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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-10-25, Page 66 Times–Advocate Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 Energy-efficient lighting helps to reduce pollution and reduce the costs of your electric bill. A typical household has approximately 35 light bulbs that use about $250 worth of electricity every year. By replacing just 5 bulbs in high -use areas with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that save one-quarter of the electricity, house- holds will save almost $30 each year, depending on the location and amount of time used. Since the bulbs last up to seven years, the initial higher cost will already be paid back in 1 year. Five Top Spots Where are the best five places to switch to a CFL? Here are a few suggestions; 1. Where a light is on for more than three hours a day, such as the kitchen, family room, recreation room or workshop. 2. Where a light is in a hard to reach place, such as high ceiling or stairwell. 3. Where exterior lights are on for much of the night. 4. Home office lights. 5. Where you have multiple pot lights. News Canada Lest We Forget: Remembrance and the poppy Legion Remembrance programs commemorate the men and women who died in the military service of Canada during war and peace. Many believe that main- taining the tradition of Remembrance is a sacred trust and the Legion's most important role. Ontario Command and its districts, zones and branches commit thousands of volunteer hours each year to carry out Remembrance activities. The Poppy has been widely recognized as a symbol of Remembrance, since it was first adopted in 1921. By wearing the poppy, we demonstrate our gratitude to those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy. Each year, for two weeks before Remembrance Day, Legions throughout Ontario carry out our Poppy Campaign. The campaign raises awareness of the Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance. From little towns, in a far land, we came, to save our honour and a world aflame; by little towns, in a far land, we sleep, and trust those things we won to you to keep. Rudyard Kipling (1925) Do you remember when? When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited the student at home? Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. as par- ents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat. Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, the Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk. As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball Principal's message EXETER — As I mentioned in my column last week, the Avon Maitland District School Board has embarked on a character edu- cation program this year by identifying 10 positive character traits we would like to develop in our students. In the South Huron region, we have selected one trait for each month, with the intent of focusing on that trait in particular, while at the same time encouraging the development of all 10 attributes. The attribute for October is responsibility. From my perspective, there are two aspects of responsibility I would like to see us encourage in our students: the importance of meeting our obligations and the acceptance of the consequences for our actions. The obligations for students are straightforward. They are expected to attend all their classes, do their homework, complete and turn in assignments and follow the behaviour guide- lines set out by the school, the board and the Ministry of Education. To me, these expectations seem rea- sonable enough, but I am amazed at how much time and energy we need to expend getting stu- dents to do what we ask of them. This is an area where parents can certainly be of assistance to us by reinforcing the same expec- tations, and I think the majority of parents do. However, I am all too often amazed (and frustrat- ed) by the willingness of some parents to excuse the actions of their children when they skip class, fail to hand in work or misbehave at school. Back in September, for example, we took part in the National Terry Fox School Run, an event held all across Canada in honour of Terry Fox. I was disappointed by the number of students who chose not to go on a forty-five minute walk, but I was even more disappointed by the number of parents who called in to excuse their kids from taking part. I have no doubt some of them were ill or may have a condition that prevented them from being able to complete the walk, but I believe several of those absent simply did not want to take part and convinced their parents to excuse them. I can tell you we get a similar response if students know in advance there is going to be an assembly. Our position is that assemblies are a part of the school day and while there will be sit- uations in which students may legitimately be excused from attending them, for the most part students have a responsibility to attend them. Our efforts to get them to be responsible are under- mined when students convince their parents to call in to excuse them. Fortunately, the vast majority of parents do support our efforts and encourage their kids to meet their responsibilities, and there is an obvious correlation between the support of parents and stu- dents' success in school. The second aspect is equally important: when students don't meet their responsibilities, they need to accept the consequences. This may mean staying in after class to finish an overdue assign- ment or serving a detention for missing a class or being late. Regardless of the consequence, the whole purpose in having consequences is to correct the student's behaviour by making him/her accountable for his/her actions. Again, our efforts in this area have a much better chance of success when they are rein- forced by parents. As I mentioned last week, the greatest influences in our stu- dents' lives are the people with whom they interact on a daily basis. With supportive and encouraging parents and teachers, stu- dents have a much greater chance of success in school and in life. The more we work together, the more likely we will be to achieve success. JEFF REABURN PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool, and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar. Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that"? Bus Tours: A group of Canadians was traveling by tour bus through Holland. As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through a process of cheese mak- ing, explaining that goat's milk was used. She showed the group a lively hillside where many goats were grazing. This she explained, is where the older goats are put to pasture when they no longer pro- duce! She then asked, "What do you do in Canada with your old goats that aren't producing?" A spry old gen- tleman answered, "They send us on bus tours." Helpful Hints: Jokes that are funny to you may not be funny to mem- bers of the opposite sex or the clergy. * A t -shirt saying, "I'm with stupid" should never be worn on the first date. * Clearing your nasal passages should be done in pri- vate, rather than during a job interview. * Women have no interest in how much you can drink. * Teenagers with purple hair are not seeking your approval. * Spring-loaded tools should never be carried in the pants pocket. Red Green Panther Profile EXETER — Hello, welcome to my article, my name is Craig. I'll be you're informa- tion provider. All right, big week, lots going down this week, so no fooling around. Attention all graduates, if you have not picked up your diploma, get it! They are available in the office, just walk in, state your name, serial number and rank and you will receive a diploma and possibly a smile. Did you attend school in the past two years? Are you wondering where those yearbooks are? Maybe those years never happened, maybe we all just dreamed them. Hold on, I'm receiving breaking news, yes it's true, do not adjust your newspaper, we have confirmation that the yearbooks are ready and will be available the first week of November. Moving along, Oct. 25 (tonight) is Parents' Night — parents, come meet the molders of your children's minds It will be held in the small gym and cafeteria. The Book Fair will be open and three of the ring companies will also be there. Peer mentors also have a workshop in Bayfield today; you leave at 11:15 a.m. and are back at 3:15 p.m. Thursday night (tomorrow) is the Halloween Dance. Pizza will be available at the dance and so will books! That's right, the Book Fair will be open the nighT of the dance, so go get your dance on, get your pizza on and get your read on! Turning to theatre, on Saturday the Alzheimer Society is putting on `Tribute to Country.' Tickets will be available at the door. Children's Theatre will be at SHDHS in the small gym at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Mon., Oct. 30, then again Oct. 31 at Stephen Central in the morning and Mount Carmel in the afternoon. Nov. 1 is a PD Day! Right on, I can use that to finish all my school work and begin studying the next unit! Finally, three of our school's Cross Country members will compete at WOSSAA on Thursday. Good luck to those athletes and congratulations to Mr. Colbourne and Mrs. McCowan. Random Fact of The Week: An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain Coming events Oct. 25 — Parents' Night (in the small gym and cafeteria) — Peer Mentors seminar in Bayfield Oct. 26 — Halloween Dance Oct. 27 — Hat Day (Pay a dollar, wear a hat all day, proceeds go to charity) Oct. 28 — Alzheimer Society production of `Tribute to Country,' tickets available at the door Oct. 30 — Children's Theatre at South Huron Oct. 31 — Children's Theatre at Stephen in the morning and Mount Carmel in the afternoon Nov. 1 — PD Day CRAIG SKOCHIN PANTHER P FILE SKI RO- Credit to council In the past year council has taken a lot of abuse over the Crediton - Centralia sewer pro- ject. At last week's council meeting they made the tough and unpopular decision to award the tenders and proceed with the pro- / Let, ern ject. I think, as well as a number of to the other residents, that council made the Editor most responsible decision for all in the communities. My wife and myself walk Centralia every day and we smell sewage com- ing from storm drains and properties. There are also a number of offenders in Crediton. I think if we keep ignoring the problem we could end up with another Walkerton. To Mayor Morley, Deputy Mayor Urlin, councillors Ratz, Oke, Robertson, Armstrong and Dietrich, hold your heads high, we think you've done a great job. I only hope our next council will do as well. You all did the job we voted you to do, by making the tough decisions for us all. I still feel $20,000 is a bitter pill to swallow but hopefully a grant will come our way. MEL WINGER Centralia POLICE BRIEF Thieves hit Canadian Tire EXETER — On Oct. 6th between 6 and 6:30 p.m. thieves stole an ATV and dirt bike from Canadian Tire on Thames Road in Exeter. Two vehicles were observed driving into the parking lot, a white Ford crew cab and a black SUV. Four people from the vehicles attended the front service entrance of the store remov- ing a Baja ATV and a Dirt Runner motorcy- cle. Items were placed in the vehicles and they were last seen heading east on Highway 83. The stolen Baja ATV is a 90 ATV 4WD, serial number LE8S6FLC51018387. The Dirt Runneer is a DR 90, serial number LUAHYJ20661003216. The value of the loss to the store is in excess of $3,000. If you have any information that can assist police with this investigation please call the OPP or CRIME STOPPERS at 1-800-222-8477 (1 -800 -222 - TIPS).