Memory Lane: BNC's Paper Jam

UPDATE: Mickey Pucci's bio was added PLUS a link to the latest video for Steve Miller Band's "The Joker"

In my continuing theme of revisiting things that left an impression on me from the schools that I have taught in, I return to the halls of Barrie North ... or, more specifically, the cafeteria of Barrie North. When school is in, every other Friday during the lunch period, the cafe walls reverberate with sultry sounds of the Billboard Hit List that spill out into the connecting hallways, filling the heart of the school with excited energy. It is not uncommon during these times to find students and adults alike bopping and swaying to the rhythmic beat of an all teacher band affectionately known as Paper Jam.


The band is comprised of teachers presently employed at North, but due to the reality of LTO (Long Term Occasional) contracts, the faces change slightly with each passing semester. The mainstays of Mr Burke Erwin, Mr Peter Ritchie, Mr Jay Rothenburg and Mr Mark Pethick form the stable core, but Mr Peter Flood and Mr Drew Forsyth lend their vocal magnificence when they're able. Some of the band actually teach music ... Rothenburg and Pethick ... but most of them are in it solely for their passion, and spreading that passion amongst the people in the school is their main purpose. Judging by the smiling faces, swaying heads, tapping toes and wiggly bottoms, their achieving a Level 4 evaluation ... sorry, a little edu-joke there.

One of the neat things about Paper Jam is their efforts to stay connected to the school even during this time of isolation. To achieve that end, they have collaborated on a few songs that were posted to YouTube by group tech master Pethick.

One is a popular Foo Fighter song "My Hero" and was dedicated to all of the health care and front line workers sacrificing so much for all during the pandemic.

Their next song was in response to Barrie North Alum Jason McCoy who released a new single "We are one", a collaboration with Jim Payetta, then challenged Canada to make it their won. You know Paper Jam had to throw their hat in the ring on that challenge.

The latest upload was a cover of The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker" featuring the velvety smooth vocals of Burke Erwin and the addition of Mickey Pucci on support vocals.

Throughout it all, it is yet another example of teachers ... specifically BNC teachers ... going the extra mile to engage students by making their school feel more welcoming, accepting, and a little bit more with it.

The opinion of these old eyes would be an effort well received. Kudos to you Paper Jam!

Jay Rothenburg

Jay is the music leader extraordinaire! A BNC alumnus, he is the Arts leader, the energy behind the music extracurriculars, and even a published composer, having recently created the theme song for the 2019 Special Olympics. An incredible music talent, Jay is a proficient with a number of instruments. Active outside of school in a variety of musical endeavours, Jay is a tireless proponent of the value that Arts education can play in everyone's life. Adding to that, he's an amazing human and a good friend.

Jay lends his rhythmic abilities to Paper Jam as lead percussionist.



Mark Pethick

Mark is the Yin to Rothenburg's Yang as the other half of the music educator team at BNC. Together, they lead the various bands and ensembles that BNC offers as extracurricular choices. Not to be boxed into a corner, Mark has also offered his expertise to Arts education having taught Digital Media and Photography electives, much to the delight of his former students. Mark has one of the driest senses of humour I know, generating smiles for miles with his quips. He's a dear friend and a wonderful person.

Mark is the face with the bass for Paper Jam.



Burke Erwin

Burke teaches English, coaches football + rugby, and sires gorgeous children, although that likely has a lot to do with his wife. Seriously, Burke is an amazing human who also plays a pretty wicked guitar ... so much so, he makes me think he should have played alongside Bruce Springsteen! An eternal optimist, Burke is full of smiles, compliments, and friendship. Like Rothenburg, he takes on a variety of musical projects outside of school plus he recently roused his closet thespian as a member of the cast of Mama Mia, presented locally.

Burke shreds the ol' six-string for the band.


Peter Ritchie

Peter Ritchie is the head of guidance at BNC, and has been for a very long time. That's not a shot at his age, but an shout out of recognition for the fact he has taught, more specifically at North, for a really long time. In fact, it's been so long that I really cannot recall what he taught before guidance. Easily one of the nicest humans I can call a friend, Peter is a man of many talents and very well liked by the entire BNC student population, especially when he grabs the mic as the 'Host with the Most" at assemblies and presentations.

Peter tickles the ivories for Paper Jam.


Peter Flood

I have to confess to you all that I don't know Peter very well, and I don't even have a staff photo of him. I do know that he is a part of the Math department and that he has only been a North for a short time. I will tell you that he seems like a really good guy and that he has a great rasp to his voice.

Pete is the primary frontman for Paper Jam.






Drew Forsyth

Drew is a Limited Edition! Extremely intelligent, musically gifted, incredibly funny, endlessly compassionate, devilishly mischievous ... a true buddy and a guy I am proud to call a friend. Drew started out in geography but both experience and desire landed him squarely in the midst of Native Studies, first at Central and most recently at North. Being HUGE student favourite, his teaching style is part Einstein, part SNL, part Columbus ... and as the photo left shows, simply zany, through and through.

Drew has loaned his vocal talents to the band's efforts on occasion and has slipped behind the drum set whenever needed.


Mickey Pucci

Mickey is almost never beckoned using her first name. "Poooch!" is the most popular version of her name, and she lives up to the its blessing by being one of the most bubbly, happy, content souls I've ever known. Quick with a smile and a giggle, she is a student favourite. Perhaps her more endearing quality is her persistence ... she's gone a number of years now working as daily supply or LTO (Long Term Occasional) ... but last year she finally got a foot in the door so North will likely be blessed with her big smile for a few years coming.

Mickey lends her sultry tones to Paper Jam.