Huron Expositor, 2004-12-08, Page 3fisC►RsgETi T.: i'A3 . l ".,X.T. s..in5, v ..r .••<. •.T.�C..
News
Local educational assistant wins
Coaching to Inclusion award
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
Mary Verberne, of
Seaforth, has become the
Huron -Perth District Catholic
School Board's first
educational assistant (EA) to
win a Coaching to Inclusion
award.
Verberne, who works at
Holy Name of Mary School
in St. Marys, received the
award recently for her work
with a disabled Grade 3
student at the school.
"Despite Melanie's
incredible disabilities, Mary
continually worked towards
integrating her into the
regular life of the Grade 3
classroom," says a
nomination letter written by
last year's Holy Name of
Mary principal Larry Murray.
"Despite the variety of
classroom activities, Mary
diligently and admirably
helped the teacher. with
modified assignments and
activities so that Melanie was
an integral member of the
classroom," says Murray in
the letter.
Verberne is currently
working for her second year
with Melanie, who is now in
Grade 4.
While she acknowledges
her work as an EA is a
challenge, Verberne says she
Submitted photo
Mary Verberne, of Seaforth, has recently become the
Huron -Perth District Catholic School Board's first
educational assistant to win a Coaching to Inclusion
award.
enjoys working with children
who "need a little bit of
extra."
Melanie, who does not
speak, was only in the
classroom for a short period
of time each day when
Verberne first met her.
Verberne taught her to
communicate using a device
that allows her to play pre-
recorded responses and she
was able to begin taking part
in morning announcements
and the daily calendar with
her class.
While Melanie used to eat
lunch in a segregated setting,
Verberne began including her
during the class's lunch
break.
By "focussing on what she
can do, not what she can't,"
Verberne has found numerous
ways to include Melanie in
the classroom all day, where
she is included in dramatic
skits with the rest of the class
using her communication
device, plays catch at recess
with friends and is helped
each day with her computer
work by students who belong
to her "circle of friends."
"The students all have a
special day to be with Mel.
They go for walks together,
move her wheelchair, help
her on her computer and the
kids really like it. They're
always asking me, 'How
many days until my turn?"
says Verberne.
Another favourite activity
is playing on the playground
swings, where Melanie's
classmates save her a swing
at recess.
"The care and love
developed by the other
students towards Melanie is a
gift to the entire school
community which is due to
the dedication and
commitment Mary has
shown," says Murray's letter.
• "Mary is an exemplary
model of what true inclusion
can do not only for one
student but for the whole
school community," he says
in his letter.
Verberne, who used to
work at Seaforth Cooperative
Children's Centre and at St.
James School in Seaforth,
says working with children is
a great opportunity.
"It's been really good and
so rewarding ,to see the
growth she's (Melanie's)
made," she says.
Friends of the Bayfield River sowing
the seeds for new coffee table book
By Cheryl Heath
News -Record Editor
The Friends of the
Bayfield River (FOBR) is
embarking on a novel plan.
Thanks, in part, to nearly
$10,000 in grants from
Grand Bend and Michigan-
based organizations, the non-
profit group is sowing the
seeds for a coffee table -style
book, which will focus on
the Bayfield River
watershed.
Chairman Ray Letheren
says the Ron -profit,
grassroots organization
recently received the thumbs
up for a $5,000 grant from
the Grand Bend Community
Foundation and a $3,500
(U.S.) grant from the Great
Lakes Aquatic Habitat
Network & Fund.
Letheren notes these
substantial donations are a
first for the group.
"It's remarkable," he says,
adding the FOBR was one of
only 16 applicants awarded
funding by the U.S. group.
Plus, the FOBR has also
recently been given $1,000
from the Huron County
Stewardship Committee.
Now, says Letheren, the
FOBR is in the research
stage for the coffee table -
style book.
It will feature everything
from an environmental
awareness quiz to tips on
septic system care.
A substantial part of the
book, says Letheren, will
outline how best- to protect
the Bayfield River
watershed's integrity in years
to come.
The book, which is
expected to take 18 months
to complete, will require the
assistance of other
community-based groups
and organizations.
The FOBR's sponsor, the
Ausable-Bayfield
Conservation Authority, is
one of the first to step on
board with a $25,000 in-kind
donation, meaning authority
staff will be able to help out
with their expertise.
Geoff Peach, of the Lake
Huron Centre for Coastal
Conservation, and Susanna
Reid, a planner with Huron
County, are also on going to
help out.
When all is said and done,
FOBR hopes to print several
hundred copies of the book
and distribute it north as far
as Saugeen Shores, south to
Sarnia as well as several
inland points in between,
including Dublin where the
watershed begins.
Ultimately, says Letheren,
the goal is to ensure the
informative product is
chock-full of helpful
information that will be
Bureau looking for donations
From Page 1
clothing of each size and
Jamieson says the bureau
still needs "a good
assortment" of sizes to
meet the need.
Another area of need is
children's underwear.
. H. REID ALLEN
I [ 1t\ITI Ri;
Itl:ti l OR.V FIO\
& IZI,1 1\IsiiI�t,
SEAFORTH 527-2717
Looking Glass
4 Main St., Seaforth
527-1783
*Reflexology
*Deep Muscle Therapy
*Ear Candling
OReiki
In F(gme
Services Provided
gift Certificates
Available
Jennifer
McClinchey
Jamieson is hoping that
by remaining open on a
Saturday, the bureau willi
be more accommodating
for people who work office
hours during the week or
work out of town.
"It's early yet but what
we have won't cover it.
We're already expecting
we'll need three
distribution days instead of
the usual two. Anyone
who's been through here
will think we've got a lot
but it's amazing how fast it
goes," she says.
Notice to clients of
HURON TAX CONSULTANTS
8c
AGRI-VENTURE REALTY INC.
We are pleased to announce our offices are
relocating to 154 Isabella St., Seaforth.
The move will be complete by
December 31, 2004.
Our phone number will remain 527-0557 and it
will be business as usual during this relocation.
We thank you for your patronage and look
forward to serving you in the future.
If you are high risk, don't wait
to get your flu shot.
provided free of charge to
residents within the
watershed.
That in itself is a lofty
goal, he says, because there
are four municipalities to
deal with.
So, the first step in that
direction is a demographic
study to determine the
population in the watershed.
Letheren is confident the
project will draw several
supporters given that Huron
County relies on water
quality for both its No. 1
industry, agriculture, and its
No. 1 tourism draw, Lake
Huron.
He adds town hall -type
meetings will be held to
distribute and discuss the
book once it is published.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Dec. 8. 2004-3
We are your
Holiday
Headquarters
See Tucker's Meat Shop
for great entertaining ideas
including Seafood for the Holidays!
SEAFOOD PARTY PAK
40 Piece. 99
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lin
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IMITATION
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Great assortment of
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ORDER YOUR FRESH HAYTER TURKEY TODAY!
'!'TUCKER'S MEAT SHOP
27 Main St., Seaforth
527-0036
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Save on our entire line of
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PAY NO TAXES
on all other In -stock giftware!
See our Radio Shack flyer for lots of great gift ideas!
NIFTY KORNERS
RadioShack
33 Main St. Seaforth 527-1680 11""4 -
Rob's Gym would like to
take this opportunity to thank
Seaforth & surrounding
communities for their
patronage and support!
We wish yes all a safe
& Ism Christmas!
Roo
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Included with each six month & one year membership.,
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✓A healthy eating protocol and ongoing support
OB'$ re
aywu?
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CALL OR DROP IN
TODAY!
Nutritional guidance and support
by Rob Miller, CYW, BA, CFT1
38 Railway St. Seaforth
527-0419
The flu is a serious infectious disease. Especially if you are high risk. So ft's important to get your free flu shot
now. If you are over the age of 60 or have a chronic medical condition, you are at increased risk of flu -related
complications. Infants between 6 and 23 months of age are also at increased risk. Talk to your doctor or local
public health unit. Ask your pharmacist. Or call for a clinic near you.
1 -866 -FLU -'N -YOU TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.health.gov.on.ca