortar mix, Alex Porter-Heron said he was enjoying the project because it didn't involve schoolwork.

"I think it's going to look nice,” said Gerald Hardisty.

Hardisty said this was the first time he'd done work like this. He said he expected the sign to last at least 20 years.

During a break from choosing stones to place on the monument, Daniel Lund said he looks forward to coming back in a few years and being able to say he was part of making the sign.

If everything goes well, the monument could have a lifespan of 50 years, said Yanchus.

While the monument lasts, so will the time capsule that was placed inside of it.

During construction the students left a spot for a plastic container to be placed inside the monument. The container is filled with a number of items including a five-day forecast for the village, the front page of The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star, some hockey cards and a picture of the girl's soccer team.

The monument includes two other features, one being a pre-cast date stone with the number 2007 formed in it. Stephen Rowan, a local resident and historian, laid the date stone, on Friday.

"I think it's very exciting to be putting up something with a date on it,” said Rowan.

"The boys who have done this can be very proud.”

The monument also contains a cement sign with the initials TSS.

The letters came from the original lettering that was on the school building. The sloped peak on the top of the cement piece was designed to look like a schoolhouse, said Yanchus.

Symbolism can be found throughout the rest of the structure.

The cap for the monument is triangular. The sides of a triangle symbolize home, school and community, Yanchus said. The monument is made of rock showing the education should be based on a firm foundation.

Yanchus put his own mark on the monument by including a hollow, limestone rock that he found on the Albany River in Ontario.

"I love this rock,” he said.

Having a rock from another part of the country also symbolizes the monument bringing the country together, said Yanchus.