HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-11, Page 9Gaming not allowed
on school computers
The Huron -Perth Catholic Dis-
trict School Board has tightened
up its restrictions on the use of the
internet by students, teachers and
other employees, approving revi-
sions to what will now be entitled
the "Information and Communi-
cations Technology" policy.
The policy already included
restrictions on which types of
websites could be visited by stu-
dents at different grade levels. It
also limited the formats to be used
when uploading material to web-
sites directly linked•to board and
school websites, and prohibited
the unsupervised downloading
of information or software onto
board -operated servers.
New additions to the policy in-
clude the title, which was changed
from the longer "Computers, Cell
Phones and Information Technol-
ogy/School Web Site Develop-
ment" policy. According to edu-
cation superintendent Dan Parr,
who presented the revisions at a
regular meeting Monday, Jan. 26,
administrators feel the new name
is general enough to take in the
intended technologies, and also
leaves open the possibility for
adaptation of the policy to cover
other new communications tech-
nologies as they come into use.
Another revision adds "gam-
bling and gaming" to a list of ac-
tivities prohibited while online on
the board's computers..
And the use of copyrighted ma-
terial of any kind must not be used
unless permission has been re-
ceived from the copyright holder.
Small excerpts can' be used, but
longer segments or entire works
— such as feature-length films or
blogs — aren't generally free for
the taking.
'This is intended to remind
teachers and employees of their
responsibilities regarding online
material and other material, and
that is to receive permission from
the copyright owners," Parr ex-
plained. "That's the law."
Also, a set of "appropriate
guidelines" was created "for staff
members who use blogs, podcasts
and other new/emerging electronic
communication methods as teach-
ing/learning strategies. According
to Parr, much of this section of the
revised policy was drawn from an
information publication entitled
"Cybertips for Teachers," pub-
lished by the Canadian Teachers'
Federation.
Robertson renamed to
Goderich Public School
Stew Slater
special to the signal -star
When public elementary
students from across Goderich
move in September, 2010 into
a renovated facility in what
is now Robertson Memorial
Public School, there will be
reminders of the history of the
two schools currently serving
the town: Robertson and Victo-
ria Public School.
But the sign outside the
school will read "Goderich
Public School."
At a -regular meeting Tues-
day, Jan. 27, trustees of the
Avon Maitland' District School
Board approved a name -
change recommendation from
a community-based "Transi-
tion Committee."
According to a report pro-
vided at the meeting, 21 sub-
missions .were received during
a public consultation process.
The committee "reviewed the
submissions in a public meet-
ing on Jan. 1.2 ... There was
an opportunity to discuss the
submissions and then, using a
`dotmbcracy' process, the com-
mittee members were asked to
select their preferred five sub-
missions."
• Education superintendent
Mike Ash, who is overseeing
the committee's work on be-
half of Avon Maitland senior
staff, described the selection
process. `Submissions were
written on paper on the wall
and committee members were
given five sticky dots. Those
five dots were used to denote
their favourites: either on five
separate names, or all five dots
on the same name.
Regarding the final choice,
he added, "I wouldn't say it
was unanimous, but there was
a very strong indication that
one name came out on top."
In September, 2009, Grades
7 and 8 students from both pre-
existing elementary schools
will relocate to Goderich Dis-
trict Collegiate Institute. Kin-
dergarten -to -Grade 6 students,
meanwhile, will all be housed
at Victoria Public School for
the,entire 2009-10 school year,
as Robertson undergoes reno-
vations. Then they'll shift to
the newly -named Goderich
Public School . the .following
September.
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - Page A9
Photo by Gerard Creces
Sci-finalists
Conservation and innova-
tion were the buzzwords at
the joint Robertson -
Colborne science fair held
at Goderich District
Collegiate Institute Feb. 3.
At left, Victoria Roelandt,
Mykal Hodges, Savannah
Freeman, Nicole Tamming,
Lucas Hoggarth, Billy
Fincher, Jacob Smith,
Meghan Ball, Brianna
Rogers, Macey Glassford,
Katie Talbot, Rachel Millian,
Emma Dunlop, Moira
Stecker and Elyssa Fisher
were the junior finalists.
4113R(}N PEWTH
HEALTHCARE
ALLIANCE
IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTICE
Please note the following important information regaiMing the Emergency
Department of the Seaforlh Community Hospital.
Beginning on Saturday, February 7, 2009 the
Emergency Department at Seafonh Community Hospital will be open from
8:00 a.m: - 8:00 p.m.
Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. patients will be able to access Emergency Services
at one of the other area hospitals providing 24-hour Emergency Department coverage.
If at anytime you have a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.
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Please join us
Thursday, Februar
Ben Lobb
With the current economic picture this might be t
ost important meeting you attend all year.
Community addresses from Mayor Deb Shewfelt,
and Huron Bruce Member. of Parliament Ben Lobb.
at th
Saitford Val ey
...from 12 noon to 2:00 p
Everyone is welcome.
Tickets: $20.00 for members $Z5.00 for non-members
includes luncheon.
Please call The Goderich & District Chamber .of Commerce
to reserve your seats today before they are sold out.
i
519-440-0179
GO ERkH