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The Citizen, 2009-10-01, Page 1Results among the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board’s Grade 3 students in the writing portion of last spring’s provincially- standardized tests showed a significant improvement over the previous year. Grade 3 students from the Avon Maitland District School Board, meanwhile, showed a significant decline in success in the reading portion of the test, compared to past results. In general, however, the rest of the local results from the 2008-09 version of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) tests were in line with year-over-year trends in the two boards. “Primary (Grade 3) reading does cause us concern,” Avon Maitland trustees were told by education superintendent Pat Stanley, during a regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22. Recently-released board-by-board results from last year’s Grades 3 and 6 tests – administered between May 25 and June 6 – reveal just 52 per cent of the Avon Maitland participants scored at or above provincial standard for Grade 3 reading. That was down significantly from the previous year, when 58 per cent of participants achieved the standard. Province-wide, meanwhile, 61 per cent of Grade 3 students cleared that bar in both 2007-08 and 2008-09. Administrative staff aimed to comfort Avon Maitland trustees. Stanley told them, “We do know that some of our schools are doing well,” while education director Chuck Reid urged them to consider the number of Avon Maitland students who barely missed achieving the provincial standard – something he called “the tipping point.” Asked by Reid to provide further explanation, assessment co- ordinator John Herbert explained that, to achieve the standard, students must be placed in either “Level 3” or “Level 4” of results. Over the years, EQAO statisticians have fine-tuned their scoring to such a degree that Herbert was able to determine that, if the standard was decreased from “Level 3” to “Level 2.9,” Avon Maitland students would have achieved just shy of a 60 per cent success rate. “It is very tight between those who achieved the standard and those who would have achieved it if they had gotten only one or two more right answers,” Herbert said. South Huron trustee Randy Wagler didn’t seem convinced, stating, “We’re not as pleased as we would like . . . We were probably surprised by some of the results.” The trustee noted Herbert and fellow staff were equally surprised by the 51 per cent success rate, and wondered if there might be a better way to predict the board’s EQAO results by assessing student abilities in the weeks leading up to the test. But Stratford representative Doug Pratley defended the work of Avon Maitland staff. “With all due respect, we’re dealing with students here,” Pratley said. “It’s not always as cut and dried as just looking at the numbers.” In the Huron-Perth board, meanwhile, Grade 3 writing results showed a recovery from a one-year slide in 2007-08. In last spring’s test, success rates for Huron-Perth students were above the provincial average in all aspects, at both Grade 3 and Grade 6 levels. In Grade 3 Writing, 75 per cent of Huron-Perth participants achieved or surpassed the provincial standard, compared with 66 per cent province- wide. The previous year, the board’s students had just a 61 per cent success rate, below the provincial average. “We attribute our students’ success to a board focus on ‘improving learning for all’,” stated a Huron-Perth news release. “By increasing the precision of instruction and focus on student needs, we will continue to improve in all areas.” And, as has been the case for several years, both Avon Maitland and Huron-Perth took pride in the success rates achieved by their Grade 9 math students – all of whom achieved well above the provincial average. Job well done Built by Gerald Exel and funded by the Huronlea Auxiliary, the new gazebo at Huronlea got its official opening this past Sunday. After a brief speech from Homes administrator Barb Springall, making the opening snip were, from left: Exel, Rob Mensinga, president of the Residents’ Council, warden Ken Oke, and Auxiliary member, and Morris-Turnberry councillor Edna McLellan. (Vicky Bremner photo) October is in motion month in Huron and Perth Counties and residents are encouraged to find ways to get moving. The goal is to encourage children and adults to be active for 30 minutes at least five days a week to improve their health. This Sunday, Oct. 4, between 1-4 p.m., the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority amd the Maitland Conservation Foundation are hosting an annual event that provides the perfect opportunity to get moving outdoors in a setting that’s absolutely picture perfect. The annual Fall Colour Tour at Wawanosh Valley Conservation Area this event celebrates the autumn season. And while wagon rides are offered through the conservation area, people are also invited to take a guided tour of the area hiking the trails and bushes. Wagon rides will be available through the Conservation Area from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The wagon rides will travel along edge of the woodlot, down the old black cherry laneway and through the meadow filled fall wildflowers. Visitors will be dropped off at the hardwood forest if they wish to walk back along the river trail. At 2 p.m. Conservation Authority staff will be leading the guided walk focusing on how plants and animals prepare for winter. Visitors are also welcome to pick up a trail map and explore the property on their own. It’s a great chance to participate in Huron- Perth’s in motion initiative said MVCA communications co- ordinator Jayne Thompson. The Wawanosh Nature Centre will be open throughout the Fall Colour Tour. Visitors are invited to stop by and explore the displays and hands- on conservation activities. There will be special activities for children. New this year is a birds of prey demonstration that will be held at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mike Clark from Wingham will be providing this demonstration involving a Harris Hawk and a Eurasian Eagle Owl. Another special feature at this year’s event will be the draw for the Foundation’s 2009 Conservation Raffle at 3:30 p.m. Tickets will be available up until draw time. Proceeds from the raffle will support education activities at the Nature Centre. Admission is free. Apple cider As Huron County prepares for the devil it knows, flu season, there is another concern, the H1N1 virus that is on its way to Huron County. And how and when they’re attended to could be very critical. Research recently conducted throughout Canada has found a potential association between the seasonal flu shot and a higher susceptibility to H1N1. Christina Taylor of the Huron County Health Unit, however, says that Canada is currently the only country with these findings, which is a good sign that the findings could just be an unfortunate coincidence and that there is actually no connection. Because of the initial association, however, Canada has been put on alert of the potential connection and the findings are currently being critically reviewed, hopefully with findings coming in later this week. “We have been trying to post information on our website as soon as we have it processed,” Taylor says. “News on this subject is changing on a daily basis though, so it has proven to be very hard.” Currently, Taylor says, the Huron County Health Unit, is planning for a priority distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, which as a precaution for right now, they are saying should be administered first before receiving the seasonal flu shot to avoid any potential negative associations. Those over 65, however, are at a lower risk of contracting the virus. They should remain vigilant against the seasonal flu though. “There were four studies done and there did seem to be some sort of an association between having a flu shot in the past and H1N1,” Taylor said. “It may be a slight aberration, but it has to be peer-reviewed. We obviously wouldn’t do anything to put anyone at risk.” Because the H1N1 vaccine is still being made, Taylor says she is hoping it will make its way to Huron County in limited quantities by mid- October or in plentiful quantities by early-November. If the vaccine is received early, it will be administered to patients who need it most. Those patients are those under 65 with chronic conditions, pregnant women, healthy children aged six months to five years, people living in remote and isolated communities (such as EQAO brings mixed results CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 Volume 25 No. 38ACHIEVEMENT- Pg. 12McGavin boys achieve topmarks at IPM SAFETY - Pg. 13A salute to the local firedepartments beginCOMMUNITY- Pg. 10Belgrave school fair prizelist beginsPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: Get in motion on colour tour Continued on page 8 By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Gearing up for flu season By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 6