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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-03-03, Page 66 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,March 3, 2004 Opinion Forum News Education matters Continued from page 5 program provides resources, staff training and an addi- tional literacy teacher 1 day a week to 24 schools that have the greatest need of assistance. But this is only one way we're working to improve lit- eracy in our students. In addition, many of our schools have developed special programs to promote literacy. A number of schools in our area have had special "Literacy Weeks" where events such as skits, guest readers, and author visits are used to encourage litera- cy. At the secondary school level, special programs are in place and under development to help students achieve success in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, which is a mandatory require- ment for high school graduation. Last year, for the first time, our Director of Education sponsored a series of Literacy Awards, intended to encour- age and promote literacy. Our community is also involved in promoting literacy. January 27th this year was designated as "Family Literacy Day" where families were encouraged to read together. Of course, our community libraries have a great impact on literacy through children's programs, and special activi- ties. We have many volunteers who take the time to tutor children, or help students in the classroom, and of course, parents spend countless hours reading with their children and reviewing spelling lists. I encourage everyone to be involved in promoting liter- acy: read to your children or grandchildren; take them to the library; give them reading material that they would enjoy; turn off the television and read a book; vol- unteer in a school and help a child. Improving literacy really is a TEAM effort and together I know we can all help our children be successful in lit- eracy and learning. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at 235-4445, or email me at rwagler@fc. amdsb. ca. RANDY WAGLER EDUCATION MATTERS Hospital Happenings Are you interested in eating healthier? Do you have food or nutrition questions? If so, registered dietitians are the professionals for food and nutrition information. Dietitians work in a variety of settings. Clinical dietitians usually work in hospitals, community health centres, health care facilities and home care where they may specialize in weight control, diabetes, heart disease, kid- ney disease, cancer or other medical conditions. Some dietitians specialize in nutrition for infants, children or seniors. Clinical dietitians identify nutrition problems, assess nutritional status, develop care plans and moni- tor the effectiveness of nutrition care. Dietitians also work in public and community health, foodservices, private practice, industry, business, gov- ernment, education and research. They are uniquely trained to advise you. All dietitians have a degree specializing in nutrition; and have com- pleted an accredited internship or graduate degree. In every province, practicing dietitians are regulated, so you can be sure you are getting safe and ethical advice. They can advise you on: what foods to eat to lower your risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer tips for eating on the run the best way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight special eating plans for medical conditions what to eat when you are pregnant or planning to have a baby when to take vitamin and mineral supplements what to eat after surgery how to read food and nutri- tion labels SSOCIATION how to be a healthy vege- tarian and more! To speak with a dietitian or make an appointment call Harriet Vandeborne, RD, CDE at South Huron Hospital 235-2700 Ext 239 or Clinton Public Hospital 482-3447 Ext 271. Visit the Dietitians of Canada website at www.dietitians.ca for more information or for interac- tive tools, tips and fact sheets to help you eat well and live well. Come and learn more about managing your diabetes, cholesterol and heart healthy eating! Introductory Diabetes Program Date: March 17, 2004 Time: 1:30 p.m. Place: South Huron Hospital Meter Class OUTH OPAL Date: March 24, 2004 Time: 1:30 p.m. Place: South Huron Hospital Cholesterol class Date: March 31, 2004 Time: 1:30 p.m. Place: South Huron Hospital Call South Huron Hospital at 235-2700 Ext 239 to reg- ister. All classes are free. Get the facts! Develop a per- sonal plan and improve your overall health! Encouraged hospital activism? Dear Editor, So the provincial liberals are now going to get tough with hospitals (yet, while in opposition they cried that the government of the day couldn't play nice enough with hospitals or be free enough with our money). I sus- pect they may have even encouraged hospital activism. Yes, activism! What else would you call it when you take a building in Ontario, wheel -barrel in a 24 hour stream of money (multi -millions) whose most 'impor- tant' job of the day is to take on emergencies, and they refuse to get the job done! In a recent province wide sur- vey, 2% of the respondents report- ed 'deaths' of loved ones while wait- ing on hospital care, not ambu- lance care. Re -direction of patients, (code brown if you get my drift) was quite com- mon under the conservative (no heroes of mine either) government. There would be no re -directions in Drop that drink! Living in a more health conscious era, people are beginning to fmd themselves torn between what they would like to eat and what they should eat. However, whether they have something healthy to eat or drink is still their choice. Recently, the owner of the cafeteria at South Huron District High School was asked to remove all beverages with excessive amounts of caffeine or sugar, such as soda. It is understandable that with the risk of diabetes drastically increasing within the next few years that there is some concern about what youth are eating and drinking, but no one is forcing it down their throats. It would mean one thing if the cafeteria were owned by the school, but it's not; it's privately owned by a catering company that rents out the space during the school year, so should the school parental board have a say in what they can or can- not sell? And do they really think that asking them to discontinue selling soft drinks would solve any- thing when there's so much availability everywhere else? Unlike many local fast food restaurants that are popular for students to go to at lunch time, the cafeteria offers a wide variety of healthy alternatives such as milk or juice, but it's the students deci- sion to buy them or not. An estab- lishment can't be held responsible for the health choices people make, and asking them to remove a high demand item isn't fair when the customers can easily go some- where else for it instead. And what will this result to? Prohibition on Pepsi in Exeter? Parents can't watch what their children are con- suming while they're at school, but if they think that they will be given peace of mind knowing that little Johnny can't get that soda at school for lunch, they can think again. Chances are, if little Johnny really wanted a meal with a coke he probably wouldn't have to walk more than a few blocks away. So if students are going to drink it regard- less, why not just allow it to remain in the school so that at least some of the profit is recycled back into it, whether it be to pay to rent the kitchen in the cafeteria or money accumulated from a vending machine. I fmd it amusing though that out of all things, access to pop is what parents want to be removed for the health safety of their children. Maybe they should consider that they're creating a greater safety risk to their children by having access to alcohol in their homes; but being that we live in Huron County, I think that everyone knows better than to even attempt to ask people to remove liquor from their house. DEBRA TOONK any private hospital with a government premium paid patient system, i.e. customer is always right and his money always good and audible. Socialism doesn't work, period. In the long term it bankrupts itself and in the short -run is open to abuse by morally bankrupt politicians, bureaucrats, and corrupt- ible un -checked boards and directorships. In Canada we need to stop listening to groups like the wistful travelling Tommy Douglas glee and mutual admiration society, of gypsies and bums and emulate what does work in the U.S. PAUL GORDON, Cannington President of Ringette Association responds Dear Editor: As president of the Exeter and District Ringette Association, I would like to respond to the letter about ringette in last week's T -A. Ice time has been addressed in the past and will be addressed again for the up -coming season. I understand the concern but we have been very lucky to have Hensall so close, to help with ringette getting good ice time. On the T -A coverage, I feel that Pat Bolen has done a good job in covering our special events in ringette. I understand, and feel our coaches understand, the one team photo rule; sometimes all the parents may not be as informed. Mice HODGERT, RR#1 Woodham Panther Profile EXETER — Last week the boys' hockey team fin- ished off their season at the Huron -Perth Finals. The team won their first game against Stratford Central in a shoot-out, but lost the second game 5-1 to Madill. The senior boys' basketball team finished their season last week in a loss to Stratford Northwestern. Last Friday, the senior girls' volley- ball team finished their season with a great game against Stratford Central. The Panthers played well but were defeated. Congratulations to all teams on a great season! Last Tuesday the girls' hockey team won their game against Madill in the Huron -Perth Final game. As a result, the girls' hockey team travels to Port Stanley tomorrow to participate in WOSSAA. Good luck! The coming week is a busy one for South Huron. Today is the Fashion Show. Many students have spent the last few months working hard to prepare for this event. It is going to be a great show! This afternoon, the show will be put on for students. Two dollar buy-out tickets must be bought to attend. The tickets are available during lunch in the main foyer. At night, the show will run a second time for the community. Tickets are $3 and must be bought in advance. If you have not yet bought a ticket, call the school at 235-0880. The evening show will start at 7 p.m. Hope to see you there! This coming Sun., March 7, is the music depart- ment's Spring Concert. The concert will be held at 2 p.m. in the large gym. There will be a free will offering. This event will help prepare students involved with the bands for MusicFest Regionals in London next week. Good luck to all bands involved. Next Thurs., March 11, is a school dance. Tickets are on sale in advance in the main foyer at lunch. The theme is a flashback dance, so students are encouraged to dress up like people from their favourite era. It is going to be a great dance com- plete with video screens. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the dance ends at 11 p.m. Coming Events: March 3 - Fashion Show - Immunization March 4 - Elementary students' basketball tournament - Girls' hockey — WOSSAA - Community Forum Meeting -3:45 p.m. Rm 118 March 5 - Curling - WOSSAA playdowns (TBA) March 6 - Kub Kar Rally March 7 - Spring Music Concert — 2 p.m. in the large gym March 9 - MusicFest Regionals — Jazz Bands March 10 - MusicFest Regionals - Concert Bands March 11— Flashback Dance - 7:30 -11 p.m. March 29 — P.A. Day Cancelled — Day 1 ASHLEY ERB