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Times-Advocate, 1999-02-03, Page 1210 Meter Times-Ailvocate Opinion&Forum Wednesday, February 3, 1999 We can change the system By Cassandra Martin, Rob Stotesbury- Leeson Youth Uniting Comijnunities(Y. U.C.) Many voices. one goal; improving the community. Once upon a time, heroes rode throughout the land. These brave heroes went about the lands, gal- lantly righting wrongs and helping the less fortu- , nate. But that was once upon a time... Why is it that whenever we hear about people being nice and helpful we always expect the phrase "Once upon a time"? Another thing we hear is "in the good old days, people helped other people; peo- ple cared." So why did we stop? Turn on the television, listen to the radio, read the newspaper, wave after numbing wave of death, strife, betrayal and man's inhumanity to his fellow man washes over us. Overwhelmed, we numbly accept it. We pull out our apathy blankets to keep' us distant and warm. We watch television shows like Jerry Springer, which showcase people at their worst. We watch warm and safe in our apathy blan- kets, happily patting ourselves on the back because we are not paraded on these shows. We gladly accept the lie that you can't change the system. We can. Just recently, John Davidson finished the last leg of his journey across Canada Jesse's Journey. There was no divine light shining down from the Heavens on John Davidson. He is just an ordinary person who refuses to believe. the lie. Through the blistering heat of the summer and the foul weather of the winter, John Davidson, with a little courage and a little hope, walked on. He has put away his apathy blanket and allowed himself to care. Through his and other people's efforts, they have built a research fund that is known as The Foundation For Gene And Cell Therapy which stands at two million dollars and is still growing. Action was taken because they did not believe the lie. You do not have to walk across Canada or charge into a burning building to change the system, big things are made of small things. If everyone changes something small, it adds up. This year, February 8-14, is the Random Acts Of Kindness week. It can be as simple as a smile or a kind word, picking up a wrapper and throwing it in the garbage. These simple acts are the essence of Random Acts Of Kindness Week. Youth Uniting Communities is fully behind Random Acts Of Kindness. Week and feel that it is an excellent way for this community to start the healing process, especially in light of the recent tragedies which have befallen it. Among other projects, the Y.U.C. is launching a blue ribbon campaign in order to promote awareness in the community. We are also working to involve the local schools in the kind- ness wave. Youth Uniting Communities hopes that you will help set an example and honour this recent- ly started tradition of Random Acts Of Kindness. For some more ideas on random acts of kindness, drop by the Alberta Teachers' Association website at hntltp://www. teachers. ab. c a/news/v31 n 10/random. ht The Future 1s built one piece at time, is Jacob Marley said to Scrooge, "Humanity is niy busi- ness."(A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens) Upcoming Events In The Area... February 8-14, Random Acts Of Kindness week February 9, Ausable Centre's After School Program starts March 16, Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic at Lucan Arena, 5:30-9:30 March 17, Winter Fun Festival at Market Street Park, 10-3 News from St.Anne's Catholic Secondary School by Philip j. McMillan This article is being published on the 3rd of February. Today we had a special beginning to our Professional Activity Day. Staff gathered in the chapel area of our school to celebrate the Mas 'and listen to the words of His Excellency, Bishop Sherlock. He came to our school to say the Mass and spend some time with the staff on their Professional Activity Day. As we begin the second`'semester, we are preparing for the first graduating class of St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School. Staff and students will move into a rapid process of preparation as we get ready to host a Prom and Commencement that will mark this spe- cial occasion in the history of our school. In the fall of 1995, 139 students entered our school, because they and their families supported the efforts of the school board in the opening of a new Catholic Secondary School in Huron county. In late June of this year, these students will graduate and begin a new stage of their lives. We are very excited about all that graduation means for the students and the school in general. It will be an emotional time as we recall the first few weeks when we opened in September 1995. We will reflect on where the efforts have brought us. I would like to wish the graduating class a very rewarding last semester as they continue their work to progress toward graduation. Life is filled with cycles, and as the week began we welcomes] those who are considering entrance to our school in the fall of 1999. On Tuesday, February 2nd, we hosted our Orientation Day at St. Anne's. Students arrived at the school and rotated through a day of shortened peri- ods and met others who will ,attend St. Anne's in the fall. Teachers explained a bit about what the courses will involve. Students enjoyed some activities with our peer mentor- ing group, and then staff and students from area schools joined the orientation staff and peer mentors in our cafetoreum for a special lunch. Report cards for the first semester will be sent home Friday, the 12th of February, and parents are asked to endorse the signature form and return it promptly to the school so we are sure that parents have seen the report cards. We will begin course -selection next week for grades 10 to OAC. Students in Grade 8 at the elementary schools are reminded that their enrollment forms are due back by February 5th,.1999. Have a great week as the semester begins anew. Moo Surprise Valentine dance planned at SHDHS Exams are over and the second semester is swinging into first gear. The confusion of new classes will soon be over and things will settle back into their regular routine. On Wed., Feb. 3, there is a P.A. Day and students are not to come to school. The day after is called "Turn- around Day". This is a special day where students go to their first semester classes in the morning and to their .new second semester classes in the after-, noon: In the morning students should return all textbooks they were using first semester. Also, there may be a chance for students to see their exam marks. In the afternoon classes, students will be introduced to their new teachers. Any textbooks required for the course' may be handed out at this time. A "surprise" dance is coming up near Valentine's Day. This dance has been changed from the date shown in the planner, and goes from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 10. The price is $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Save money and buy early! Tickets will be on 'sale in the main foyer starting on Feb. 8. There will be giant video screens and a fantastic light show of fireworks, so come on out and have a blast! _ • While you're buying tickets for the dance, stop at Valentine's kisses table! Kisses are great to give to friends. They will be distributed during first period on Fri., Feb. 12, and will now Principal's note When it comes to that charac- ter -building process called "looking for a job", times have sure changed. People looking for work these days find them- selves being offered contingent or contract positions as opposed to permanent jobs more and more often. It seems that for the young people presently in high school, college or universi- ty that there will be a great deal that is temporary in the quality of their lives. We have heard it before that hardly any of them will graduate into lifetime employment with a single job where they work for 30 years. As one person put it, "The new labour reality boils down to this: the search for work is per- manent while the job you find is generally tem- porary." So, how do we help our kids become "expert" at the workforce skill of job hunting? One of the ways we can help is by teaching them the skills involved in .building a portfolio. It's not enough anymore to arrive at an interview with a polished resume. Everybody has one of those. We have reached the "show -me" stage in the evolution of interviewing. An applicant with a portfolio full of real-life examples of their work successes is so much more convincing. So, the time is right in schools to practise the skill. We can help studenfs collect samples of work that illustrate their strengths their biggest "ah-hah" moments when they had a learning break -through, and their most satisfy- ing finished products. You can help at home, too. A collection of artifacts, from pictures of your kids in the newspaper to swimming badges to certificates from music lessons is a great way to begin. A family who likes to travel might encourage a teenager to collect postcards. Later, when applying for a job, these artifacts can.be part of the portfolio in a section called "Learning Through Travel". Athletic students can keep a collection of team photos as a way of illustrat- ing. "How I Learned To Be A Team Player". Portfolios should help an • employer see a per-. son's passions, talent and interests as well as their achievements. The whole way a portfolio is assembled and packaged can also speak vol- umes about the person. Portfolio assessment of student learning is becoming quite common in education and it is a practical skill that will 'prepare this genera- tion of students for their job search. Interviews with a person who has brought a rich portfolio to share is like going on a treasure hunt: the process of discovery ,is as much fun as finding the actual treasure. It doesn't matter which side of the interview desk you're on, the portfo- lio can help ensure that the focus is on "what makes this applicant unique?" In school, that means the focus is on "what makes this student unique?" And isn't that really what it's all about? DEB HOMUTH PRINCIPAL'S NOTE be on sale that entire week. It's the perfect way to spend your extra change and show someone how much you really care. Upcoming Events Wed., Feb. 3- P.A. Day; Thurs., Feb. 4- "Turn- around Day"; Mon., Feb. 8- Boys' basketball. at St. Anne's; Tues., Feb. 9- Jostens at South Huron to take orders for graduation photos from 3 p.m. to 6 P.m; Wed., Feb. 10 - "Surprise" dance, Boys' basketball at Madill, linic from birth control drop-in 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the lue room; Thurs., Feb. 11- Girls' volleyball t St. Anne's KRISTIN BROOKS PANTHER PROFILE the c b a Count your blessings Did you see the recent research about retiring happy? The findings of Toni Antonucci and Alicia Tarnowski at the University of Michigan are quite interesting. After pouring over data on 100 people who were interviewed ,before and after retirement here's the results: 25% say they were more satisfied with life after retirement; 34% said they are less satisfied. The rest were about the same before and -after. It was not so surprising to discov- REv er a greater satisfaction after retirement among those who had EANON invested richly in friends than POINTTt� those who had not. PONDER' if you are rich in friends, count your blessings. You are wealthier than you think. Point made. •