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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-08, Page 66 Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 8, 2006 Opinion Forum News Children's Aid thanks community On behalf of the Huron -Perth Children's Aid Society, I would like to thank the many businesses, organizations and community members who supported us during Child Abuse Prevention Month in October. Protecting children is everyone's business. The purpose of the 'Use Your Voice' campaign has been to remind people in Huron and Perth counties that abused children are often unable to act as their own advocates, so caring community members must use their own voices to speak for children. You can't assume that someone else will speak up — we must all use our voices for children. The stores, churches, hospitals, local businesses and other organizations that supported the 'Use Your Voice' campaign this year have demonstrated their commitment to the well being and safety of children in Huron and Perth counties. Thank you to them and to all other com- munity members who share our dedication to children. Economics over humanitarianism? Your front page picture on the Nov. 1 issue of the T -A (a group of smiling officials breaking ground for the new ethanol plant) has left me feeling uneasy. Some time ago Exeter's Fred Knip reported on his six month stint as International Relief Manager distributing emergency food aid from the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB) in drought -stricken areas of Kenya. ../01111.171 I quote the following sentence: "Many children rely on the school feeding pro - Letters gram for their meals; and we were in many areas where the United Nations to the World Food Program started a feeding program, but had to stop because they Editor did not have any more supplies." At least irony is not dead ... In North America obesity is becoming a real problem. In Africa every five seconds a child dies of hunger. In North America we convert a precious food source into a product that will add more pol- lution to an already poisoned environment. And our only concern is the noise and the smell associated with ethanol production. Is there perhaps a moral dimension to this venture? Are profit motives again trumping humanitarian concerns? Are we part of the problem rather than the solution? TOM KNIGHT Executive director Huron -Perth Children's Aid Society Principal's message EXETER — I would like to start this week by reminding parents and students that the first official report card is scheduled for distribution Nov. 17. This report will be the mid-term report for first semester classes, and the marks will be based on student achievement for the first half of the semester. Students taking either Civics or Career Studies will receive their final marks for these two half - credit courses. No marks will appear for year- long courses in Grade 9: there will be a follow- up report, which will report those marks, in early December. Next week the Student Services Department will be holding two important sessions on JEFF "Financing Post -Secondary Education." The REABURN sessions will examine the costs of post -sec -PRINCIPAL'S ondary education, various methods of financ- MESSAGE ate for this month, as we hold our annual Remembrance Day service to honour the courageous men and women who have served Canada during times of war and in peacekeeping operations, and to recognize those who continue to serve our country. We hope our service will play some small part in helping our students to appreci- ate the courage and sacrifice, not only of those whose names are inscribed on our Honour Roll for having made the ultimate sacrifice, but also the many others who returned from war and who have served and continue to serve our country in times of need. Courage comes in many forms and we hope to encourage our students to demonstrate this attribute, perhaps by finding the courage to stand up for something they believe in, or by standing up to the schoolyard bully, or by intervening when they see someone else being bullied. It takes courage to resist the temptations and pressures to do things we know are not right, and often it takes more courage to stand up and do the right thing. Hopefully, we, as adults, can model this behaviour and through our actions and examples inspire young people to be courageous and to follow our lead as positive role models. We all have a role to play in helping our young people to develop the positive character traits that will help them to become positive contributing members of our society. ing the costs, scholarships and bursaries and budgeting. These sessions will be informative and useful for stu- dents planning to go to college or university and their parents. There will be an afternoon event for students in fourth period in the cafeteria, and an evening session for parents and students starting at 7 p.m. in the school library. For the month of November our character development program will focus on courage, which is very appropri- Fundraiser — Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron successfully concluded five years of combining fine dining with fundraising Nov.4 at Oakwood Inn in Grand Bend with the final Taste of Huron dinner. Fred and Christina Godbolt are shown deciding what they will bid on for the silent auction, which raised $12,000. (photo/Jim Beckett) L. DE HAAN Exeter Panther Profile EXETER — Did you know a group of kangaroos is called a mob? Well there you go, I have provided you with another piece of completely useless information. Let's see what's up this week, hmm .. . looks like a French trip to Toronto and I think it's Friday. Sometimes I can't read my own writing; it's a real problem, check with Mrs. Black on that one but if you're going, you probably already know. Our Remembrance Day assembly is Friday. The focus this year will be on the Korean War and peacekeeping veterans. On Nov. 14 there will be a speaker visiting the school to talk about financing post secondary education. The meeting for students will be at 2 p.m. and another session, open to everyone, will run at 7 p.m. Sounds like a good opportu- nity to learn some valuable information. Hey, do you like quests? I know I do — more than anything I want to go on a quest, so if you're like me, then you'll be glad to hear about Science Quest! It is for elementary school kids, but you can help out if you're in science; just see Mrs. McCowan. Science Quest will run all day Nov. 14. Are you low on money? Are you tired of losing money to your `buddies?' There will be an anti -gambling assembly in the small gym at 2 p.m. Nov 15. I bet you that you can't sit through the whole presenta- tion and pay attention the entire time! Come on, I'll give you two to one! Attention all graduates, or rather grads to be; grad photos will be taken the week of Nov. 27, so get ready for that. Also I'll give you a heads up on the flu shot — they will be done Nov. 30. Forms will be sent home and will be available in the office. Waterloo University will visit Friday, Fleming College will visit Nov. 13, Redeemer University will visit Nov. 15, Algoma University College Nov. 16. Remember to sign up for any presentation you wish to attend. Sign-up sheets are in the Guidance office. One last thing — a reminder that year- books and diplomas are available for pickup. If you have not picked yours up yet, get to it. That's all this week, keep rockin'. Coming events Nov. 10 — French trip to Toronto — Remembrance Day assembly, 9 a.m. — Waterloo presentation, 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 — Fleming College presentation at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 14 — Speaker on financing post- secondary education at 2 and 7 p.m. — Science Quest, all day Nov. 15 — Anti -gambling presentation at 2 p.m. in the small gym — Redeemer University College presentation at 1 p.m. CRAIG SKOCHINSKI PANTHER PROFILE