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The Citizen, 2005-11-03, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005. PAGE 13. HPCDSB trustees hear brief report on initiative By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Key developments were revealed at this week's meeting of the Huron- Perth Catholic District School Board. about the planned implementation of the two counties' version of the Ontario government's Universal daycare initiative. Director ot education Larry Langan, a member ot the steering committee charged with deciding how best to provide increased learning and development opportunities for children not yet in school or attending half-time kindergarten programs, provided a brief report to trustees at the board's meeting Monday, Oct. 24. The provincial initiative is called Best Start, and aims to examine existing school space first in a search for sites in which to provide services ranging from hearing and speech monitoring and treatment, to earlv learning and daycare. Langan provided a list ol Huron Perth Catholic schools being considered by the nine-mcmbci steering committee as possible Best Start sites. These include elementary schools m Goderich. Clinton. Listowel and St. Marys, as well as three such facilities in Stratford. According to the education director, these are sites in which at least one classroom is predicted, over the next several years, to sit empty at least part of the time due to the fact kindergarten students only attend half days or every other day. He noted other less dominant factors also contributed to the inclusion of those schools on the list, including the degree to which those classrooms can be made to meet provincial daycare standards for such things as dimensions, availability of washrooms and student security. Several Avon Mailland District School Board facilities arc also being considered. The goal ol the provincial initiative is to have a site chosen within each community by the end ol this year, and make its services available to all families regardless ol where the children eventually attend school — in 2006. Langan told trustees there's a high probability that the newly- constructed St. Mary's Catholic elementary school will become a hub of Best Start services in Listowel. "A significant $300,000 addition could be at this (able in a few month's time." he said. In Exeter and Seaforth, meanwhile, he suggested the steering committee is likely to choose to locale the Best Start hubs in existing daycare facilities. Exeter's newly-built daycare, he noted, is particularly well-suited lor the purpose Locating hubs in Catholic elementary schools in Goderich and Clinton remain a possibility, he suggested. "Where we're struggling a bit is in Wingham. where there just isn't enough room in any school site. And we're still looking for answers in (he Mount Carmel/Zurich area.” Other members ot the Huron- Perth steering committee for Best Start are Langan's counterpart in the Avon Maitland school board. Geoff Williams. Evy McDonagh and John Mackinnon from the County of Huron. Ollie Henry of the City of Stratford. Penny Nelligan of the Huron County Health Unit. Dr Rosana Pellizzari of the Perth County Health Unit, and two representatives from Ontario's Ministry of Children and Youth Services. At the Oct. 24 meeting. Langan answered two concerns raised by trustees — the fact faith-based learning will not be a part of Best Start programs, and a question about covering potential funding shortfalls for renovations undertaken by the board — with basically the same reply. He said the Children and Youth Services ministry has sufficiently funded Best Start and will be able to follow through on its commitments, and if the school boards don't act to provide space, they could end up losing students who later decide to attend classes somewhere else. “This is a good idea. it’s going to be a positive for our board.’’ the education director said. Health unit promotes healthy diets in schools By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Eight elementary schools in Huron and Perth Counties are receiving $2,000 each from the Perth County Health Unit, as part of a pilot project to promote more healthy diets and lifestyles among students. Dr. Rosana Pellizzari. the county’s medical officer of health, addressed trustees at a regular meeting of the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board on Monday, Oct. 24. She provided an overview of a recent report entitled A Profile of Healthy Weights in Perth County, as well as a preview of the pilot project, set to begin in January. Haunted house The Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre was transformed into a monstrous maze over the course of the past weekend with lots of volunteers poised to scare silly anyone who entered. /Heather crawtord photo) 2006. “We can . . . turn things around,” she told trustees, after showing a series of powerpoint slides depicting trends towards increased levels of obesity and decreased levels of physical activity in Canada. Ontario and Perth County. An additional Health Unit document. entitled. Healthy Weights. Healthy Lives: A Call to Action, contains a section about actions schools can take. These include minimum daily physical education instruction, improved health and nutrition curriculum, nutritional policies that make it easier for students to make healthy choices in school and during special events, and soliciting support from community groups to help provide breakfast, lunch and snack programs. “Rather than pizza and hot dogs, which were my kids' favourites when they were in school, how about providing something more nutritious?" asked Pellizzari. Huron-Perth business superintendent Gerry Thuss. who counts high school cafeteria operation among his many areas of jurisdiction, asked how to react to the fact older students will walk off­ site to purchase less nutritious food if it's no longer available at their school. With a chuckle. Pellizzari replied "at least if they're walking off-site, they're getting some exercise." But she added it's best to promote healthy living among younger children. "It's very difficult, when you have a 50 year-old man come in foi treatment of diabetes, to have him HE council addresses road concerns By Heather Crawford Citizen staff Grey and Brussels residents are not happy with the tai and chip work done on Moncrief! Road in Grey ward. They made their opinions clear at the ratepayers public meeting in Cranbrook Monday. Oct. 17. Councillor Alvin McLellan brought the concerns to the attention of public works co­ ordinator John Forrest at the Tuesday, Oct. IX Huron East council meeting. Forrest said that the road docs not “look like any tar and chip road I've seen.” He s'aid the reason for this is that council had decided to hire a company that uses smaller stones than those used in Tuckersmith. Forrest said that he would I ke to leave the road until spring and is hoping that over the winter the snow-plow will lake some of the ridges out. He suggested that he would talk to the company that provided the material and review the road Jetting them know that the people are not happy with it. change. It's much easier to get kids addicted to physical activity and nutrition at a young age.” the chief medical officer said. So-called Healthy School Initiative pilot projects will begin in January at eight elementary schools in the two counties: Brussels Public School, Mitchell Public School. Sprucedale Public School in Shakespeare. Wingham Public School. St. Boniface Catholic school in Zurich. St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Clinton, St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Stratford, and St. Mary’s Catholic school in Listowel. Pellizzari predicted additional money for such programs will soon become available through the province's planned Healthy Weights Initiative. “In the meantime, we’ve spread little seeds and we hope they do take root and grow,” she said. Oar Oiling at Lee's Service Centre We use Hot, Acid Free, New Oil CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 1 pm - 9 pm; Fri. 1 pm - 6 pm; Sat. 8 am - 12 noon (Weather permitting) 348 Dinsley St. E., Blyth 523-9151 Get a flu shot! Protect yourself and those around you Attend one of the following community clinics to get your free flu shot. Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 140, 95 Kirk Street, Clinton Tuesday November 15 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 109, 56 Kingston Street, Goderich Tuesday November 8 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Brookside Public School, 36937 Belgrave Road, RR #7 Lucknow Thursday November 3 from 3:30 to 7 00 PM Grey Central Public School, 84925 Ethel Line, Ethel Thursday November 10 from 3:30 to 7 00 PM Huronlea - Fitness Room, 820 Turnberry Street South, Brussels Monday November 7 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Remember to wear short sleeves. For more information contact the Huron County Health Unit. Tel: 482-3416 or 1-877-837-6143 Website: www.huroncounty.ca/healthunit Beat the Bug - Protect Yourself and Those Around Youl