HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-08, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011. PAGE 17. Catholic board passes on school propertiesThe Huron-Perth Catholic District
School Board (HPCDSB) has
passed on an offer to buy three Avon
Maitland District School Board
(AMDSB) school properties.At the HPCDSB Nov. 28 meeting,Chair Ron Marcy briefly elaboratedon a motion which came out of the
board’s earlier closed session.
The HPCDSB had been offered a
chance to buy three AMDSB school
properties: Zurich Public School andUsborne Central Public School, bothin South Huron and Brussels PublicSchool in East Huron.
HPCDSB trustees passed a motion
declining the offer.
The offer was part of the required
process for a school board wantingto dispose of surplus schoolproperty. Before a property may goto auction, as AMDSB properties in
Mitchell and St. Marys did this year,
the properties must first be offered to
other school boards in the area, as
well as nearby post-secondary
institutions and local municipalities.
Students from Zurich Public School
will be sent to Hensall to attend the
newly- named Bluewater Coast
Elementary School in September of
2012, while Usborne Central Public
School students will attend either
Exeter Elementary School or South
Huron District High School
(SHDHS) in September of 2012.
Brussels Public School students will
attend either the newly-named North
Woods Elementary School near
Ethel or local AMDSB high schools
in September of 2012.
***
How to help a non-verbal
kindergarten boy communicate with
friends, family and classmates?
There’s an app for that.
In a brief, touching video
presentation, HPCDSB
superintendent of education JoAnn
MacGregor and Applied Behaviour
Analysis (ABA) leader Charmaine
Chadwick showed trustees how
HPCDSB student “Nathan” had a
communications breakthrough using
an application from iTunes.
The boy, explained Chadwick, has
limited verbal sounds but does have
the ability to understand. The video
showed how Nathan functions in his
classroom before showing what
happened one day when Chadwickdownloaded the app “iComm” on toher iPod and asked Nathan if hewanted cheese or pretzels for a
snack. The boy was able to request
either snack, his classmates cheered
and when Chadwick asked “Do you
like pretzels?” he applauded in
response.
“Nate has a voice just like
everyone else,” Chadwick told the
class.
Chadwick told trustees that the
scene in the video occurred on a
Thursday. By the following Monday
the student had an iPod at school
with iComm downloaded. That
afternoon, his parents and
grandparents were trained on the app
so that he can use it to communicate
at home or at school.
Chadwick said the app, created by
Bappz, also lets teachers determine
what Nathan is learning.
“So now it’s used as an assessment
tool as well,” she said.
“That’s putting technology to
great use,” said trustee Bernard
Murray.
***
For the next several weeks, the
public can view proposed changes to
several HPCDSB policies on the
board’s website. Many of the
changes are minor language changes
for greater clarity, with one policy
(student dress code) being updated
to include mention of the Ministry of
Education’s memorandum on the
provincial code of conduct.
Other policies being reviewed
Award winners
Blyth Legion representatives Andy Lubbers (President) and Rick McBurney (Training and
Organizational Development Chair) presented several public school students at Blyth Public
School with awards for their contributions to the Remembrance Day Poster, Poem and Essay
contests held annually by the Legion. On Nov. 30, Lubbers and McBurney handed certificates
and cash awards to intermediate students who had done exceptionally well including, back
row, from left: Phaedra Scott who took first place in the Colour Poster contest and Dylan Keir
who took third place in the Black and White Poster Contest. Front row, from left: Courtney
Bachert who took second place in the Colour Poster Contest, Tiffany Conrad who placed
second in the Black and White Poster Contest, Brittany Walden who took first place in the
Black and White Poster Contest and Chantal Van Schaik who took third place in the Colour
Poster contest. (Denny Scott photo)
Awesome artisans
Blyth Public School was recently visited by Blyth Legion President Andy Lubbers, right, and
Training and Organizational Development Chair Rick McBurney, left, who presented several
students with awards for their participation in the annual Remembrance Day Poster, Poem
and Essay competitions. The awarded were students were, back row, from left: Logan
Wallace who earned a first place finish in the Junior Colour Poster contest and Bailey Coles
who finished third place in the Primary Colour Poster contest. Front row, from left: Braedan
Fleming who finished second place in the Primary Colour Poster contest, Kennedy Huether
who finished first in the Primary Colour Poster contest and Zachary Walden who earned a
third place finish in the Junior Colour Poster contest. (Denny Scott photo)
COMMEMORATE THE NEWEST
FAMILY MEMBER'S 1ST NEW YEAR
Join the gallery of faces in The Citizen's
baby photo display January 5, 2012
Send or bring a picture of your little one born in
2011 along with a writeup which includes full name,
birth date and parents' names, to be featured in The
Citizen's Gallery of Faces on January 5, 2012, for
only $20.00 (HST included).
Please send picture (with name on back), along
with a cheque, to The Citizen prior to December 16.
Photos may be picked up after January 5.
THIS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
- Sample -
Please Complete
Baby's Full Name______________________
Son ❑Daughter ❑
Birth Date_____________________________
Parents' Names________________________
$20.00 Enclosed
DEADLINE - December 16
2 pm in Brussels • 4 pm in Blyth
❑
Alex John Smith
May 18
son of
Mike & Laura
Smith
B a b i e s o f t h e
Y ear 2011
By Rita MarshallSpecial to The Citizen
Continued on page 22