The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2011-10-06, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011. PAGE 17. Personal iPhones in class, netbooks and social media lessons may be on the horizon for schools in the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB). At the board’s Sept. 26 meeting, Superintendent of Education Dan Parr and Learning Co-ordinator Sean McDade presented “Twenty-first Century Learning: Our Catholic Vision”, a discussion paper by the 21st Century Learning committee. Parr and McDade told trustees that the learning environment of the future would move beyond devices such as smartboards and LCD projectors, to focus on helping students develop as “responsible digital citizens.” The paper suggests that the board’s K-12 religion program and Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations (OCGEs) form the basis for lessons on safe, appropriate online behaviours, including the proper use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter. The report also encourages increased collaboration and self- learning. McDade said strategies could include wikis, blogs and online peer reviews. To make these different strategies easier to implement, the report suggests relaxing internet restrictions for teachers and allowing students to bring in their own digital devices. McDade said the board will work towards a password-protected Learning Management System, allowing students a “safe, secure place” to work. So far the HPCDSB has worked with two similar programs: Moodle and Desire2Learn. Parr said the multi-year implementation of the report’s recommendations would require investment in the board’s network capabilities, including improved connectivity and increased bandwidth. Trustee Jim McDade asked Gerry Thuss, superintendent of business and treasurer, what funding might be available for digital improvements. Thuss said that the HPCDSB doesn’t have fibre cable in all areas, and that “those areas need to be addressed before we get to the technology.” He added that finding dollars to catch up with the rapid pace of technology is a continual question. Regardless of the outcome of the Oct. 6 provincial election, Thuss said he did not believe funding was going to be increased, “for anything, let alone computers.” Parr said the proposed emphasis on mobile learning could help address some funding issues. The report recommends moving away from computer labs of desktops and even laptops in favour of less-expensive netbooks. Allowing students to bring in their own devices would also ease the strain on limited resources. Trustee Amy Cronin praised the report’s direction, saying that some current teaching tools aren’t meeting students’ needs. She gave the example of a Grade 9 textbook written in the 1990s which informs students about the internet.“ The kids just laugh,” she said. Nick Avis, the student trustee from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, agreed about dated textbooks. “Some of them are from before we were born,” he said. A generous donation, doubled Employees at Sparling’s Propane set their sights on helping out the Goderich and Area Tornado Relief Fund over the last few weeks and thanks to their efforts $1,355 was raised, an amount that was matched by the company, leading to a total donation of $2,710. The Sparling’s Employee Fund was established in 2000 and has since raised thousands of dollars for both local causes and disaster relief campaigns all over the world. The official donation was made last week by Sparling’s Human Resources Co-ordinator Judy Lajeunesse and was accepted by the Relief Fund Chair Dr. Tom Jasper. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Animals take centre stage at 150th Fall Fair School Board considers personal devices in class Landfill revenue climbs Continued from page 16Taylor Daw.S4-3 - Grade 3&4: Character out ofplastic container - Courtney Van den Assem, Aiden Van den Assem, Lotte Backx. S4-4 - Grade 5&6: Soap carving - Delayna Smith, Wyatt Machan and Jasmine Vader, tied second. S4-5 - Grade 7&8: Mosaic picture using egg shells - no entries. S5-1 - Preschool & Kindergarten: Trick or Treat bag - Kiley Nicholson,, Gabby Johnston, Lola Johnston. S5-2 - Grade 1&2: Trick or treat bag - Bennett Smith, Tory Lynn Daw, Taylor Daw. S5-3 - Grade 3&4: Halloween mask - Olivia Johnston, Dana Dolmage, RyanJacklin.S5-4 - Grade 5&6: Pillowcase trick ortreat bag - Delayna Smith, Sarah Mitchell. S5-5 - Grade 7&8: Grapevine decoration - no entries. S6 - Robin Hood Flour lunchbox snack - Lola Johnston. S7-1 - Preschool & Kindergarten: flowers in sandpail - Lucas Jacklin, Kiley Nicholson. S7-2 - Grades 1&2: flower arrangement in oil can - no entries. S7-3 - Grade 3&4: flower arrangement in a cream pitcher - Wade Machan, Olivia Johnston, Ryan Jacklin. S7-4 - Grade 5&6: flowerarrangement in work boot - DelaynaSmith, Wyatt Machan.S7-5: Grade 7&8: flower arrangement to “Reflect our Past”- no entries. S8A - Safety Poster - Kindergarten to Grade 2 - Lucas Jacklin, Hudson Smith. S8B - Safety Poster - Grade 3 & 4 - Wade Machan. S8C - Safety Poster - Grade 5 & 6 - Delayna Smith. S8D - Safety Poster - Grade 7 & 8 - no entries. 4-H BEEF CLUB Grand Champion Showman - Tyler MacPherson. Reserved Champion Showman - Curtis Driscoll. Grand Champion Calf - TylerMacPherson.Reserve Champion Calf - DallasCoultes. Senior Showmanship - Tyler MacPherson, Curtis Driscoll, Jackie Henderson. Junior Showmanship - Dawson Coultes, Shelby Higgins, Garet Smuck. Novice Showmanship - Ethan Coultes, Ryan Smuck, Brock Weber. Market Steer - Jacob Coultes, Cole MacPherson, Arden Coultes. Market Heifer - Tyler MacPherson, Dallas Coultes, Curtis Driscoll. Intermediate Showmanship - Laura Higgins, Ashley Higgins, Cole MacPherson. Junior Calf - Shelby Higgins. Junior Yearling - Garet Smuck, AshleyHiggins, Quinton Hakkers.Senior Yearling - Janelle Shapton,Laura Higgins. SHEEP CLUB Little Folks Showmanship - no entries. Market Lamb - Arden Coultes, Joanna Blake, Ethan Coultes. Breeding Ewe - Brookelyn Johnston, Ashley Johnston, Allison Terpstra. Junior Showmanship (9-11)- Emily Terpstra, Alida Swart, Ethan Coultes. Senior Showmanship (9-11)- Matthew Swart, Arden Coultes, Dallas Coultes. Costume Class - Gabby Johnston, Matthew Swart, Max Johnston. Sponsored by: www.ocna.org 905.639.8720 ext. 239 NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY! Authorized by CFO Lisa Thompson Campaign VOTE LISA THOMPSON Lisa will bring change: To keep Walkerton Jail and Rural Schools from closing To clean up waste and scandals in Government To remove HST from Home Energy Bills To improve Health Care and Education To give Municipalities control over Industrial Wind Turbines lisathompson4huronbruce.ca 519.523.9113 FOR CHANGE IN HURON BRUCE By Rita Marshall Special to The Citizen Central Huron Reeve Jim Ginn reported that the Mid-Huron landfill revenue has climbed dramatically due to the amount of refuse coming from Goderich as a result of the late August tornado. Ginn said it was obvious that the news was bittersweet with the revenue coming as a result of the tornado, but said the revenue was not likely to drop anytime soon either. “It’s coming as a result of the destruction in Goderich, but it’s not really filling up the landfill either,” Ginn said. He added that the materials being brought to the landfill aren’t affecting the site’s eventual closure date and capacity. “It is what it is,” he said. Ginn also stated that the hours have been extended until 8 p.m. on weeknights and Saturday hours have also been extended with no budget impact. After these alterations, Ginn said the Mid-Huron landfill is the envy of many municipalities and counties due to the money set aside for perpetual care. “We have in excess of $5 million in reserves,” he said. “That will pay for perpetual care for up to 50 years. It’s a good position to be in.”