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Times Advocate, 1999-10-06, Page 88 Exeter Tines -Advocate Opinion&Forum Wednesday, October 6, 1999 , Remember when... On June 30 to July 2, 2000, South Huron District High School 50th Anniversary. The Exeter Times Advocate would like to join in the celebrations by sharing articles or pictures which have appeared over the years. HI HIGHUGHTS — 1970 - 1979 . Teachers walk out, students stay home will celebrate its sem wpm newt Confusion reigned in some parts of Ontario as to which schools were being fully staffed Tuesday by teachers or operating under a principal and supervi- sory personnel and volunteers. Up to 50,000 elementary and secondary school teachers were expected to be away from classes and attending a mass protest march on the Ontario Legislature in Toronto. In the immediate vicinity of Exeter all public and separate schools were open with a full teaching staff in attendance. It was a different story at the secondary school level. Only 30 students arrived by bus at South Huron District High School Tuesday morning. Principal J.L. Wooden immediately ordered all students to return to their homes. Teachers are protesting the proposed Bill 274 which is emergency legislation introduced December 10 by Education Minister Thomas Wells to block mass resignations by 7,800 teachers in contract disputes with 17 Ontario school boards. Huron County elementary teachers under contract to the Huron County Board of Education met in Clinton Friday afternoon and decided to show strong objections to the proposed legislation but agreed to stay with regular classes Tuesday. A check of area school found attendance normal at Exeter Public, Stephen Central, Usborne Central and Precious Blood separate schools Tuesday morn- ing. Messages were sent home with most students in the above mentioned schools Monday telling parents classes would be under normal conditions. At Biddulph Central School in Middlesex county vice-principal Norm Steeper told the T -A Tuesday morning that attendance was "about 50 percent of nor- mal." Monday afternoon, a message from Middlesex Board of Education director John Gummow told parents students could be kept home if they wished as they could be sent home soon after arrival. The Huron -Perth separate school teachers are one group which resigned enmasse recently and are directly affected by the new legislation. One RC teacher who wished to remain anonymous said "since a mediator has been appointed in the teacher -board negotiations we felt a walk-outdat this time could be harmful." At South Hurbn District High School, staff member Glenn Mickle was dele- gated by the Teachers Federation to stay at the school and issue a news release. It stated, "Members of District 45. (Huron County) of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation are complying with a directive from the Provincial Executive to protest against Bill 274 by attending a rally in Toronto, Tuesday." "Buses were chartered for this purpose and left Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaford' and Winghan early Tuesday morning in time to arrive at Maple Leaf Gardens for a noon hour mass rally followed by a march to the Parliament Buildings. "Most teachers regard this form of protest as a very uncomfortable necessity but feel that the measures proposed under Bill 274 to be of such a repulsive and restrictive nature that public attention must be drawn to it while there is time for change." The cheerlead- ing champs - The cheerleading competition at Saturday's Huron - Perth Conference football champi- onships was won by South Huron. The victorious girls are shown above in a happy pose. Back, left, Linda Ritchie, cap- tain Leisa Ritchie, Connie Miners and Jane Van Roestel. Front, Laura Johns, Judy Parsons,Allyson Robichard and Shirley De Vries. Sports related information or photos needed for book Dates - 1838 to 1950 Contact Ron gogart.235-0847 (home) or 235-0314 (work) FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHDHS "AIL -YEARS REUNION" CONTACT KENDRA ARTHUR 235-4006 (H) on PAT ROWE 236-7167 Principal's Messages Two Important events are hap- pening at our school this week. On Tues. Oct 5th the annual Awards Assembly was held to rec- ognize student achievement in grades 9-12 for the pre- vious school year. Four cat- egories of prizes are given out: top mark In each sub- ject, honours students for the grade, top of the grade and special contest award winners. On Friday, October the 8th at 7:30 pm DEB Important areas. These include: The Budget Team: The parent representative works with the Principal and the Department Heads to set the school bud- get for the year. The Special Events Team: The parent representative works with the Principal and staff reps. to plan Parents Night, Commencement, Panther Pride, and the Awards, Assembly. The Alumni Committee: our annual commencement HOMUTH The parent rep. acts as a and graduation exercises 'ms's liaison between the All Years will be held. All" graduates AGE Reunion Committee and and their families are invited to attend. School Council met for the first time last week. The parent mem- bers for this year are Chair Donna Shapton 237-3726 and vice -chair Sandy Shaw 236-7575, Cathy Prout, Donna Overholt, Linda Russell, Elaine Hayter, Deb Lord, Mellissa Alber, Chris Hogan with Kathy Hayter as the community representative. Our school council meets six times per year. All meetings are open to the public although only council members may vote on issues requiring a vote. The primary purpose of the School Council is to provide advice to the principal on matters affect - in fthe students of the school. It has been my pleasure to work with some very dedicated people on our school csuncil many of whom are continuing their work this year. At South Huron DHS represen- tatives from School Council sit on various committees within our school, hence providing the:voice and perspective of parents on School Council. The Student Survey Team: The parent rep. assists the committee of teachers in designing an end of semester survey that allows stu- dents to assess the delivery of their courses. Violence Free Schools Committee: The parent rep. works with the Principal, the teachers, the police and support staff and students to ensure a safe, violent - free school. We also have two new teams this year: the website team and the school beautification team. We are seeking parent reps. for both of these groups. Please call the school if you are interested. Finally, we are 'seeking volunteers to spend some time in our school library. This hub of student learn- ing is a busy active place. We need adult volunteers to help With -- clerical duties. Please call me if you are interested. • The School Council is a wor er• - ful example of the importance of - the three-way partnershtp "thatt. • Makes school works. Keel the fork There as a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and was given three months to live. As she began getting her things "in order", she called her pastor and asked for him to come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she want- ed sung at the service, what scrip- tures she wanted read, and what dress she wanted to be buried in. She also requested to be buried with her favourite Bible in her left hand. Everything was in order and as the pastor was preparing to leave, the woman suddenly remembered one final request that was very important to her. "Please Pastor, just one more thing", she said excitedly. "Sure, what is it?" came the pastor's reply. "This is very important to me," the woman continued... "I want to be buried holding a REV. fork in my right hand." 'VERNON The pastor gazed at the DEAN woman, at a loss for words. POINT To "That surprises you, doesn't POH1E it?" the woman asked. smile came upon his face. The woman continued, "So, I just want people to see me there in the casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to won- der... 'What's with the fork?'... then I want you to tell them: "Keep your Fork... the best is yet to come." The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman goodbye. He knew that this would be one of the last times that he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of Heaven than he did. She KNEW and trusted that the best was yet to come. At the funeral, everyone that walked by the woman's casket saw her wearing a beautiful dress with her favourite Bible held in her left hand and a fork held in her right hand. Over and over the pastor heard people ask the question, "Why is she holding a fork?" and his smile began to get larger and brighter each time. During his message, the pas- tor told the people about .the conversation that he had with the woman shortly before she died. He explained the fork and The pastor replied "Well, to be quite what it symbolized to her. The Pastor honest, I'm puzzled by the request". told everyone how he could not stop The women explained. "You see, thinking about the fork and how he Pastor, .in all my years of attending hoped that they would not be able to church socials and potluck dinners, I stop thinking about it either. remember that when the dishes were That fork and the meaning of it to being cleared after the main course, the woman had quite the impact on someone would invariably lean over everyone and they are still sharing to me and say, 'Keep your Fork'... It the story with people they meet. was my favourite part because I knew And now it has been shared with that "something better was coming, you... so the next time you reach for like velvety chocolate cake or deep- your fork, let it remind you, oh so dish apple pie. Something wonderful, gently, .that the best is yet to come. and with substance to end the great May God bless you and your family meal." and keep every one of you safe. The pastor Iistened intently and a .