The Citizen, 1996-12-18, Page 2255 years of experience
Jim and Isabel! Prior will be leaving Brussels Public
School, as of Dec. 31, to take time for themselves and for
Jim to begin his own computer service business.
Teacher, secretary
bid farwell to BPS
Friday
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7 p.m. - Sing-a-long - 7:30 p.m. - Pageant
Blyth Memorial Community Hall
Join us for our annual Christmas Pageant featuring local
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• Legion Ladies Auxiliary • many soloists & musicians
Blyth Business Association Dreams & Wishes Raffle
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after 9 p.m. - Yule Yodel at the Hotel (Blyth Inn)
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PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1996
BPS student interviewed
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Unlike many educators today
who are transferred from one facili-
ty to another, Jim Prior was able to
stay in one school and community
for all but five of his 34 years as a
teacher.
At the end of this week, Prior
will say goodbye to the staff and
students of Brussels Public School,
a place which has been his second
home since the facility opened in
1967.
Prior began teaching at S.S. No.
4 Morris Twp. and moved to Brus-
sels when schools were centralized.
Always a teacher of the intermedi-
ate levels, Prior spent 10 years with
the Grade 5 class, a brief period
with Grade 4 then remained with
Grade 6/7 until four years ago.
That brought the biggest change
in his teaching career, he said.
Computers were becoming a major
force in schools and with the move
to library/resource person, Prior
could indulge his personal interest.
Prior was instrumental in devel-
oping a computer report card which
is now used throughout the county
school system.
It is that interest which will carry
him into retirement. Prior will oper-
ate JP Computer Services, a con-
sulting business which will help
people achieve optimum utilization
from their computer equipment.
Not only will Prior act as consul-
tant, but he will clean up the hard
drive, install internet services,
advise customers on new equip-
ment and, in his spare time, teach
computer courses at the school or
on an individual basis.
"I like both ends (of the busi-
ness), Prior said, "Both program-
ming and using."
Having started on a Commodore
64 at least 15 years ago, he said
"They taught me a lot about pro-
gramming, about how a computer
thinks."
As for his 34 years as a teacher,
Prior said, "The greatest joy was
seeing the kids do something they
By Lance McLellan
and Sarah Little
Tuesday, Dec. 3, Grades 7-8
went to Tech 21. The Globe and
Mail reporter was there and two
students were interviewed about the
system. They also interviewed Mrs.
Crane about Tech 21. They asked
her about the costs, why students
liked it, and about the program.
Mr. Prior met with Mr. John
Taylar, a representative of the
Ministry of Education. Mr. Prior
demonstrated the new report card
and long range plan computer
programs. Mr. Taylar was very
impressed with the new report card
for Huron County.
By Tim Harrison
and Tamara Mason
Tonight is the Christmas concert
at BPS. It starts at 7:30 p.m. The
dress rehearsal was excellent. I
think that everyone who goes will
like it. They practiced really hard to
By Julia Johnson
and Crystal Edgar
Grey Central was privileged to
have a member of MADD come
and speak to the students. Mrs.
Magee spoke about her son being
killed in a terrible accident in the
summer by a drunk driver. She said
that her life and that of her family
will never be the same again. Her
speech was punctuated with her
sincere feelings about losing a son
so suddenly and unexpectedly. She
encouraged the students in the
audience to not get into a car if they
know the driver has been drinking
even if it's a family member. At the
end of her presentation she gave all
the students a red ribbon to place
on their vehicle to show that we
care about those who have been
killed in this way.
We are planning to collect "gifts"
of toys, foodstuffs, games, etc. for
those less fortunate than ourselves.
Each student is encouraged to bring
something from home to give to the
needy folks in our community.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17 Mrs.
Whitmore and her Junior Choir
impress you.
We have a new helper in our
school. Jay Hahn is helping the
children in the school with their
work. We asked Jay why he was
here. He said, "It gives me
something to do during my break
from university." Jay goes back on
Jan. 6, he is taking Biomedical
Science at the University of
Guelph.
Yesterday we got a little bit of
ChriStmas fun when the F. E.
Madill Secondary School's band
and choir came on Tuesday. They
played really well.
Our louse education meeting for
parents was well attended. Mrs.
Thomas showed a video and
explained how to use time
effectively in combating the
problem.
On Thursday, Dec. 12 the Grade
6/7 class went to Blyth to see the
Nutcracker. We interviewed Ryan
Mawhinney and Nicole Mastnak.
went to Huronlea in Brussels to
present a time of music for the
folks. Christmas music was the
theme of the presentation. Each
year the people of Huronlea enjoy
the music of the youngsters in the
choir and are eager to have them
back next year.
We at Grey Central want to wish
all of you the very best of the
Christmas Season and a most
happy and healthy New Year. Until
next year then — Merry Christmas
-and a Happy New Year.
Last week two classes went to an
Early Settler Christmas at the
Goderich Museum. Both the Grade
2/3 class of Mrs. Hearn and the
Grade 3/4 class of Mr. Park really
enjoyed this worthwhile_
experience. They watched a film
about a toy maker and got to make
gingerbread men out of felt. They
sang Christmas carols and toured
the museum as well. Everyone said
they enjoyed their outing.
Ryan liked the mice costumes and
the background. Ryan also enjoyed
the sound effects and the weapons.
Nicole liked how they danced to
the music and the big ship they
brought out on the stage. She also
really enjoyed the dancing.
On Thursday, Dec. 12 Mrs.
Perrie's class (7/8) went to the
dining out for seniors at the United
Church to sing carols with the
seniors. Tomorrow Kim Souch will
be leading us in Christmas carols in
the gym in the morning. On Friday
evening skating will be sponsored
by the School Advisory Council.
The Grade 7/8s will be putting on a
play Charlie Brown's Christmas at
the Friday morning assembly.
Everybody from our school
wishes Mr. and Mrs. Prior a happy
retirement. Their last day will be
Dec. 20. We all will miss you at
Brussels Public School. We now
wish you a Merry and Safe
Christmas.
didn't think they could. Discovering
their ability is a really neat thing."
Jim Prior is not the only family
member who will be leaving the
school at the end of December.
Isabel( Prior, the school secretary/
receptionist will also leave her post
after 21 years.
"It has been wonderful here," she
said, "but, I'd like to do things I
haven't had a chance to do (since I
went to full time frm part-time,
eight years ago), such as crafts and
reading."
"We would also like to do more
camping,"said Jim.
"It was a tough decision," she
said. "This is a really nice place to
work. The staff is always profes-
sional, the kids are great and the
principal is wonderful, but it was
time to slow the pace."
With 55 years of experience
between them, Brussels Public
School and the community will
surely notice the absence of the Pri-
ors.
JP Computer Services can be
reached at 887-9300.
Thanks to the following groups for
supporting community recreation,
through the Annual Recreation
Christmas Dance
Huron Feeding. Systems
Township of Grey
JR's Gas Bar
Doug Howatt
Little Darlings
Grey Township Fire Department
Huron County Road Department
Huronlea Home for the Aged
Cardiff & Mulvey Real Estate & Insurance
Fran & Bill Bremner and the Gang
Brian Workman and Friends
George and Shirley Wheeler
BJ's Cafe
Monoway Farms
Rita and Leo Deitner
John and Carol Boneschansker
, Special thanks to the BMG Catering Group
Grey Central Echo
Students hear
MADD speaker