The Times Advocate, 2006-11-15, Page 6TIMES—ADVOCATE
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
SHDHS annual review for bus cancellation
Principal's message
EXETER — Last Wednesday's foggy weather caused
us to put our bus cancellation process into effect much
sooner than we had planned Normally it is at least late
November, and more often December, before we have
to worry about notifying students, parents and
staff about bus cancellations, but Mother Nature
decided to give us a trial run this year.
Our procedure on days with heavy fog is to start
with a two-hour bus delay and hope that the fog
will lift. Parents and students are advised to
watch and listen for updates, especially in the
event we have to cancel the buses altogether. It is
very problematic for everyone when the fog
doesn't lift quickly enough as was the case last
week. We have to make a decision in a reason-
ably timely manner so that parents of young
children can make child care arrangements if
need be, and if the fog hasn't lifted, then we will
usually choose to cancel the buses.
Last Wednesday's weather reminded me of the need
to do my annual review of our bus cancellation proce-
dures with parents and students. If we have to cancel
the buses, we attempt to make the decision by 6:30
a.m., but the weather does not always co-operate and
sometimes the decision must be made later than this.
The information is broadcast in two ways: through
radio and television stations and on the Avon Maitland
District School Board website. I send one message for
all of the South Huron schools, both public and
Catholic, to a variety of media outlets in London,
Stratford and Wingham. However, I recommend that
parents, students and teachers listen to either CFPL AM
980 in London, or FM 102 in Wingham. I send the
information out in an e-mail that goes to the local radio
and television stations, but if our Internet service hap-
pens to be down, for the sake of expediency, I
will phone only the two aforementioned radio
stations.
The bus cancellation and school closure
information will also be posted on the AMDSB
website at www.yourschools.ca. There is a
"Weather Cancellations" link on the website
but please note that if the weather is bad
throughout the board's jurisdiction, there may
be two or three pages of bus cancellations so
you may need to scroll to the right to view all
the postings.
By the way, my general policy for SHDHS is
that the school remains open unless the high-
ways are closed or the power goes out. If buses are
cancelled, the school will be open for study purposes
only: students can come in to get books, to work on
assignments and to consult with any teachers who are
able to make it in. There will not be regular classes on
days when the buses have been cancelled for two rea-
sons: one, the majority of our students arrive by bus,
and, two, if it is not safe for buses to be on the roads,
then it is not likely safe for many of our teachers to be
JEFF
REAB
PRINCI
MESSAG
URN
PAL'S
E
Pops concert in SHDHS large gym this Sunday
EXETER — Antarctica has an area code — if you
want to call someone it's 672.
Wow, what an age we live in Thanks to the Internet,
people with way too much time on their hands can
share totally random and useless facts. Moving on to
real and hopefully useful facts, I've mentioned it before
and I'll probably mention it again, grad picture week
starts on Nov. 27, so girls make all those necessary
appointments and guys remember to wear a shirt.
Also, the Flu shot will be administered Nov. 30. Forms
will be sent home and will also be available for pickup
Taste of Huron
a success
It is with heartfelt thanks and sincerity that I take
this opportunity to express my appreciation on behalf
of Big Brothers, Big Sisters South
Huron for making The Taste of
Letters Huron such a success last
to the week. Without the co -opera -
Editor
tion of so many faithful vol-
unteers, conscientious staff,
f talented chefs, giving donors,
generous suppliers and our
evening guests, events such as this
and the program they support in this area would not
be possible.
DREW ROBERTSON, Crediton
President Big Brothers,
Big Sisters South Huron
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in the office.
The Pops Concert is in the Large
Gym at 2 p.m. Sunday.
There is a School Council meeting
Monday in the Library at 7 p.m.
Also, I'm reasonably sure there will
be some sort of fun night at the school
Nov. 23. Maybe a "Fun Night" or
"Video Night" I'm not sure, but some-
thing. Listen to announcements for
updates on that.
Coming events
Nov. 19 — Pops Concert,
Large Gym, 2 p.m.
Nov. 20 — School Council Meeting, Library, 7 p.m.
Nov. 23 — Student Council "Fun Night"
CRAIG
SKOCHINSKI
PANTHER PRO-
FILE
on the roads either.
In the event of a storm developing during the day, our
policy is not to send the students home early, mostly
because it is too dangerous to do so. The snow plow
operators know when the buses will be on the road and
they do their best to ensure the roads are clear at those
times. If we send the students home early, the roads
may not yet have been plowed and we would be plac-
ing them at risk unnecessarily. If the weather is awful
and roads are being closed, then it is best to keep the
kids at the school where they are safe and warm.
I would like to request that parents and students
refrain from calling the school to ask about bus cancel-
lations unless it is absolutely necessary. If you have no
access to radio or to the Internet, then it is understand-
able that you call, but often the phone lines are tied up
with people making inquiries and we are unable to
contact the bus companies and/or the MTO to get the
latest information.
Finally, I have two reminders. The first official report
card is scheduled to go out this Friday; parents can
expect students to be bringing it home Friday after-
noon. And on Thursday of this week, we are hosting a
special afternoon and evening event for girls in Grade
9. If you have a daughter in Grade 9, you should have
received a notice on this; if not, you might ask her for
more information, or you can call the school and ask to
speak to our Student Services Department.
Community Living - South Huron's
st A,nnua
1
COMMUNITY LIVING
CHILI COOK -OFF
Sat., Nov. 18
South Huron Recreation Centre, Exeter, ON
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
$5.00
People's Choice Award will be chosen by the
public announced at r: oo p.m.
Join us forsome friendly competition,
delicious taste testing and community building!
I—ID S
Uniquely you!
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