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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-04-04, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013.Board to offer unique experiences Chime ensemble coming Board not looking at closures in coming year Eye on the bronze Matthew Cottrill, second from left, with his Fanshawe Falcons curling team, went to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships in Edmonton late last month and came home with a bronze medal. The Fanshawe College ladies team came home with the gold. (Photo submitted) The crack of dawn Reverend Tom Murray led a special ‘sunrise’ church service at Knox United Church in Belgrave on Sunday to celebrate Easter. (Denny Scott photo) Rev. Tom Murray and his wife Brenda are on vacation from April 3 to April 17. If you need pastoral care, please contact either Dungannon Union’s pastor Brian Hymers 519-291-3023 or Blyth United Church’s Rev. Gary Clark 519-523-4383. While Rev. Tom is on vacation, we welcome Melissa Snyders to conduct the services at Knox United Church. On Sunday, April 14 and 21 the Children’s Chime Ensemble will be held. Chime In Choir practice is April 7 at 9:45 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Chime in Choir will play in church on April 7. Everyone is welcome. Gifted students within the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB) will soon enjoy some unique opportunities. JoAnn MacGregor, superintendent of education, told the board of trustees that about 20 students from Grades 4 to 8 will take part in a variety of workshops over the next few months. These activities are part of the Infinite Horizons Gift Program. MacGregor said students are identified as gifted in either Grade 4 or Grade 7, when all students complete the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test - written each fall. “Occasionally some of our students in those grades are recognized as being gifted. Being gifted is considered an exceptionality by the Ministry of Education,” she said. MacGregor said the gifted students are given in IEP (individual education plan). “The gifted IEP talks about going deeper with learning and enriching student learning and the Infinite Horizons Program is one of the things the board provides that the students might not have right from their school site,” said MacGregor. The gifted program is run by a committee of teachers, principals and other board staff. “With a little bit of a budget we put together a schedule of events each spring for these students. It gives our gifted students an opportunity to enjoy some unique opportunities to do together,” she said adding, “We find this is very powerful, especially at the Grade 7 and 8 level. When those students move on to St. Anne’s or St. Michael’s they have already met other like-minded students.” She said the program also honours students who are gifted learners, gives them a chance to be with more like-minded learners and participate in things that help them go broader and deeper in their own learning. MacGregor said, “For example our Grade 7 and 8 students will be participating in a Chocolatier Workshop. Students will learn the science and environmental connections behind making chocolate and they will get to test their own creations.” These students will also get to make a clay creation, visit the University of Western Ontario and spend a day at Falls Reserve in Benmiller. The younger group will participate in a short film workshop, learn about electricity, DNA extraction, spend a day at Camp Kintail and enjoy a day at the Stratford Festival Theatre. “While they are fun events, there is a lot of opportunity for learning. These students have a thirst for learning and these events provide an opportunity students otherwise wouldn’t receive,” said MacGregor, adding. “They are going to be doing some amazing things over the next couple of months.” MacGregor added that the Infinite Horizons Program dovetails nicely with the school board’s movement forward concerning leadership opportunities for students. Continued from page 14 the secondary buildings, we have mitigated having buildings that would be predominately empty,” said Ash, adding, “We are making efficient use of our building capacity by moving the senior elementary students to the secondary buildings and compensated for the decline in enrolment at the secondary level.” “We are not looking at closing any schools in the near future,” said Ash, adding, “We still have to do an annual accommodation report, to come forward in May, and we do not anticipate recommending any accommodation reviews for the coming year and we will continue to re-evaluate on an annual basis.” School by school data was not available at the time of the presentation. We will customize a crop input program specific to your requirements. Fertilizers • 2 Terrogators ®with an Air Max 1000+ Sprayer • Micro nutrients • Bulk delivery • Spreaders readily available Seeds HOWSON & HOWSON LTD. 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