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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-11-21, Page 23Superintendent impressed by culture of reading at high schools Stew Slater GEMESEEMED As the superintendent in been achieved in standard - charge of the Avon ized tests — towards writ - Maitland District School ing. Board's elementary cur- But following the pres- riculum, Pat Stanley does- entation, Stanley boiled n't get to spend much time down the strategies to a in the board's secondary few tangible targets: schools. attracting the attention of But when the board took boys in both reading and its twice -monthly regular writing by concentrating meetings on the road more on non-fiction topics; recently, bringing top involving students in daily administrators and writing; and moving read - trustees to South Huron ing materials off the dusty District High School's library shelves so the front library on Tuesday, Nov. cover can be easily viewed. 13, she was clearly "Many schools are now impressed by the tech- ordering or having built niques used to display racks which display the reading material. cover of the book, much Stanley, in - preparation like the ones in this for her presentation about library," Stanley said, the "District Improvement while gesturing around Plan" — in response to the South Huron library. results from annual "And what we're hearing provincially -standardized back from these schools is tests for Grade 3 and 6 that books that have sat students — gathered a on the shelves for years series of magazines that without being checked out are prominently displayed are now off the shelves in the library. almost all the time." Among them were the Stanley encountered most recent editions of some negative feedback "Car and Driver", "Sports from Perth East trustee Illustrated", "Guitar Tina Traschel, who related World" and — obviously the the story of one student most well-read of them all, who was discouraged by judging by its well-worn school staff from bringing corners — "Four Wheeler." to school a hunting - "I think this demon- themed magazine. strates a real commitment Traschel noted the on the part of this school school's library contains and this library to develop reading materials about a culture of reading among war, yet the student was students who haven't tra- told there was too much of ditionally . been strong a connotation of violence readers," she commented. in the hunting magazine. The District Stanley responded it's Improvement Plan makes not board policy to prohib- commitments to such it reading materials about activities as sharing best hunting, and that the mat - practices between differ- ter requires further inves- ent schools, developing lit- tigation. eracy skills among stu- "We anticipate that dents in younger grades, schools and students and shifting the focus would use good judgment away from reading — in terms of resources," she where improvements have said. The Huron Expositor • November 21, 2007 Page 23 News CHSS Reach for the Top team members Shepherd eagerly await the next question held at the Clinton school last Thursday. Jennifer Hubbard photo Scott Selvey, Stacey McLachlan -Kiss, Natalie Elliott and Jon in a match up against South Huron during a junior tournament Avon Maitland trustee seeking presidency of OPSBA Stew Slater aiiiMMEND Wingham's Colleen Schenk has been on the campaign trail for the past month, seeking support for her candidacy for president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA). The provincial lobby organization plans a special meeting Dec. 1 to elect a replacement for its former president, who left to contest a seat in the Oct. 11 Ontario election. "I've emailed material to all the school boards across the province, and I've been on the phone to as many trustees as possible," Schenk said Tuesday, Nov. 13, following a regular meet ing of the Avon Maitland District School Board. A long-time OPSBA delegate for the Avon Maitland board who, in recent years, moved into more sen- ior leadership positions, Schenk is currently an association vice presi- dent. Her opponents in the campaign are Howard Goodman of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Loralea Carruthers of the York Region District School Board. Avon Maitland trustees, led by voting delegate Doug Pratley of Stratford, discussed the process for the Dec. 1 vote during the Nov. 13 meeting. But it wasn't the presidential vote that was on the agenda; it was the potential vice presidential choice that would open up if Schenk or another current VP is elected president. "They've been very supportive," commented Schenk, when asked if the lack of discussion about the presidential vote should be inter- preted as full-fledged Avon Maitland support for her candidacy. The OPSBA process gives weighted votes depending on the population served by each board. The TDSB, most populous in the province, receives eight votes, some northern boards receive just one, and the Avon Maitland board receives three votes. t• • • • • • • • • • • • • WED. NOV. 21 10-11:30 a.m. Rhyme Time Ontario Early Years Program at Duff's United Church 1-4 p.m. Seniors Shuffleboard at Seaforth Arena • THURS. NOV. 22 10-11:30 a.m. Baby and Toddler Time at S.e forth Co -Operative Children's Centre 12-1 p.m. Seaforth Library Book Club. Bring lunch. Free • FRI. NOV. 23 9-10:30 a.m. Ontario Early Years Program at Brussels Public School 10:00 a.m. Morning Out at Bethel Bible Church, Seaforth 10:30-11:30 a.m. Pre -School Storytime at Seaforth Branch Library. Register 519-527-1430 • MON. NOV. 26 9:30-11:15 a.m. Play and Learn Early Years Program, Grey Central Public School 10-11:30 a.m Get Ready for Kindergarten, St. James School . • TUES. NOV. 27 10-11:30 a.m. Get Ready for Kindergarten, Seaforth Public School • WED. NOV. 28 10-11:30 a.m. Rhyme Time Ontario Early Years Program at Duff's United Church 1-4 p.m. Seniors Shuffleboard at Seaforth Arena If you're organizing a nonprofit event of interest to other Seaforth area residents, phone the Expositor at 519-527-0240, or mall the information to Community Calendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1WO well in advance of the scheduled date. Free listing includes date, time, name of event and location only. Space for the Community Calendar is donated by T1‘ Huron Expositor.