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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-11-03, Page 21KEN PENNINGTON'S orittokik Music for all occasions. D. J. SERVICE CALL (519) 887-6069 Cardwell- Construction • residential & agricultural structures • framing • skiing • drywall • roofing & trim Estimates & Prints R.R. # 3 Blyth 523-9354 In Home Service Available 192 Josephine St. Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 357-4173 Fax 357-4173 R.R. 2 Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 887-6147 We service all makes TVs, VCRs, Stereos, etc. DUNBAR & COOK ELECTRIC LTD. Home, Farm & Commercial Wiring Wireless Home Security Systems DON PAUL 526-7505 357-1537 Keith's REPAIR SERVICE Small Engine Sales & Service 357-2277 Hwy. 86, WHITECHURCH `C5Flusqvarna FOREST& GARDEN THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1993. PAGE 21. Speaker details objective of Parents' Assoc. "Studies have shown that a child's success at school can be aided by the parents' direct involve- ment. It can help the child get through school and one should not back off as they get older." These are the sentiments of a guest speaker at one of two local schools which held meeting on Oct. 26 for the purpose of forming par- ents' associations (PA). The Brussels parents hosted a guest speaker, Debbie Homuth of Exeter, to outline the objectives of such an association. Mrs. Homuth was instrumental in setting up the organization at Exeter Public School. She says, "The parents must first decide if they want to form an asso- ciation and if so, for what purpose." "There are five main purposes for a parents' group: creating two-way communication between the school and the parents; deciding on issues to advocate, such as the appropri- ateness of school dances in the dark for grade three and four; working on special projects which require many hands and more energy, such as a code of behavior plan; fundraising and volunteering to get parents involved in the school so they feel they belong there," she says. "The PA can speak on behalf of the parents, who have a different perspective on student needs than do the teachers. It is necessary for all three groups involved in educa- tion; teachers, students and parents, to work together because education is a big job." "Parental involvement is neces- sary to make the school a commu- nity place, one which reflects the needs of the individual communi- ty," she says. The PA is formed by the parents, for the parents. No teachers are involved in the decision making process yet a key to success is the proper communication between the group and the school staff, Mrs. Homuth says. "Staff is usually skeptical of the association until something good and real happens," she says. "It is best to start with fewer pro- jects and strive to make them more successful." Some suggestions were: create an information booklet about the school and community for new stu- dents; hold 'meet the teacher nights'; publish a newsletter; raise funds and hold a curriculum night for the parents. "A well-attended PA should have approximately 25 percent of the parents involved to work on behalf of the others. It would be progres- sive to get more men involved as well as parents with older stu- dents," Mrs. Homuth says. The 16 parents in attendance at Brussels decided a PA should be formed for the school. The executive committee was chosen as well as three committee chairpersons. The president is Janna Speers; vice-president, Claudia Spink; sec- retary, Trish Clarkson; treasurer, Rozalynn Schlosser and committee chairpersons, Barb Mutter, Julie Harrison and Joyce Johnston. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the school. A direction, goals and ideas for projects will be discussed. Trish Clarkson says everyone is welcome. Some 13 people, three of which were educators were present for the first Blyth Parents' Association meeting. An executive was elected: co- chairperson, Al Harrison, Sylke Hickey; executive, Jackie Lantinga, Shirley Gross, Bev Walker, Avon Comeil, John Battye. It was suggested that a guest speaker be invited to the November meeting. Don Keillor from the Huron Centre for Children and Youth, was suggested as a possible speaker. There is a "Bullies and Victims" seminar at Clinton Public School on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. The guest By Michael McDonald and Jason Crawford We would like to thank Mrs. Therrien and Mrs. Speers for chaperoning the Brussels School dance which went over very well on Oct. 29. We would also like to thank Michael McDonald, Cory Bragg and Alex Leger, who brought us our entertainment, and Amy Crawford, Jenny Gowing, Tanya Mawhinney and Kara Pepper who decorated the gym We will also thank Scott Somers, Lesley Elliot, Lisa Coyne. Pobbie GRADE TWO Students have been busy doing Halloween activities. They've made moving skeletons, green witches and black spiders. They were making and eating monster sand- wiches. In order to accommodate the unpaid leave days set out by the Social Contract, the HCBE has set out a plan to adjust the elementary school calender. At the Nov. 1 meeting, the board recommended the clustering of unpaid leave days adjacent to the March break. Three re-located professional development days, one statutory holiday (Easter Monday) and the bringing forward of an additional speaker is Jean Hewitt of the Lon- don Board of Education. As the focus of the seminar is a look at Burkholder, Sherry Thertitn and Cheryl Cloakey who helped in clean up and in the food department. The excellent co- operation made the event a success. Our school has lots of decorations like masks, silhouettes, ghosts, window spooks, research on bats, Halloween stories, witches and pumpkins. From kindergarten to grade three there was a Halloween display in the bank down town. The kindergarten students have done pumpkin carving, decorating In math they've started using calculators. November they will be studying Native Indians. Mrs. Armstrong- Gibson will be returning and Mrs. Pickell will be leaving. GRADE THREE/FOUR On Oct. 25 the grade three/four development day from year 2 of the Social Contract would create a two- week March break. playground violence and a goal of zero tolerance, it is hoped that there will be good attendance by parents. cupcakes with icing that look like pumpkins. The grade eights have been doing a program called Almena typing. It has been teaching how to type without looking at the keyboard. All grades four to eight students will be learning these skills. Some people made really good progress. Most people found it frustrating. The soccer finals at Brussels Public School for the boys are between the Red and White teams. In the girls' playoffs the Green team is challenging the Blues. class made real apple juice. Their teacher brought in a small press with about six bushels of apples. Before the day was over four other classes also enjoyed the delicious juice. Apple juice and cider is always good at Halloween time. This recommendation was approved pending the acceptance of the support staff associations. Brussels P.S. news School dance a success Blyth P.S. news Students do ghoulish work HCBE adjusts school calendar PITCH-IN Cjibf AND RECYCLE \---1 DON° ORGE '3.00 THURSDAY SAVE ON YOUR CLASSIFIED AD