PENNYCOOKE

WESTERN BUREAU:

ARYL PENNYCOOKE is not only the manager of this year's staging of the Westmoreland Curry Festival, but a teacher at The Manning's School as well.

The festival is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, at The Manning's School in Westmoreland. The proceeds of the event will go towards the school's renovation.

Providing support to Chairman Donald Gordon, Pennycooke is no stranger to the board. She has been a committee member since its inception in 2001.

A history/sociology/social studies teacher at Manning's, she has dedicated 15 years of her life to the institution.

"I've played many roles at Manning's and the festival," Pennycooke said.

More recently, Pennycoke has assisted Gordon with entertainment logistics and has taken on the responsibility of hospitality director.

The veteran teacher attributes some of the festival's success to the students of Manning's who are not excluded from the planning process.

"The children are very excited about the festival. They are the ones who give ideas about which artistes to invite. They know their choices will enhance the school in some way," Pennycooke said.

She also encouraged them to be involved in various stages of the event.

Pennycooke said that while she enjoys her administrative role, the former chairperson said she hopes to attend the event one day as a patron as she feels she misses out on some of the fun.

As a teacher at Manning's, Pennycooke said that she has witnessed the benefits of the festival first-hand. She said that she feels a sense of pride when she sees much-needed renovation taking place as a result of festival's proceeds.