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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-10-09, Page 204, McGREGOR SUITS A selected grouping of fine wool worsted suits. Classically styled and affordably priced. Regular to $265. To help complete your suit selection... ,All Arrow, Cline & Gant DRESS SHIRTS are featured this week at 20% OFF Both offers expire Tuesday, October 15th. it Xi Delta Epsilon welcomed three new members into its sorority chapter last Tuesday. The new members are Debbie Abbott, Alexie O'Neill and Marlene McDougall (seated). 1 photo by Diami Kellestine) Grade 6 program focuses on values, influences and peers 32 West Street, Shoppers Square Soderich, 524-4312 Dam Men's & Ladies Fashions BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Values, influences and peers on the focus of VIP, a new program being introduced into Huron and Perth schools at the Grade 6 level. The Huron County board of education has gone full -steam ahead and introduced VIP as a pilot program at three schools and will spend the current school year introducing the program to all (Grade 6 teachers. The aim is to have all schools using the program starting next September. The Huron -Perth Roman Catholic A collection °�ear timet`/ reduced Ladies Sportswear r fall wearing. Featuring pants, skirts, acke`�s blouses, 50/0 separate .school board has two schools piloting the program, Mt. Carmel in Mt. Carmel and St. Aloysuis in Stratford. The program will be evaluated in May to see if it should be used in all the Catholic schools. "However, there is some overlap with our religious and family life program," says superintendent of education John McCauley. He said the Catholic schools may incorporate the VIP program into the religious and family life program. David Bonner, morals anti values consultant with the Perth County board of education said VIP may be put in as a pilot project. He was on both the Ministry of Education's writing team and development committee which together prepared the VIP program. However, the consultant said a similar program, Operation Prepare, has been put in Perth County schools. VIP was developed jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Solicitor General's department at the provincial level. Both classroom teachers and police officers are involved in presenting this program to the students. In Huron County, Dave Kemp, vice- principal of Huron Centennial public school in Brucefield and Juhn Marshall, Huron ('ounty community se' viees officer at the Goderich detachment of the OPP form one team. "The children are enjoying the program. They find it really exciting," says Kemp. The VIP program is divided into 12 areas including belittling others, peer pressure, decision making and authority and authority figures. Several topics directly involve the police. They are dangers of drugs, vandalism and destructive behavior, shoplifting is stealing and youth and the law. Exeter Police Chief Larry Hardy and Exeter public school tdacher Sandra North, along with Sgt. Kevin Short have been operating in the Grade 6 class fora couple of weeks. Chief Hardy said that before VIP, his department would be in the schools, but with no regular format to follow. He praises the program, particularly because it gives the police a high profile in the schools. "It lets the children know who the police are. We do more than write tickets and' arrest people," said Hardy. North says the program is one of the better ideas to come from the provincial education ministry. The third pilot project is at Victoria Public School in Goderich. There, teacher Dave Brereton and Jay Poulter from the Goderich police force will be conducting the VIP classes. Classes in all three schools will be held once or twice a week for about an hour. The teachers hope to end the sessions with a field trip. Also, a graduation ceremony will mark the end of the three-month VIP program. Kemp has sent a notice home to the parents of his Grade 6 students. The letter not only introduces the program, but also invites the parents into the classroom when VIP is being held. Superintendent of program with the Huron board, Arnold Mathers, said all Grade 6 teachers will be introduced to VIP on Oct. 28, a professional development day. In May, a half day orientation session will be held for these same teachers. Kemp says he hopes the students come out of the program with more positive relationships with each other, authority figures and themselves. As for the police role, OPP officer Marshall said he hopes the students will be more aware of what could happen tb them if they break the law. h 9i?