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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-09-14, Page 14Time to chat John Carr, the new principal at Brussels Public School, stops to visit for a time with Grade 1 student Jack Pipe. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Everything you need for Preharvest Now is the time! Preharvest Glyphosate FOR WHITE BEANS, SOYBEANS, ALSO WHEAT STUBBLE with a 120' Boom - makes less tracking 01 ,4) capgare Parrish & Heimbecker Limited PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006. New face in Brussels' principal's office By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Brussels Public School's new principal only has to look at his own life to determine how he should do his job. As the father of two young daughters, John Carr said, "I approach being a principal as how I would want (my daughters') principal to treat me as a parent. Surely that is about working together and if we do that as teachers and parents there should be no problem." Being a dad to Michelle, who's in Grade 8 and Natalie, who's in Grade 3, also gives him a sense of realism, he said. "So many things happen at home. School's important but there are other things going on in life. Keeping that balance is important." Carr, who was born and raised in By Duane Rollins Wingham Advance-Times Tony Woolgar wants to make health care understandable. "We are guilty in the health care system of using language that isn't easily understood," the chair of the southwestern Ontario Local Health Integration Network — known as a LHIN (pronounced Lynn) — told about 80 people in Wingham Sept. 7. "We want to simplify things." The network one of 14 Ireland, came to Canada to do his doctorate. He met his wife here and now resides in Stratford. His teaching career began with a Grade 4 class in St. Marys' Arthur Meighen school. From there he went to Listowel Central where he was the Grade 7/8 teacher for five years. After three years working in developmentally delayed at Anne Hathaway he became the special. education resource teacher at Shakespeare. The next move was as the Grade 7/8 vice-principal at Stratford Central. He is excited about his new position at Brussels and said the move to administration came when the time was right. "I had taught 1'or a long time and had gotten td the stage where I wanted to make a difference, to influence the environment of the school, not just a classroom." organizations in the province that have been established to "meet the increasing demands on the health care system," according to Woolgar. He says LHINs will bring decision-making closer to people while creating "seamless service" between different aspects of the health care system. Woolgar said it was also important for people to realize what the LHINs weren't. "It isn't about privatization," he said. "That's not on our agenda. We Also, he said, his own children had gotten a little older and he felt comfortable assuming the new responsibilities. Carr said he brings a sense of humour to the job, a definite asset to keeping things in perspective. "Without one I think life otherwise gets you down pretty fast." Most importantly, though, he believes that school be a safe haven for children. "I believe school is a place where children have to feel safe and that they are taken care of. I feel that way about my own, that even for something as insignificant as a scraped knee, there is someone there who will care for them." Building relationships within the school is imperative he said. "For the staff it's about building a team. The key for the students is getting to know them. It's quite simple really. If they like you, they'll learn." also aren't interested in closing hospitals, or cutting jobs." The meeting in Wingham was one of several the group has held across southwestern Ontario. Woolgar said that the group is holding a meetings for eight weeks, Monday to Thursday. The purpose of the meetings is to gather feedback before the release of the LHIN's health plan on Oct. 31. At the meeting, those in attendance were divided up into Continued on page 22 Meeting addresses LHIN questions WE ARE READY FOR HARVEST RECEIVING • White Beans • Soybeans • Corn Parrish & Heimbecker Limited Walton Elevators Also - Off-farm trucking available at reasonable rates WILMAR EAGLE - 120 FT. BOOM Good supply of Wheat Seed available • Soft White • Soft Red • Hard Red Walton 519-887-9261 1-800-786-1476