HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-02-21, Page 18Tirr-Adaot»te, At6r f
McGillivray Central
Public School students
enjoy Medieval Day on
Feb. 7. Above, they
show their musical abil-
ities. At right, Lynsay
Corby displays her frilly
hat while Angela Ritchie
straightens her tall
medieval head -piece.
Grade 3 students have
been studying the Med-
ieval times for about a
month. They've learned
about the era's food,
music and made their
own costumes and dec-
orations for the event.
junior Kindergarten fiscally sound
"A government that is looking at maxi-
mizing
aximizing potential and making maximum
use of education should realize that JK
programs will fulfill these mandates"..
Dear Editor.
I wish to extend my belated public congratula-
tions, on behalf of my Federation, to the Huron
County Board of Education for demonstrating Its
foresight and progressive spirit by continuing Jun-
ior Kindergarten for the years 1996-971
Countless studies throughout the world have
shown that the determinants for success or failure in
life are set in the first four years of human develop-
ment. As early as the 1940s and 50s government
documenis have advocated the advantages of early
years education. More recently, follow-up studies
have provided clear evidence that early education
had a positive impact on disadvantaged children in
both the long and short term.
Junior Kindergarten teachers know that early
schooling has tremendous benefits for children in
terms of future success in literacy and numeracy as
well as in socialization skills. In our largely rural
board Junior Kindergarten may be the only means
through which some children receive experiences
for early socializing. Social skills and behavioral
patterns are often set in a child by the age of 5
years. It is a sad truth that some of our students do
not learn appropriate behavioral and social skills
before attending school. Also, some homes or pri-
vate child-care providers do not provide the neces-
sary stimulation in terms of challenging and rein-
forcing learning through play and hands-on
activities. This lack of training eventually makes a
tremendous drain on the system over the years in
terms of teacher time, discipline, special education
intervention, classroom interruptions and student
learning.
Children at risk need early intervention to suc-
ceed in school. According to the Ontario Child
Health Study - Children at Risk, one child in four
shows signs of developmental failure. The 1985
All -Day Kindergarten Study by the Toronto Board,
of Education showed that,four year-olds have a tre-
mendous capacity to learn and to make up lost
ground, particularly in language skills: By interven-
ing at an early age when children are still amenable
to behavioral and social changes, and when oppor-
tunities, for physical and intellectual growth can be
provided sooner, great academic and social strides
can be made within the child, within the clas§room
and school sstem, and within society as a whole.
Because of this, we can state that Junior Kinder-
garten tsal&c� ftccaiy`erutdr 4l tgitudinal stu�y i e;
the system at 4 years of age in 1962. discovered that
by the time these students were 27 years old. every
dollar spent on their program at 4 years of ago had
saved seven dollars in education. health, social ser-
vices and the justice system when compared with
their peers who had not had the early start. Children
who attend JK stay in school longer; have improved
reading, math and language skills; a greater chance
of future employment; lower rates of teenage preg-
nancy and delinquency and higher enrollment in
post -secondary education. Though not immediate,
these results nevertheless make an impact on the
whole of society.
The Huron County Board of Education, despite
the smaller population which it serves and the re-
duced revenue sources with which it must work, has
shown itself to be a progressive board which offers
its students an excellent, competitive base through
its education system. Huron County parents have
shown unexpected support for the Junior Kindergart-
en program over the past two years, with approxi-
mately 370 JK students enrolled. In smaller schools,
JK has helped to supplement SK class sizes and to
make them more cost-effective in terms of staffing.
Because of this only 5.5 JK teaching positions were
actually in jeopardy in Huron. By running all -day
every -other day programs the Board hang also been
able to offer JK at a much lower transportation cost
than other boards. JK/SK teachers within the system
have related that students moving on to Grade one
classes will be much more ready to cope with litera-
cy, numeracy and social behavioral expectations -
and this will cost the system less over time.
The education systems Premier Harris' govern-
ment holds up for Ontario to emulate, such as Japan
and Germany, all have strong early childhood pro-
grams. A government that is looking at maximizing
potential and making maximum use of education
dollars should realize that Junior Kindergarten pro-
grams will fulfill both of these mandates. Cutting
these programs would only result in short term gains
and long term losses. According to John Snobelen,
further government study to revisit the concept of
early years education is on-going. Cutting JK within
Ontario public school boards would send an unfortu-
nate message to this government. Our board, by
waiting for the results of the Eckert study on Junior
Kindergarten, is sending a different message.
To date, only two Boards of Education have elect-
ed to commit to Junior Kindergarten. Nine boards
have -withdrawn it ,and the others are on stand-by.
Congratulations again to the Huron County, Board
for demonstrating their leadership in the province '
and their commitment to the young children of Hu-
ron County!
4.4141,t, e 1 W
YI ,1
n Trac
Tai Chi demonstrated to CWL members Blyth Festival Singers to
host Scottish Ceilidh
Roberta Walker
GRAND BEND - Members of
the Catholic Women's League of
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Council met on February 12 in the
parish hall after Mass, celebrated in
the church. President Gera Peters
chaired the meeting. It was agreed
that the C.W.L. pay the costs of
maintaining the new Sunday
School project, offered during 11
a.m. Mass. Peters thanks C.W.L.
member Yvonne Vandenberk for
organizing a Sunday School pro-
gram, and thanked all her helpers.
The money will go toward books,
crafts and other supplies.
Margrit Breuer reported that
nearly 65 out of 80 members have
paid their membership fees for
1996. Congratulations go to Lia
Vandenberk and to Kathy Vrolyk
for perfect attendance at the meet-
ings of 1995. Ideas for recruiting
new members included mailing in-
vitations to all the women in the
parish, asking if they would consid-
er membership on an inactive basis,
if they felt unable to participate ac-
tively at the present time. Father
Beck will provide a mailing list for
the membership convener.
Peters also thanked all those
members who participated in or at-
tended the Christmas Ecumenical
service; to Toni Vandenberk for or-
ganizing the Pa 'sh Christmas bas-
kets; to Josy Britton for collecting
the parish White Gifts for the Lion-
ess Christmas baskets for the local
community; and to Dina Kelders
for counting up the grocery tapes
from the IGA and Tenderspot
which netted about $800 for the
C.W.L.
Josy Britton reported on the Re-
gional meeting. Six C.W.L. mem-
bers attended the annual C.W.L.
Fun Night in Mitchell, where sev-
eral hundred women enjoyed great
entertainment provided by several
councils, lots of door prizes, and a r
potluck feast.
The executive decided to an-
nounce special dates for members
at the monthly meetings. Congratu-
lations to Dina Kelders, who cele-
brates her birthday in February and
to Annie and Case V gprt,
who will be celebrating dost 40th
wedding anniversary this month.
The World Day of Prayer will be
commemorated on March 1, Friday
afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Church
of God, Grand Bend. Peters will at-
tend the Planning meeting, and Ro-
berta Walker volunteered to supply
music, if needed.
The annual parish pancake break-
fast will be scheduled for Sunday,
March 24 after the 9 a.m. Masses.
Volunteers will be needed to orga-
nize and serve.
The next C.W.L. Diocesan Con-
vention will be held April 22-24 at
the Holiday Inn Select in Windsor.
Members are encouraged to attend.
Father Beck reminded everyone
about the upcoming Lenten season,
beginning on Ash Wednesday,
February 21. A new series of pro-
grams will be broadcast on Vision
TV, each Friday at 7:30 p.m. from
February 23 to March 29, with
Bishop Terrence Prendergast.
About 20 young people are regis-
tered for confirmation on Pentecost
Sunday in May, from the grade 7/8
classes in Forest and Mount Car-
mel, who attend this parish. Father
Beck also discussed the idea of par-
ish clustering for local areas, which
would include Grand Bend, Bay-
field, Zurich and St. Joseph Catho-
lic churches. This would involve
some additional cooperation and
sharing of facilities, resources and
volunteers.
The next C.W.L. meeting will be
March 5, a Tuesday, with guest
speaker Ruth Rock a family coun-
sellor from a local Women's Shel-
ter. The April meeting will be
Tuesday, April 16 but from then on
all C.W.L. meetings will be
changed to the first Tuesday of the
month.
After the meeting, the members
enjoyed a demonstration of Tai Chi
by a local club, with Bill Metcalfe,
Gord and Bernice Hill, Gord Brit-
ton, Gina Fisher and Jill Pickney.
The practice of Tai Chi originated
with Tavist Monks over 1,000
years ago, with 108 separate move-
ments and exercises. Tai Chi induc-
es stress, builds like � derma
balance, improves pulmonary ac -
Bon and stretches the spine. It can
leasee the .barge of
so senior elastic* are offered at thri
Thedford seniors home.
Beginner classes will start on
February 21, from 6:15 p.m. to
7:45 p.m. If you are interested call
Bill Metcalfe at 238-5987 or Ber-
nice Hill, 238-5958. The C.W.L.
enjoyed their presentation and pre-
sented them with a cheque in a
thank you note.
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Church news
Congratulations to Jarrett Wil-
liam Bastiaansen, infant son of Wil-
liam Bastiaansen and Melinda
Rombouts, who was baptized into
the Catholic Community on Sun-
day.
Wednesday, February 21 is Ash
Wednesday, the beginning of Lent,
with Masses at 9:30 a.m. and 7:15
p.m. Confessions during Lent will
be on Saturday evenings from 6:40
until 7 p.m. and Lenten Devotions -
Stations of the Cross and Benedic-
tion will be held on Thursday even-
ings at 7:15 p.m. Bishop Sherlock
of London Diocese will be featured
on Life and Faith, Sunday, Febru-
ary 25 at 9:30 a.m. on CFPL Lon-
don, on London Community 13, at
1:30 p.m. and repeated Sunday,
'March 3, same times. A series of
programs will be presented on Vi-
sion TV from Friday, February 23
to Friday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.,
called POn the Road to Jerusalem"
with Bishop Terrance Prendergast.
• First Communions will be cele-
brated in this parish on the follow-
ing Sunday, April 14, 21, 28 and
May 5. Please choose a date and a
Mass time, and contact Father
Beck. Students attending Public
School are also asked to contact Fa-
ther Beck if they wish to be con-
firmed on Pentecost Sunday, May
26 at 11 a.m. Mass, regarding in-
structions for the sacrament.
Don't forget World Day of
Prayer on March 1, Friday, at the
Church of God in Grand Bend at 2
p.m. Everyone is welcome to at-
tend.
Capsule Comments
with Ernie Miatello
Amniocentesis, a method of examining the
genetic heritage and health status of the fe-
tus while it's still in the womb, was devel-
oped in 1952 by a British doctor, Douglas
Bevis.
The toothbrush as we know it was invented by the Chinese in
1490. It was made from pig bristles. By the way, have you
changed your toothbrush lately? Dental hygienists recommend
getting a new one every 8-12 weeks.
A Dutch neurologist suggests that Picasso's paintings show
that the artist suffered from migraines. He concluded this from
the faces in his paintings with distorted or missing features.
This is similar to what some migraine -sufferers experience dur-
ing the aura before their headache.
•
There Is a Zink between high body fat and prostate cancer. This
is borne out by the fact that vegetarians, who have a )ow dietary
fat intake, have a lower incidence of prostate cancer than men
with high fat intake. You may not want to go to total vegetarian-
ism, but cutting your fat intake Is beneficial.
ON APOTHECARY
Phone 236-1982 440 Main 8t., Exeter
"Your Health Care Phan aoy'
GODERICH - A wee bit of danc-
ing, a wee bit of singing and a
grand meal are on the agenda when
the Blyth Festival Singers host their
traditional Scottish Ceilidh.
The evening of music, dancing
and good food will take place at the
,Goderich Township Hall in
Holmesville on Saturday, February
24.
The sound of the pipes will begin
the evening when the doors open at
6:30 p.m. A hot, buffet meal will be
served at 7 p.m., complete with the
traditional address to the Haggis de-
livered by Doug Coventry of Clin-
ton. The event is licensed under the
LLBO.
One of the Ceilidh's most re-
quested items is Scottish Country
Dancing. Bob Shepherd of Luck -
now will again lead novices and
old hands through the steps of the
strathspeys, jigs and few reels. ,
, This is a fund raising event of the
Blyth Festival Singers, a 40 -voice
community' choir, led by Wade
Whittaker of Seaforth. ,
For ticket information, call the
Blyth Festival ' Box Office 523-
9300. Campbell's . Photography
524-7532; Bluewater Office Equip-
ment 357-1554; Carol's 'Candies,
523-4700; Crossroads Gifts 482-
5855; The Dutch Store, 482-7302;
Something Special 235-1252.
alikAMLIE
SOCK
• Benjamin Moore Paints
• Wall Coverings • Fabric
• Stencils • Sundries
SALE STARTS WED. FEB. 21
glie Decorator Patch
21.3 Main St. Liman 227-1595
Everything Must Go!