HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-07-05, Page 7Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Exeter Times—Advocate
7
Biddulph Sports Day
Biddulph Central School students participated in a sports day June 23.
Eight events including two rest stations made up the day.Above Melinda
Arenthals of team Blue 6 pours water on Stephen Sloetjes of team Red
8 during the game `Drip, Drip, Drop,' played like `Duck, Duck, Goose.'
Below Team Blue 5 stops between activities for a team picture. From left
are Justin Mellott,Annie Rockery, Graeme Westwood, team leader Cody
McWhirter, team leader Cody Kelley sitting on the soccer net post,
Jennifer Cuadros, Crystal Taylor, Hailey Bamford and Jake O'Neil sitting
in front. (photos/Nina Van Lieshout)
`Remember when'
next WI theme
By Bev Campbell
HURONDALE — The June meeting
of the Hurondale WI started off with
the group gathering at Hansen's for
a trip to Stratford.
There was a tour of the Stratford
Festival costume warehouse, which
is a fascinating place. There are
only three such warehouses in the
world: London, England; Los
Angeles, California and here in
Stratford, Ontario. There are 55,000
costumes of every shape and size
imaginable, as well as a millinery
and a cobbler department available
for the construction of any item
needed.
Following the tour, the group
went on a double-decker sightsee-
ing bus tour of the city, finishing off
with a walking tour of the gardens.
After a sumptuous lunch at King's
Buffet, President Fern Dougall con-
ducted a short business meeting.
Final preparation for the District
Picnic at MacNaughton park was
discussed. A committee was formed
to work in the display for the Zurich
Fair being held July 21 to 23 with a
theme of "Remember When".
The next meeting will be July 26
at the cottage of Marilyn Pym.
A teacher's importance
My daughter at the tender age of 14 lost her
uncle to a stroke. The loss was devastating
and she began a downward spiral into the
depths of depression. That loss became com-
pounded with the loss of her dignity and self
respect when she was assaulted at a party.
From that point on the chore of existing and
coping in the pressure cooker of life as a
young person became more than she could
handle. The future I had planned for her so
neatly in my mind changed dramatically.
Now my focus was her health and happiness.
Some of the school boards in this province
in my opinion are not really equipped or do
not recognize the need for a unique class-
room that keeps expectations realistic and
attainable for someone suffering from mental
illness or emotional disorder. For those stu-
dents whose challenge is just to get out of
bed in the morning the present
expectations of the high
one time in our lives been a student. If we all
think back we all can probably pick one
exceptional teacher that went way beyond
the call of duty. It would be nice if we could
come up with more than one but in asking
many people this question I have discovered
that most cannot.
I don't even know where to begin to sing the
praises of Mr. Watson. He is the most com-
passionate, empathetic teacher I have met or
that any of my children have ever had as a
teacher. He is there to teach the kids who
have fallen through the cracks: the students
who struggle with Attention Deficit Disorder
and or learning disabilities who after years of
failure are usually impossible to reach but he
did.
He gave these students hope. He encour-
aged them to believe in themselves. He called
them at home when they didn't arrive
to class encouraging them to
school curriculum are over- Lett attend. He advocated on their
whelming. Add to that typical A 10 t ers
unhealthy eating habits, the
the
inability to get a proper Editor
night's sleep and you have
the recipe for failure.
Each year my daughter fell
further behind. A week or two
home sick for her in one semester was
enough to make catching up on work missed
while keeping up with the homework expec-
tations of that day impossible. Once that hap-
pened the semester was lost. I had all but
given up on the dream of her obtaining her
high school diploma when I heard of a pro-
gram that is being offered through the Avon
Maitland District School Board called the
COPE program.
"Hats off" to this school board for offering
this program. My daughter needed to be relo-
cated to my sister's home in Grand Bend and
applied for a boundary waiver to be eligible
to attend but that was a small price to pay. I
imagine similar programs are offered in other
school boards but this program had some-
thing the others did not. It had a teacher
named Mr. Russ Watson.
In a society where we glorify celebrities and
money and recognition is given exuberantly
to those who
possess athletic
ability we tend
to take for
granted those
individuals who
are the true
celebrities and
gifted people,
those individu-
als who really
care for the
future of our
young people.
We have all at
Capsule Comments
by Ernie Miatello
When applying sunscreen, don't forget your lips.
One of the common sites for skin cancer is the
lower lip. There are many sun -block lipsticks and
lip balms, coloured or clear that will do the job.
If you have gout, that painful arthritic condition
that affects many older men, avoid taking products containing
A.S.A. leg. Aspirin). A.S.A. contains a salicylate, which reduces the
kidney's ability to excrete uric acid. It's a build-up of uric acid in the
body that causes those painful gout symptoms. However, those low
dose A.S.A. products prescribed for heart attack patients are OK to
take.
It's finally happening. The British parliament voted 384 to 184 to
ban smoking in all indoor public places including pubs. Scotland
and Northern Ireland have also agreed to follow this policy and
Wales isn't far behind. The ban is coming into full effect during the
next 8-10 months.
Infants that go to bed with a pacifier or soother will reduce the risk
of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by over 60%. People used
to worry about soothers causing crooked teeth but this really isn't an
issue. If you are breastfeeding, wait until the baby is a month old
before using the soother.
Huron Apothecary Ltd.
Phone 235-1982,
440 Main St. Exeter
PHARM
ASSIST
"YOUR HEALTH CARE PHARMACY"
behalf when attendance issues
threatened their placement. He
provided constant reinforcement
sitting by their side day after day
keeping them focused, teaching
them and giving them back the feel-
ing of accomplishment and self worth.
He gave them back a future filled with
possibilities. He gave my daughter back her
future... because of his understanding and
sensitivity to her needs she will graduate high
school this year. She has applied to college
and is awaiting acceptance.
We owe him so much and we really have no
means to repay that debt except with endless
gratitude and a prayer for God to save him a
special place in heaven. So to the town of
Exeter... he is one of your own. ..when you
see him in the grocery store or walking down
the street give him your admiration, give him
that pat on the back he deserves. If our
schools had more teachers like him we would
have children who were happier, healthier,
more successful human beings.
Russ Watson, I thank you from the bottom
of my heart and I wish you all the best that
life has to offer.
Sincerely, BRENDA DEVRIES
Tim Haltom
In this game there are
no opponents. Only friends.
In a non-competitive environment kids can truly enjoy
learning how to play soccer. After all, when you don't
keep score, everybody wins. That's why your local
Tim Hortons is proud to support the kids who are
playing Timbits Soccer in the Exeter community.
The first goal is having fun.