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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2010-06-17, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010. NEWS FROM BELGRAVE Seniors donate to community centre, fairsThe Belgrave Seniors CommunityClub met on Friday, June 4 for apotluck lunch at noon, which wasattended by 12 members and fiveguests.The president, Muriel Coultes,read a poem, “The Strawberry Patch” and the secretary’s report was given by Gladys Van Camp. It was decided to give a financial donation to the Community Centre Board and to the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair. The name of Rev. John Roberts will be sent to be included in the Book of Remembrance. The president encouraged mem- bers to take out a membership with the Community Centre Board which entitles them to a vote at meetings. The birthdays and weddinganniversaries of people celebratingduring the summer months wereacknowledged. A program of music was enjoyedwith Ethel Adams playing piano andArnold Bruce playing violin. BerylMacGowan sang three familiarhymns.They were thanked with a gift byAlice Nicholson. The next potluckand meeting will be on Friday, Oct.1 at noon. The meeting closed bysinging God Save the Queen.Belgrave Variety to be renovated The Belgrave Variety will be undergoing a renovation with a resi- dence added above the store. The interior of the store will remain the same and there will not be any interruptions of store servic- es. The store will remain open dur- ing its regular hours. The only exception will be one afternoon when the store will need to be closed early in order to cement the front walkway. The community is invited to the Community Centre at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 20 (Father’s Day) where Kids 4 Christ will present their version of Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat.It’s going to be a great day with a chicken bar- becue to follow inside and outside. Everyone is welcome. By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188 PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE Kindergarten to Grade Eight schools an oddity world-wide Supported by the experience of nearly a half-century serving Ontario’s education sector, as well as work on more than one Education Ministry research initiative, a retired superintendent of the Thames Valley District School Board delivered a well-reasoned defense of placing Grades 7 and 8 students in second- ary school environments. Stratford-based consultant Dr. Jean Hewitt, who began her teaching career in 1961 and once served on an advisory panel to former Education Minister Bette Stephenson, addressed a regular meeting of the Avon Maitland District School Board on Tuesday, June 8. She explained that the board first made contact with her after she wrote a let- ter to a Stratford newspaper, after which she met for a discussion with trustees followed by the presentation at last week’s meeting. She was not paid for either event, she explained. In the Avon Maitland board, senior elementary students were moved into high school environments in Stratford about five years ago, fol- lowed by a similar transition in Goderich last year. St. Marys will follow in 2010-11, Wingham the fol- lowing year, and a recommendation currently under consideration by trustees would see a similar change in Exeter within the next few years. “This is not new in Ontario educa- tion,” advised Hewitt. In fact, she said, “the schools (with a K-8 and 9- 12 model) are something of an aber- ration on the planet . . . You move anywhere else in the world other than North America, you’re going to find students in those (K-6 and 7-12) schools.” Education director Chuck Reid, interviewed after the meeting, said “it wasn’t like (board staff) went on the internet and found somebody who could speak in favour (of the 7- 8 option).” Instead, he said, the letter in the newspaper gave trustees the impression that they could learn from her input. “She’s just very passionate about the topic and was willing to come in and share her experiences and research.” In her presentation, Hewitt recalled serving with Stephenson’s panel in the 1970s, and urging the then Education Minister that staying with the K-8/9-12 model would have “economic implications.” The retired educator noted, even at that time, Grades 7-8 Ontario curriculum in areas like science and math lagged behind other nations, due to the scarcity of specialized resources and teachers in most of the schools attended by Grades 7-8 students. She added there has always been strong evidence suggesting it’s potentially psychologically detri- mental to force a major change between Grades 8 and 9, versus between Grades 6 and 7. “The fact that we split the students at their most vulnerable time . . . was raised over and over,” Hewitt advised. Even in today’s K-8 schools, she suggested, Grade 6 students – most of whom retain a strong deference to authority figures, yet have gained maturity and independence – are the best role models for younger stu- dents. Many Grades 7 and 8 stu- dents, by contrast, have naturally begun to question authority and look to older teenagers as role models. She argued the only reason there wasn’t a greater move to the 7-12 model after the Stephenson panel was demographics: at the time, most of the province’s high schools were at or near capacity. “And the reason (the 7-12 option) is being discussed a lot now is that we now have the space to do some- thing that we’ve been talking about for 30 years.” With all-day/every day Kindergarten now being phased in, it’s possible space will become scarce in many elementary schools, while secondary schools lost their Grade 13 students not that long ago. As a result, many of the province’s secondary schools could likely accommodate Grades 7 and 8 stu- dents. A key challenge, Hewitt noted, will be turf battles between elemen- tary and secondary teachers’ unions. “The elementary teachers are very afraid that, when the 7s and 8s go into the high schools, (senior ele- mentary teachers) will be given some option about which union they’ll be allowed to belong to.” Despite this, and despite the Avon Maitland trustees’ very real chal- lenge that many in the Exeter area strongly oppose the proposed transi- tion of senior elementary students, Hewitt believes the entire province will eventually join the trend. “Inevitably, Ontario will be in a JK-6 and 7-12 model – within 30 years,” she predicted. Forthcoming Marriage Bert and Brenda Sjaarda and Jim and Sylvia Parish are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children Kirsten Renee Sjaarda to David John Passchier on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Blyth Christian Reformed Church There were seven tables of shoot in play on Friday, June 11 at the Belgrave Community Centre. Winners were: high pink card, Judy Hahn; second high pink card, Alice Nicholson; most shoots, Mary McIntosh; high white card, Dorothy Carter; second high white card, Ronald Taylor; most shoots, Merv Schneider. The next shoot is June 25 at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Hahn wins high pink card in Belgrave Shoot www.strawberrysummerfest.com Schedule of Events Saturday, June 26 - main street will be closed, 7a.m. - 4 p.m., for events • Strawberry Summerfest official opening, ribbon cutting 10 a.m., Campbell and Stauffer Streets • Strawberry Pancake Breakfast 8 am - 1 pm, Lucknow Legion • Lions Car and Truck Show • Vendors’ Market • Free Swimming • Day Camp Playground • Children's Activities • Clowns • Exotic Animal Show • Tiny Tot Children's Village • Youth Soccer Tournament • LCPS BBQ and Strawberry Shortcakes by Morrison Berries at soccer fields • NEW Large Photo Booth (fits up to 20 people) • DJ on main street • Dunk Tank • NEW Car Bashing Stress Reliever, noon, corner of Inglis and Campbell Streets, take a swing with a sledge hammer at car for $2 a hit or three hits for $5 • Kinsmen Dance featuring Snakebite, 9 p.m.- 1 a.m., Lucknow Sports Complex, age of majority, admission $5 at the door Sunday, June 27 • Community Wide Church Service at Lucknow Presbyterian Church, followed by picnic in the park • Free Swimming • Championship Slo-pitch Games • Festive Gardens SUMMERFEST PARTNERS: Lucknow Legion, Lucknow Kinsmen/Kinettes, Lucknow District Lions, Twp. of Huron-Kinloss, Twp. of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Lucknow Agricultural Society. Friday, June 18 Dungannon Super Pull Dance, with Settler's Creek Band at the Dungannon Agricultural Fairgrounds. 19+ event. Admission $10 Saturday, June 19 Annual Dungannon Super Pull, 2:30 pm, Dungannon Fairgrounds. Adult admission $15 Children (5-12) $5 Preschool - Free. No rain date Wednesday, June 23 - Sunday, June 27 Slo-pitch Tournament - Ladies and Men's teams Festive gardens and food booth Friday, June 25 • NEW Teen Dance (ages 13 - 16), 8 - 11 p.m. Stewart Auto parking lot, with DJ, admission $3 and crowning of Strawberry Summerfest Teen Princess, 9 p.m., chosen by draw • Kinsmen Dance featuring Last Exit, 9 p.m.- 1 a.m., Lucknow Sports Complex, age of majority, admission $5 at the door June 18 to 27 ~ Fun Events for the Entire Family Forthcoming Marriage Calvin and Gail Semple along with Murray and Maxine Houston would like to announce the marriage of their children Jodi Marie to Darryl Rae The wedding will take place Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Melville Presbyterian Church. Reception at Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Correction In the June 10 issue of The Citizen, Belgrave’s Knox United Church was wrongly identified as it received a donation of $5,000 from the Belgrave Women’s Institute. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED