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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-06-24, Page 14CO1VIMUNITY Tinter Advocate, June 24, 1998 Page 13 Principal retires after 34 years in education By Scott Nixon T -A Reporter EXETER - The end of the school year for students at Exeter Public School will also mark the end of a career for principal John Ross, who has been involved in education for 34 years. Ross, who has been principal at the school for the past six years, re- tires along with three of the school's teachers: Lenore Latulippe, Sandra Norris and Karen Wallen. Ross began his teaching career in Wingham and became vice- principal of the school two years lat- er. After 13 years in Wingham, Ross. worked on one of the highlights of his career in education, starting up the Vanastra Community School and becoming the school's first prin- cipal. Ross said starting the school was an "interesting adventure", one which saw him visiting all of the schools in Huron County and re- questing money and equipment for the school because he was only giv- en a $2,000 budget to work with. While his budget was eventually in- creased to $8,000 that year, it still wasn't nearly enough to pay for school supplies. All of the schools in the county were co-operative and willing to help, says Ross. The children are what have made the last 34 years enjoyable, ac- cording to Ross. "Education is all about kids...to take a child and see itsucceed." Ross says children should be con - vin d by their teachers to become lifel g learners and continue their edu ion even when they are done their , chooling. While seeing children learn and develop is a source of enjoyment for Ross, he says current curriculum de- mands are too tough on the students. "It seems that we always keep adding (requirements) and we never take (any) -off," he says, adding that the provincial government is "mov- ing way 'too fast" in its changes to the education system. Ross says changes such as new re- port cards, new curriculums and new textbooks aren't necessarily wrong, but they are being made too quickly. As a result of the quick changes, Saying goodbye. Student council members Alyza Tarmohamed, back left, and Ashley Dickey, back right, helped say goodbye to four retiring staff members of Exeter Public School. Retiring are, front left, Karen Wallen, Lenore Latulippe and Sandra Norris. John Ross, back centre, is also retiring after six years as the school's principal. students and teachers are un- prepared and the teaching staff and secretaries are becoming "over- whelmed by the speed of things happening." Such changes have increased stress levels on school staff and Ross says it has to stop. "You keep pushing people long enough and they're going to say enough is enough," he said. He adds, "Change is good, hut let's do it at a very sensible, log- ical, manageable speed." One of the changes made by the government is the placement of. higher standards on all grades from kindergarten to Gr. 8; Ross sug- gests a better method would he to introduce the new standards grad- ually, beginning with kindergarten and Gr. 1 the first year and moving up a grade each year. If done this way, the students can adapt to the ,new changes instead of hcing caught by surprise, he said.. Another change schools have gone through during koss' career is Back in Time... By Ross Haugh from the archives of the Exeter Times Advocate 10 YEARS AGO June 22, 1988 - Exeter council Monday night approved a recom- mendation from the Exeter and area fire hoard for the purchase of a new fire pumper. The board which represents Exeter. Hay, Stephen and Usborne agreed to purchase a.fully equipped pumper for a total price of $166,798. Plans for extensive renovations to the Blue Water Rest Home at Zurich next year were confirmed at the home's annual meeting. The Home has set aside $492,000 for the project which is expected to cost over $1 million. The rest home has been running at 98.6 percent capacity with 20 admissions during the year for the 64 -bed home. 20 YEARS AGO June 23, 1978 - The Exeter Pharmacy changed ownership recent- ly, having been purchased by a three-man partnership. One of those partners, Esmail Merani has started his duties and a second pharma- cist, H. Hussen will be joining him later. The former owners, Bill Huntley and Trevor Wilson are still working with the trio. Dunlop Industrial Limited was fined $5,000 as the result of an ex- plosion at their Huron Park plant on November 19 which injured two men, one seriously. The firm was charged with failing to ensure safety measures. Saturday's Big Brother run in Exeter was an unqualified success and far beyond the expectations of any of the officials. One of the Big Brother directors, Al Epp not only completed the 10 mile run but was backed by 203 pledges for a total of $1,560. 35 YEARS AGO June 22, 1963 - Four South Huron District High School students have won Lions Club awards for the highest standing in their re- spective grades. They are Mynie Verkerk, Crediton, grade 12; Jim Carscadden, grade 11; Iris Marshall, grade 10 and Marcia Sauder, grade nine. John MacNaughton and Gary Wedlake, two SHDHS grade 12 stu- dents will represent Pakistan in the United Nations seminar being . held this week at the University of Waterloo. Dennis Passmore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Almer Passmore, R.R. I, Woodham won the Times Advocate trophy for grand champion calf in the feeder club competition at Wednesday's Hensall Spring Fair. 40 YEARS AGO June 24, 1958 - G.W. Montgomery, Huron County's former agri- cultural representative returned to open this year's Hensall Spring Fair. Mrs. William Huntley, president of the Exeter Home and School Association presented pins to three Exeter Public School students who topped their grades this year. They were Jim Carscadden, Brian Baynham and Linda Walper. Chief Justice William Martin of Regina and a former premier of Saskatchewan paid a flying visit to Exeter on Wednesday. He was a former resident of this town. 50 YEARS June 22, 1948 - Eric Carscadden, the newly appointed assessor for Exeter has commenced the assessment of the properties in Exeter under the new county system. Grounds around the 50 wartime houses constructed within the past year in Exeter are now being landscaped by Mr. Charles Hay of Zu- rich. is IZAI(.) At,ti June 23, 1923 - The elections held Monday resulted in a sweeping victory for the Conservative party and the Hon. Howard Ferguson will be Ontario's next premier. In Huron South, Nelson Trewartha won with a majority of 394. Messrs. A.J. Penhale and Harry Jennings were in Toronto last week attending the IOOF Grand Lodge. Rev. M.J. Wilson, B.A. closed a very successful pastorate of the James Street Methodist Church on Sunday last. The Wilson's will be moving to Amherstburg next week. the abolishment of the use of the strap, a form of punishment Ross says was effective though he ad- mits it had the potential of being abusive. A principal's alternative today is to send a misbehaving student home, something Ross says isn't ef- fective since hcing sent home is ex- actly what some of the students want. Ross has also noticed an increase in emotional problems among stu- dents during his career in educa- tion, a fact he attributes to societal pressures. As a result of such emo- tional problems. Ross worries about school violence — now seen primarily in larger municipalities — coming to small towns such as Exeter.. Despite these worries Ross sats "most kids arc still great" adding there are few students he didn't like over his 34 years in education. Ross says he's been lucky in Ex- eter to work with good parents who have shown support for the school The parents association and school advisory council arc two organiza- tions which have become partners with the school, with the advisory council raising over $60,000 for the school in Ross' six years. • At. 53, • Ross says he is young enough to start something new in his life and says he looks forward to upcoming challenges. While he has no specific plans for the future, Ross says he will probably do some travelling and then decide in the fall what to turn his attention to. In appreciation for .Ross, the school will he holding an open house in the gym on June 25 from 4:30-7 p.m. in addition to the retiring mem- bers` of the Exeter. Public School staff. the school is losing three oth- er staff members to transfers. Gr. 8 teacher Peggy Bondy is leaving for Si. Marys, Gr. 7 and 8 teacher Jane Morton will he working in Seaford) next year and vice-principal Tom Lyon is tieing transferred to Huron Park. • Seniors Month Barbecue Lunch. Exeter Villa volunteer Alma Lang serves up a burger to resident Bill Lamport during the Villa's bar- becue lunch on June 19. The lunch was part of Seniors Month. TOWN OF EXETER HOLIDAY COMMERCIAL CARDBOARD PICK-UP SCHEDULE Normal Pick-up Holiday Pick-up Wed., July 1, 1998 will be Thurs., July 2, 1998 Exeter Public Works Dept. PUPPY A growing puppy requires approximately twice the nutrients per kilogram of body weight as a full-grown dog. This formula is developed to help puppies form the bone and muscle tissue that will support them throughout their lives. 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