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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2002-09-25, Page 6A yp't; 10-TN5 MOON EXPOSIITOn, October 10, 2001 News New principal continues to do best he can while school awaits fate By Susan Hundsrtmark Ergiositor Staff While the Seaforth community waits for the outcome of this fall's accommodation review process by the Avon Maitland District School Board, Wayne Tessier, Seaforth District High School's new principal, continues to work at providing the best education possible for his students. "I will do that as long as the school is here. My role is not to determine whether or not the school is here. I'll proceed as I would at any school until the board tells me otherwise," says Tessier. "I can focus on doing a good job in the school and let the political elements in the world make the accommodation decisions," he says. But, while he's still working at his first goal of getting to know the school community and the community at large, Tessier says the accommodation question is "very evident" in his dealings with the school council and students' council. "It's everyone's primary focus at school council meetings. Everything else depends on it. It's a very tough situation for everyone and there's no easy answers. There are good arguments both pro and con," he says. Tessier says the agricultural school concept, called Stepping Stones, that would bring students from outside the district to take agricultural subjects for a semester, is not off the ground yet. "If we received the board's approval, it could be going during the second semester but the most important step is getting approval from the board to be able to move forward," he says. Maureen Agar, school council chair and organizer of Stepping Stones, says that while she's submitting all the research and planning she's done so far to senior administration at the board office, the program's future depends on the future of the school. "We wanted to start it in February but we're in limbo again. We can't seem to get the board on board. It wouldn't take much to get it going and a lot of people are interested but I'm afraid it's going to be put back on the back burner," she says. And, while community accommodation study committees, which have been studying school accommodations throughout the district over the summer, will make their final presentations to the board on Oct. 9 with a director's action report anticipated on Oct. 23, Tessier says the Stepping Stones program is a unique program that would work well in Wayne Tessier year, is busy Seaforth. "If it's workable this is the location for it. We know Huron County is one of the most productive farming areas in the country," he says. In the meantime, he continues to focus on running Seaforth District High School. He says extra- curricular activities, including golf, tennis, boys' volleyball and girls' basketball, are all in full swing this fall. The first school dance of the year has been held and student council, the only extra -curricular group that continued last planning another six to seven dances. "Students are happy to get back to the regular routine of extra -curricular activity," he says. "I'm very impressed with the student council in respect to their approach to their duties. I'm looking forward to good things from them," he says. Student council also raised some money towards the relief effort in New York and Washington after the terrorist attacks with a hat day and is planning to help with a blood donor's clinic in Seaforth in December, with an aim of encouraging students 17 and over to donate blood. "There's not a fear or depression among students but a sense of needing to help. This is a very stable and conscientious crew here with an element of socially -aware abd concerned students," says Tessier. As well, the recent compromise between teachers and the province that allowed many teachers to teach six of eight courses, has reduced some pressure on teachers, he says. "There's a better feeling in the workplace because of that," says Tessier. Grade 10 testing, which will count for the first time in determining if students graduate, will be held the mornings of Oct. 16 and 17 at SDHS and Tessier says English teachers are now working at preparing students for the test. "There was a good result in Seaforth last year (during the trial run of the test) so I expect students will do well again," he says. Grade 11 curriculum has been introduced this year and next year will be the last for OAC courses. "Teachers have been very busy developing new curriculum because every lesson and unit is new and there's a lot more planning involved," he says. Tessier says he welcomes calls from anyone in the community with any school - related problems. "We're here if we can be of help. A good discussion always clears the air," he says. DIRECTORY To Place YourAd Call -527-0240 MARION'S PAINTING Free Estimates •Interior/Exterior Painting •Drywall Repair Call Mike Marion 527-0707 (Evenings) RALPH ,fab WOOD WA ELECTRIC •Agricultural • Commercial • Residential CALL SEAFORTH 527-0448 RON/@ CASHWAY 198 Main St. Phone 527-0770 Seaforth Fax 527-2600 SEE US TODAY FOR YOUR RENTAL EQUIPMENT! 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