The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-09, Page 11Goderich Public School off to
a great start at Victoria, GDCI
- Gerard Crecea
signal -star staff
It's been a sunny start for the
school year for Goderich Public
School, as students, staff and
parents get their first taste of the
shared accommodations.
The newly -opened school,
which combined students of Rob-
' ertson Memorial and Victoria
. Public Schools, has two campus-
es - one at Victoria (Grades K-6)
and another at Goderich District
Collegiate Institute (GDCI).
Principal of GPS, Deb -Gill, said
the transition to a single public
school has exceeded her expecta-
tions for running smoothly. She
said it is great to see so many
students on the campus - some-
thing only possible with commu-
nity support.
"Everybody is talking about
how wonderful it is to see the
gym full, the playground full,"
she said. "It seems to me the
community and the staff have re-
ally embraced this concept with
a positive attitude."
Enrolment for the school is at
509 and climbing, split between
129 Grade 7 and 8s at GDCI and
380 primary, junior and Kinder-
garten students at the Victoria
campus.
"We're expecting more to come
in," Gill said. "For whatever rea-
son, either they are just coming
into our area or they were vaca-
tioning..."
There are four Kindergarten
classes at GPS, six primary, six
junior and five senior class-
rooms.
Gill said a fifth Kindergarten
class and a seventh primary class
are distinct possibilities as enrol-
ment continues.
The fifth room for Grade 7 and
8 students at GDCI was a late ad-
dition to the plans in June, and
Gill said it was very fortunate
that the school did so.
With so many students at one
school this year, Gill said there
comes an increase in the need for
safety.
The parent committee, she
said, most dealt with the concern
of handling parking and having
a safe pick-up and drop-off area
for kids.
"We probably have 250 fami-
lies," she said. "If everyone
drove, we'd have to accommo-
date 250 vehicles. That's a huge
deal for everyone."
To that end, the south parking
lot at Victoria has been expanded
and after-school exit procedures
put in place to make sure students
can leave the property without
contending with the parking lot
or traffic.
"We've rehearsed how the kids
leave the school if they're trav-
elling north, south or west," she
said. "We don't want any chil-
dren to cross in front of the park-
ing lot."
She added a crossing guard is
being considered for Raglan and
Gibbons Street..
However, to cut down on the
volume of traffic around
the school, Gill said par -
Ministry advises caution
when facing black
Churl Heath and is likely only prowling
around these parts in search
of raspberries and bees and
not, as some fear, a human to
munch on.
As Malhiot tells it, though
Hollywood will often depict
bears as ravenous predators,
the truth is a teddy bear's pic-
nic would be more likely to
earn a G rating.
That is not to say, re-
ports Malhiot, that residents
should try and make nice
with bears:
Instead, says Malhiot,
caution is the rule and by
following the basic steps
of the province's Bearwise
program, which includes
common-sense , guidelines
like properly sealing_ garbage
See BEARS, Page 16
sun media
Chances are Huron Coun-
ty's bear population sign
would read one.
That fact alone is giving at
least one lakeshore cottager
pause for concern with regard
to her safety. And that cottag-
er's letter to council was part
of the reason Huron County
Council invited a Ministry of
Natural Resources official to
its chambers Wednesday, in
order to ascertain whether
the bear is a rogue to -be wary
of or more akin to a tourist -
friendly photo op.
The answer, according to
Mike Malhiot, is more the
latter option than the former.
Indeed, says Malhiot, it ap-
pears Huron County's lone
bear is of the teenaged variety
ents are encouraged to walk or
bike with their children.
"We've been really encourag-
ing that," she said. "It's gone
remarkably well, presumably
because the weather has been
good." •
She added the drop area at the
front of the school is both very
well -organized and much appre-
ciated.
Meanwhile, the Grade 7 and 8s
are being welcomed with open
arms at GDCI, Gill said. Not only
has the high school opened their
doors to the students, but some
classroom and extra -curricular
opportunities not offered in pub-
lic school.
"We're constantly being in-
vited to join some of their clubs,
drama productions, things like
that," Gill said. "And the head of
the science department has even
offered the science lab on occa-
sion. Those are things children
at that age group don't normally
get that experience."
Gill said while the process of
merging two schools has seen
ups and downs along the way,
the excitement felt on the first
day back was worth it.
"We had all the children and at
least 100 parents at the back of
the gym," she recounted. "When
I said good morning and wel-
come to the first day of Goder-
ich Public School, the kids just
erupted in a big cheer."
D:REATIVE GARDENING CLASSES
With Kim Burgsma, landscape Designer
September 30 GARDEN ROOMS
Create a Thanksgiving Centrepiece
October 21 ATTRACTING BIRDS &
BUTTERFLIES
Create a Glass Garden Lantern!
oQelnbe) 1
b i ; TREES, GLORIOUS TREES!
Create a Door Swag
December 2 A GARDEN FOR All SENSES
Create a Table Top Christmas Ornament
- Time: 7:00 pm each Wednesday
Cost: $35.00 per class
$30.00 per class if booking all four classes.
Class fee needs to be paid when booking to reserve your spot
Class site is limited. Additional classes will
be held on Monday nights 11 classes _
are overbooked.
Cali 518524.5721 or email
kf owerchild@hurontel.on.cw
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - Page 11
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