Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-05-18, Page 1010 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday,May 18, 2005 Board honours Excellence in Public Education SEAFORTH — The Avon Maitland District School Board recently presented its Excellence in Public Education Awards, with several local winners. Local students picking up awards were South Huron District High School's Nick Anstett and Marcia Melick, while South Huron teachers George McEwan and Glenda Burrell also received awards. Other winners were Wallace Webster for administra- tion, Karen Brown for her community involvement and support staffers Mary Ann Bender and Jason Fox. Marcia Melick — student recipient Marcia is a versatile and accomplished musician who plays the piano and trumpet, but it is as a sax- ophonist that Marcia real- ly shines. She played at the Huron Country Playhouse in the musical of the "Buddy Holly Story," and is a soloist with the school's Jazz band. Marcia has been involved with the South Huron music program for all five years of high school, and has many fond memories including visiting Montreal while playing in the MusicFest competition. Marcia has served as the treasurer for Student Council for the last two years. She is active in a number of sports. Marcia is also a member of the youth council at her church. In addition to her many and varied extra- curricular talents, Marcia is an excellent student. She won top student hon- ours in Grade 9 and 10, and has earned many top subject awards. Marcia plans to study music at university with the inten- tion of becoming a teacher. Glenda Burrell — teaching recipient When Glenda Burrell started teaching at South Huron in 1975 her plan was to work for two years before returning to the theatre. However she dis- covered that she had a passion for teaching, and for 30 years the South Huron community has benefited from having her as a talented arts and drama teacher. During this time Glenda has directed 20 school shows, each a major undertaking which involves the stu- dents, staff, and commu- nity. This year she directed and wrote "Return to Eden." Glenda ran the Poetry club and produced a num- ber of publications with students and the commu- nity. She also ran an Arts Club which allowed the students to explore poet- ry, drama and dance. Glenda has taken many groups of students to the Blyth Festival, where their performances have won a number of awards. Glenda has shared her love of the theater in trips to the Huron Country PlayHouse, Stratford Festival, the Grand Theater, Chicago, and New York. She has enjoyed seeing students connect through drama, and she is proud of the positive impact that she has had. Glenda is highly regarded by her col- leagues and especially her students, who have devel- oped a keen love of music, theatre and the arts from having her as their teacher. Nick Anstett — student recipient Nick has packed a lot into his high school career. He is a talented athlete, playing on a num- ber of school teams including basketball, ten- nis, track and field and cross country. Nick is especially proud of being part of the Panther hock- ey team which won an OFSAA bronze medal in Peterborough. In 2003 - 2004 Nick attended a Rotary International Exchange to Erfurt, Germany, and had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and North Africa. He enjoyed meeting other exchange students from all over the world. This year Nick serves as the Student Council Premier. He is a member of OSAID, a prefect, and the founding chairperson for the school's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Nick has made the Honour Roll every year, and his teachers appreci- ate his friendly nature, great sense of humour and excellent work ethic. Nick has applied to a number of universities in a variety of programs including business and medicine. Nick's proud parents are Bev and Mike Anstett of Exeter. George McEwan — teaching recipient George McEwan is a dedicated and beloved teacher. Since 1987 he has contributed a great deal to the academic, extra -curricular, and community programs at South Huron. George has actively and enthusiastically promoted science education at the elementary and secondary levels. For the past six years he has run the "Exeterrestrial" summer science camp for elemen- tary students. George has judged science fairs, origi- nated "Science Quest," and has taken groups to the Sci-Tech Olympics and Envirothon. He has hosted science demonstrations for the local Cubs and Brownies. George has a passion for environmental education, and has encouraged his students to get involved with a variety of projects includ- ing recycling, the adopt -a - highway program and vol- unteering with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. George has extended fantastic learning oppor- tunities to his students with trips to the Bay of Fundy and camping trips to Cyprus Lake, where he has opened the eyes of his students in ways that will last a lifetime. George has been a team leader and Science Department Head for seven years. In this position he has facilitated, encouraged and support- ed his colleagues, acting as a mentor to staff and students alike. George would like to thank his wife Beth and their children for their love and support of his many endeavours. Karen Brown — community recipient Karen Brown is in her second year as chair of the School Council at South Huron District High School. She has served the council for the past three years, after 10 years with the School Council at Exeter Public School. Along with South Huron principal Jeff Reaburn, Karen has been a prime mover and shaker in the development of the Community Forum pro- ject. For the past two years these forums have dealt with such hot issues as bullying, Internet safe- ty, drugs, suicide and parental rights and responsibilities. During her time at Exeter Public School she was also a member of the School Improvement Committee for five years, the last four as chair. The committee piloted, for the board, a school report card and a survey process that provided the school with valuable information to guide the principal and School Council. While Karen spends a great deal of her time working on school related projects, she is also a member of the Huron County Anti -Bullying Steering Committee, the Huron County Board of Directors and chair of the Internal Communications Committee of Habitat for Humanity, and a member of Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church Visioning Committee. Karen is the owner of Help Mates, a Canadian distributor for HipSaver Hip Protectors. She says, however, that the most important job she will ever have is being mother to Lara and Jody — both students at South Huron District High School. Jason Fox — support staff - non -secondary recipient Jay Fox is a perfect can- didate for Excellence in Public Education. He is directly involved in several programs and ini- tiatives that have con- tributed to both elemen- South Huron District High School principal Jeff Reaburn, left, stands with South Huron's recent winners of Excellence in Public Education Awards.With Reaburn are students Nick Anstett and Marcia Melick and vice-principal George McEwan, who received a teaching award.Absent is drama teacher Glenda Burrell. Below from left are board -wide winners, including locals Karen Brown and Wallace Webster. From left are board chair Meg Westley, trustee Colleen Schenk, Webster, former director of education Lorne Rachlis, Brown and director of edu- cation GeoffWilliams. Other local winners were support staffers MaryAnn Bender of Stephen Central and Exeter's Jason Fox of the board's IT department. (photos/submitted) tary and secondary school environments. Jay recent- ly put in place several caching servers that pro- vide our students a safe environment. With these servers he is able to block potentially harmful Internet sites from our systems while allowing students to enjoy the experience of browsing the Internet. Jay continually researches ways to improve and enhance our WAN (Wide Area Network). He is responsible for all schools having fast reli- able Internet access. He has implemented several different services that optimize the monitoring and safety of our net- works. Jay has been at the fore- front of our IT security measures and he continu- ally goes out of his way to provide information and support to other members of the Information Technology Team. Jay's innovation, exper- tise and insight have allowed our schools and Education Centre to bene- fit from current, reliable, secure technology sys- tems. Mary Ann Bender — support staff - non - secondary recipient Mary Ann has been employed with the Avon Maitland District School Board for 31 years. She is dedicated to her position of Secretary at Stephen Central Public School. When people enter the office, they are greeted with a smile. Mary Ann is also supportive of her co- workers and the students are lucky to have some- one like Mary Ann to come to for assistance. Whether they need a Band-Aid, a photo copy or a box of Kleenex, she is always there to help out. Wallace Webster — administrative recipient Wallace Webster, known affectionately as Wally, is the Assessment and Evaluation Coordinator for the Avon Maitland District School Board. He is retiring at the end of this school year after crunching the numbers for 31 years. Wally graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) degree and Master of Science (Mathematics) degree. He attended Teachers' College at Althouse in London. Wally taught Mathematics for 26 years before leaving South Huron District High School in 2000 to become the Board's Assessment Coordinator. Wally's abilities were evident as he authored a Grade 9 Academic Mathematics Remedial Package, was a reviewer of Grade 10 Academic and Applied textbooks for Addison Wesley, authored four textbooks and teacher resource manuals and developed "Creating Math for Me 1-2-3," a problems book for destreamed Grade 9 classes. He created "AWE- SOME," a weekly enlight- ening series of Mathematical experiences for Grades 6 to 8. In 2003 Wally was hon- oured by The Rene Descartes Foundation For the Advancement of Mathematics with a Descartes Medal, making him a member of an exclusive club. Wally and his wife Lois have two daughters and three granddaughters and a cottage near Grand Bend. Wally didn't forget his community while he was solving Math prob- lems. He coached several ball teams, served on the United Church Board, taught a beginners com- puter course for adults and was a member of the Canadian Legion Branch 167, all in Exeter.