Huron Expositor, 2000-03-01, Page 3News
Younger students face fears
of losing friends and teachers
By Slott Hilg.ndorff
Expositor Editor
With lots of.questions about
. what the new building will he
like and concerns about losing
friends: Seaforth Public
School principal,• Lorne
Rideout has begun preparing
his students for some passible
• -major changes in September.
justtrying to make
sure all of my students get
through this issue as securely
as possible and with an little
anxiety as possible.".said
• Rideout; adding parents have
to try the same thing at home
"I don't, get a sense. that -
'therc's much anxiety at all. 1
don't see much evidence of.
anxiety so far. said Ridcout:
last week,
atter giving official
word tohis students that:
pending .a court decision next-
week,
extweektheir school will he.
closed and moved into -the
high school.
The Avon, Maitland District
School Board -voted last week-
toclose'Scaforth District -High
School ,and Walton Public
School' and move all the'
elementary school students.
into-thc•high school. •
The vote has sparked lots of
questions from students that
Ridcout cant answer y.ct
because'of a pending court
decision on Whetheror not the
board has •to ' give the -
comrnunity more time to make
a -case -for keeping the high
school open.
• Students are also asking
Rideout lots of questions about
what it will he like using the
high school and those details
• have yet to be worked out.
leaving Rideout with. few
answers.
He said the greatest impact
of, the announcements has
been on the Grade 7- and 8
students who fear losing their
friends if they are dispersed to
any of four Other high schools.
.in the area.
"The most important thing
to Grade 7s and 8s is that their
peer group stay together," said.
Rideout.. •
"We shouldn't have to
worry abdtiC losing our
friends:" said Tory Scott. a
Grade -7 student at the. school.
-We're not supposed 'to worry
about where we're going until.
We go to university: We're
only 12 and 13 years old. We
shouldn'thave to worry about
-
- 'Nicole- Cartwright. a Grade
8 student knows of several
friendships that will be splittip
because physical boundaries
will- likely send them _ to
`different high schools when
they start Grade 9 next year.
. '1 don't understandif the
government cares so much
ahi,ut.our education. why are
they closing our. schools?"
asked Grade 7 student Robert
Johnston. - -
1 don't think they should
close jthe -high school.) -People
willstop moving.here." said
Grade 8 student- Darren
Beaver. He isn t concerned
about what. high school he tssTees who have voted to
goes to next year but instead. close the .schools for reasons
is concerned. about the impact •this gmup of students said they
•. losing Seaforth District High don't understand.
School will have on thetown. Meanwhile, Rideout said the
"it won't he called a hockey . younger students have some
town if no one's here." said fears of their own.:While.the
Scott. younger -students have • lots of
"Why. have they -singled on questions about what it will be
Seaforth?' she asked. • 'like inside the high school, he
Johnston and Cartwright said some are facing fears of
said they will .leave the public losing their teachers.
school system and go to St. He told - students - he
Anne's in Clinton if they can't anticipates all the -teachers
go - to- a high .school inwould make the move.with
Seaforth: . them. • -
Beaver pointed out St. For the younger students he
Anne's. . will end up said. "There's.a security. with
- overpopulated: because df- the going with the same teacher.
situation. ' - That's -really central with the
• "[think- building St. Anne's primary students and juniors
was the- whole cause to that the teacher he someone
Seaforth's problems." said they know and trust. -
Beaver. • - - Rideout has been visiting
Cartwright said if they get class rooms 'to. -talk with
put into overcrowded schools. students - and ' has heen
they will lose the attention andanswering a lot of calls from
-help they get from teachers at parents ' with "what if"'
Seaforth Public School: . - • questions that said - he is trying
Beaver said. "If they keep._ his best to answer with only, a
Seaforth open..there's- more limited amount of information. r
one-on-one {with teachers. j" • "In the meantime. • 1've got
• She said --a harder look to nln day-to-day operations of
should he taken at Stratford- the school. -the normal things,
• where schools could close • are still goingon." he said.
without hurting the city. .- , He has stressed to'the
Grade 7 student Blake st,dents that regardless of the
trifftth said he' has lost a little final outcome 6f the school
•bit of sleep worsying.about the . closure issue. school activities
closure.issue:and is concerned' twill continue as normal until .
the town is .losing a big part of the end •of the school -year in .
its heritage if the high school.. June.
is shut down. r
'Wejust wish they'd.listen •
to us:" said Johnston of the
Students
reacting
well after
board's
decision
From Page 1
closes.
Assuming it will 'close:._
Bahineau said the students are
trying to make some. plans for
their future
Without official word from
the board. Babmeau-believes
he will have a choice of high
schools because.of his location
in Seaforth• and' is choosing
between Exeter and Clinton.
However. Bahineau also'
•
said : students - are': still
supporting a - .community
group's struggle to keep the'
'school open and will rronunue
to be active with thatgroup.
More- than -50 students were
at last week's school board
meeting to -hear the:decision
and carried signs of support
for saving the school.• '
While tempers flared atthe
meeting with trustees facing
many angry shouts from
spectators.. Moore said he was
impressed by the student's
response at the meeting..
"C ve been very proud of
how the kids and staff have
reacted: ' he said. ; - •
Despite being "subdued" he- -
said the studentrs and teachers r
have done a gooil job of '
carrying on after the decision.:_
"We've. had• absolutely no
disruptions to the learning
environment;" Moore said.
Breakfast meetings planned for business
The Business Retention
and Expansion
(BR+Elcommittee- is
initiating a breakfast program-
-:for all business owners. '
Cour. Paul Menary told
council'3t`its Feb. 22 meeting
.- the Committee is hoping this
program. will help businesses
:share - ideas and
-,communi'rate.
The first of these nionthly.
• get-togethers ss i l I take place
-_March 16 froth 8 a._m. to 9
p.m. at Siulcrs.
It ss ill feature a continental
breakfast and a guest speaker
Menai said there will be a
• different speaker at each tit
these events.
..Hopefully,. we'll get a
good tumour and some • ideas'
going hack and fitrth."'hc
said.
!denary also said the group
has formed a budget
comrnittec. and • will he
preparing a budget to bring to
council.
The BR+I: recently
approached council ascan,:
for funding. In order to start
:implementing programs to
•help the business community.
.A number of area of work
had been- identified by a.
detailed sursrs .Ind study
conducted last year and the
cornmillie is looking 101
funding to help get thein
started on some projects.
Transition board needed
Administrator - Jack
McLachlan told council ar ifs
Feb,. 22 niceling they need 10.
gel a transition cominittee
ready for the expected
approval til restructuring
plans.
Pians to. form Huron Fast
'with Seaforth. 'fuckersmilh
Township. •; . McKillop
. Township. Grey Tow nshlp
and Brussels hese
approved by Huron ('taint\
and need- (ink he allprto.ed
by the pros ince now.
All the restructuring plans
in the county were submitted
to the province. the final
level for approval, in one
package and McLachlan said
they are expecting approval
"fairly quickly."
The municipalities are not
4
'anticipating any difficulty -
from •the province with the
restructuring plan.
IPI will help with mural
• ..Council is awaiting word
on how Much financial. help
it will. receive from the
International Plowing, Match
to weatherproof a htiural the.
town purchased flint -the
match. 1
A mural. painted for the
IPM hs .Allan Hilgendorf. the
same artist the. BIA hired to
paint the Seaforth All -Girls
Marching Band mural on
Main Street. was put up for
hid by area municipalities
and was purchased . by
Seaforth. : _ . •
,It depicts plowing matehes
of the past that have taken
place in. Huron .County:
When the town purchased
it.. they were given- the
r understanding it was already'.
weatherproofed butfound out
afterward that it wasn't.
, _. Itwill cost about $1,000 to
treat the mural and council
asked the' IPM for: help since
-it was purchiased with the
belief it was. -weatherproofed.
Admintatator •Jack
'McLachlan had reported to
council, that the IPM
committee had no problem
with helping pay for the:work
but as yet. the committee has
not met to -determine how.
much money ' it will
reimburse the town on the
original sale of the mural.
By Scott Hilgendorff
Chuff
Services
You ale invited batlend
these area duties
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jarvis Si Seatorth
Rev. Robert Hiscox
4824861
Sunday,. March 5th
Service of Holy Communion
930am.
Wed., Mw. 8: Ash Wednesday
• Service at7-30 p.m.
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY
CHURCH
38 0odench St E 527-2253
Rev. 811 a Rev. Marra Hauser
Sunday 10:45 Worship
7 00 p.m. Praise
Wed.: 7-30 pm Study and Prayer
Ful Goepetwith a
pentecoetal message.
WARM WELCOME
/11110.11M.
CAVAN
: -
CAVAN
/Winthrop) 9.30 a m. &
NORTHSIDE
/Gwdench St. Seakrth) t 1 00 a rn
UNITED CHURCHES
527-2635 u0cavnsetcc on ca
Water. Rev. Sheila Macgregor
' -Capture the Moment"
(Northside Sacrament of Baptism)
Sunday School dunng
services. nursery provided.
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St Seaforth
. (tormeryyCanad►an Tire)
Adventure Club • Wed 7:00 p.m.
Sunday School 9:45 a. m.
Worship at 11:00 a.m.
.Pastor,fiev Doug Corriveau
527-0982
Catholic Church
Saturday • 5:15 pm •
St James Parish. Seafogh
Saturday - i 15 pin
St Josephs Pa,,sti, Clint :+n
Sunday - 900 am
Si. Michael s Parish, Blyth
Sunday - 11 00 am
Si. James Parish. Seaforth
Father Dino Salva „r
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Oodench SI W . Seaforth
Worship at 11 15
Sunday School during worship
Nursery Available
Pastor Rev, N. Vandermey
Egmondville
United Church
Rev. Judith Springett
11 a. m, Worship
Sunday School
Grades 2 to 8, 10 a.m.
Nursery to (trade 1. 11 a.m.
Becky Campbell
Registered Massage Therapist
Evening Appointments
8
until pm
Mon., Tue. &
Wed.
527-2058
11 only hurts, rl ,vou don't call!"
THE HURON EXPOSITOR., March 1, 2000--3
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Main St., Seaforth
ra yi 527-1743
GRAY
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INC.
/111.4
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• Home • Auto
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522-0399 Seaforth
1-800-265-0959 Strathroy
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234-6327
STOREWIDE SALE
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