Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-11-22, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2007.DEAR EDITOR,Some of your readers mayalready know that ourdaughter Alison has been actively involved with the people of Sri Lanka, following the devastation to their country following the tsunami a few years ago. Unfortunately, many of the people continue to live in refugee camps, whilst others continue to live in abjectpoverty, since the fundingwhich was given to thecountry was unfairly distributed. Alison has since made a number of visits to the country where one of her projects is building a village for some of the widows and orphans of the tsunami. However, following her return from her most recenttrip, she mentioned how shewas greatly saddened to hearthat when an eye clinic was held a short while before, over 2,000 people turned up for treatment, many having walked for several days to get there. Unfortunately, most of them were turned away because there were only 200 pairs of eyeglasses available. Hearing this, I felt sure thatwe Canadians wouldpossibly be pleased to help out as much as possible. We all tend to have old prescription glasses at home which we no longer need and which I’m sure we would be pleased to donate. Dollar store reading glasses would also be most welcome. If your readers would careto help out in this way theymay choose to make a collection in their local church or with another local organization. In Blyth, glasses may be left at Scrimgeour’s Food Market or The Citizen. In Brussels they may be dropped off at the Brussels Public School or at TheCitizen. If one person in yourchurch or organization would kindly be responsible for providing a collection box and keeping me informed, I will be pleased to ensure safe delivery to Sri Lanka, via Alison’s Relief Aid International (RAI) organization. My sincere thanks for allowing me to make this appeal and for the anticipated responses of your readers. Kay Roberts, Belgrave Letter to the editorWriter gathers glasses for tsunami victims AMDSB looks to expand French immersion With a first group of 13 students now participating in the secondary school version of its Stratford-based French immersion program, the Avon Maitland District School Board now has its eyes on expanding the uptake next year. French immersion began in the 2000 at Bedford Public School, where the program continues today for students up to Grade 6. With the move of Stratford’s Grades 7 and 8 students into secondary school settings three years ago, that first group of Avon Maitland French immersion students was then moved to the elementary section of Stratford Central Secondary School (SCSS). Under Ontario Education Ministry guidelines, students earn a French immersion version of the high school diploma if they complete 10 of their 30 credits in French over four years. So this year, nearly every one of that first group of students from 2000 is enrolled in three French- language credits being offered at SCSS: French, geography and computer science. It’s expected they’ll then take three French credits in Grade 10, followed by two each in Grades 11 and 12. Teacher Heather Henke outlined the secondary school French immersion program to trustees at a regular Avon Maitland meeting Tuesday, Nov. 13. Henke is responsible for this year’s French and computer courses, while another teacher tackles the geography component. A highlight for this year’s students will be an exchange with a secondary school class from Bathurst, New Brunswick. It’s organized through the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC), and will see each class spend several days in the other group’s province. “We’re really lucky. The participant’s fee is just $40. And SEVEC, which is federally funded, looks after the transportation between the two communities,” Henke explained. There are 26 students currently registered in the French immersion program’s Grade 8 class, and it’s expected all or nearly all of them will return for Grade 9 next year. Most students are from Stratford, but there are some from outlying communities. Three additional courses will have to be included next year to accommodate the advancement of this year’s Grade 9 students. Henke said two of those will be physical education and civics, and history is another strong possibility. And in the future, she would like to see the development of co-operative education opportunities for the board’s French immersion students. “There are a number of employers in the community who are in need of people with skills in a second language,” Henke said. DEAR EDITOR, Thank you for the information in the editorial entitled “Fix misleading food labelling” (Citizen,Nov. 15) With recent issues regarding food safety, any education for consumer protection is appreciated. Ruth Jardin Letter Thanks for the info By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Wingham’s Colleen Schenk has been on the campaign trail for the past month, seeking support for her candidacy for president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA). The provincial lobby organization plans a special meeting Dec. 1 to elect a replacement for its former president, who left to contest a seat in the Oct. 11 Ontario election. “I’ve e-mailed material to all the school boards across the province, and I’ve been on the phone to as many trustees as possible,” Schenk said Tuesday, Nov. 13, following a regular meeting of the Avon Maitland District School Board. A long-time OPSBA delegate for the Avon Maitland board who, in recent years, moved into more senior leadership positions, Schenk is currently an association vice president. Her opponents in the campaign are Howard Goodman of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Loralea Carruthers of the York Region District School Board. Avon Maitland trustees, led by voting delegate Doug Pratley of Stratford, discussed the process for the Dec. 1 vote during the Nov. 13 meeting. But it wasn’t the presidential vote that was on the agenda; it was the potential vice- presidential choice that would open up if Schenk or another current VP is elected president. “They’ve been very supportive,” commented Schenk, when asked if the lack of discussion about the presidential vote should be interpreted as full-fledged Avon Maitland support for her candidacy. The OPSBA process gives weighted votes depending on the population served by each board. The TDSB, most populous in the province, receives eight votes, some northern boards receive just one, and the Avon Maitland board receives three votes. 2ECYCLED