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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-02-25, Page 3News Susan Hundertmark photos Check mates Grades 4 and 5 students from St. James School have joined a chess club which meets during the lunch hour to prepare for a schoolwide tournament at the end of March. Above, Grade 5 student Kaleb Arts looks on while his opponent Eric Dwyer, also Grade 5, makes his move. At right, Paula Parejo, Grade 4, ponders her next move on the chess board. Avon Maitland board prepares to combat coming principal shortage By Stew Slater Special to The Expositor i"Within the next five years, approximately 25 principals and vice principals will be eligible for retirement which, given our current shortage of qualified applicants, will create a very significant problem." That's the wording -- written by Avon Maitland District School Board human resources superintendent Jim Sheppard - - contained within a report delivered to trustees at a regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10. The report described what Sheppard hopes to do to prevent such a principal shortage from developing. • New principals and vice principals are chosen from a pool of applicants, who have agreed to work for a particular school hoard and who have achieved or are in the process of achieving Ontario's educational requirements for those positions. Examples of requirements include a certain level of teaching experience, Masters -level courses, and the completion of a Principals Qualification Program that includes practical work as well as topics like education law, labour relations and curriculum development. Sheppard told trustees his plan for attracting more applicants to the Avon Maitland principal and vice principal hiring pools is "designed to assist teachers interested in leadership roles to obtain their qualifications." By March 31, he hopes to attract at least 20 applicants, which is the minimum needed for the Ontario Principals Council to put its show on the road; and bring ,a Principals Qualification Program to the Huron -Perth area. "I'm hoping, by the fall, that I can come back to you and say, 'We have a good group who are willing to take the orientation,— he told trustees. The first element of the plan is to invite all teachers to one of three information sessions during February -- in Stratford, Goderich and Listowel. At these meetings, there will be an opportunity "to learn about the hoard's proposal to have the Principal's Qualification Program provided locally and be funded by the board." Sheppard admitted he faces a challenge, noting similar problems are looming across Ontario. "We are not thc only hoard that's dealing with this shortage." Optimists to hold town spelling bee By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Grade 5 students from the Seaforth arca will be invited to qualify for a town spelling bee, held this year for the first time by the Seaforth Optimist Club. While the Optimist Club has been holding the event for years, the local club decided to participate for the first time this year, says organizer Dianne Wood. "We decided to challenge our local children. Children arc using the computer a lot more, along with spellcheck and a lot do have trouble spelling. We also wanted to recognize the kids who excel in academics intead of sports for a change," says Wood. Each of four schools, including Seaforth Public School, St. James School, St. Columban School and Huron Centennial Public School, will be having their own spelling bees to determine the top four Grade 5 spellers in the school. Those 12 will he invited to a town spelling bee on March 27 at the St. James School gym where they will write a test with RO to 100 words from a 1,700 -word list. "They will all get thc same words and will be able to study beforehand with the list. We hope the list will go home to the families and it will become a family activity to prepare for the bee," says Wood. Rules of thc spelling test will also include using pen instead of pencil, having three chances to get a word right, crossing out mistakes, using capital -letters for proper nouns and using good printing skills. A caller will be used to call out the word and use it in a sentence. The top speller in Seaforth will go on to a regional contest in Mitchell on April 24 and the winner there could move onto a national contest. "We just wanted to put the Seaforth Optimist Club on the map and let people know we're there for local youth," says Wood. Farm accident hospitalizes Huron East man A 43 -year-old Huron East man is in hospital with Huron OPP internal and back injuries after a farm accident near Brussels on Feb. 21 at 11:30 a.m. The man was pinned between a tractor and a 400 -pound bale of straw in the upper section of a barn on Newry Road after he tried to remove some large bales while using some of the farm equipment. With help from Brussels firefighters, the man was removed from the tractor and airlifted to the London Health Sciences Centre. G ACT - .Ius' Announced! Michel ahiss NW 2064 Pm Nee tinge fa'Ae.t New (:ore.tiin Arri•r AVONSINi M - ON 524-2125 Attempted theft of two Seaforth snowmobiles Huron OPP are looking for thc two people who made an unsuccessful attempt to steal two snowmobiles from a Seaforth residence on Goderich Street sometime after 1 a.m. on Feb. 22. The two people entered the rear yard of thc residence, removed covers, opened hoods and tried to hot wire the machines by cutting the ignition wires of a 1982 Skidoo and 1983 Citations. Anyone with any related information is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEORUARY 25, 2004-3 When It Comes To Protecting Your Assets.... Tum to the Professionals at GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. RTER Specializing in LORI TIE -MAN • Farm - Commercial -- Auto .- Property 5 MAIN STREET, SOUTH SEAFORTH, ON (519)527-2500 Open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - OR by appornment H needed colebrate International women's Day Nominate a Special Woman in Your Life Who Has Contributed to Our Community She may be a volunteer, a caregiver, a coach, a teacher, a community leader, or she may have contributed in some other special way! Nominees will be acknowledged in the March 10th issue Please submit one paragraph about your nominee, with her name & phone number by mail, fax, email, or drop off at: WOMEN TODAY OF HURON 45 West St. Goderich, N7A 2K5 Phone : 524-6767 Fax: 524-1233 Email: womentoday @hurontel.on.ca New Inventory arriving r weekly! 7 • • • • • 2 'AVINGS kti tke PILUCIiL(/AI Large inventory includes Lagostina Cookware, Dinnerware, Lamps and many new items arriving weekly... Shop early for best selection! SEE OUR NEW LARGER LOCATION Low prices, superior service & great value! ClassiciTouch L 90 Main St. 5., Seaforth 527-0661 OPEN Thurs 10-5 Fn 10-5 Sat 9-5 Sun 11-4 11111111111111 l W 111111111111111111111 SEAFORTH RINGETTE ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS FOR MAKING OUR TOURNAMENT SUCH A SUCCESS Stedmans Jim Eute Insurance Larry McGrath Plumbing Promat Ltd/Design Concrete Egmondville Country Design John Norris Accounting McGavin Farm Supply Brian & Janet Keys Smith Peat Roofing & Sheet Metal KKN Builders Watts Maintenance CIBC Progressive Turf Middegaal Pools & Sports Ltd. Totall Image II Box Furniture Seaforth Bakery & Cheese House Maureen Wildfong UAP Seaforth Automotive Seaforth Food Mart Perry May (Huron Foot Clinic) Devereaux Murray Lawyers Looby Construction Keith Siemon Farm Systems Tuckers Meat Market McTaggart Wettlaufer Insurance Winthrop General Store Keatings Pharmacy TD Canada Trust Hoegy's Farm Supply Tim Hortons - Clinton Terry & Ann Kramers McKillop Mutual Insurance Janet Keys/Anne Marie Bedard Seaforth Jewellers Mitchell Sports InLand Cooperative Tom Devereaux Whitney Ribey Funeral Home McLeans - Exeter Seaforth Vet Clinic Seaforth Creamery 1 • • We are pleased b 416my�me Blyth native Jenny Ritchie to our salon. Jenny's specialty is highlighting and fresh creative styles. We welcome new and past clients to call and arrange an appointment. TOTAL IMAG '11 IT'S THE BieGEST PARTY IN HURON COUNTY! PRESENTING G EAT BIG SEA L I Y E IN C ONCER Wodnesday, February 25,2004 at The Maltisnlll Rscresden Centre, Selstleli TIcllets fable at the door - $39 per person. Doers Open © 7 pm. i