The Times Advocate, 2007-07-04, Page 22
Times–Advocate
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Catholic students tops in literacy test
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
SEAFORTH — It's tough to
improve on second-best in the
province; there's only one way to
do it.
And Grade 10 students in the
Huron -Perth Catholic District
School Board did just that in March
2007, earning the top results in the
annual Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test (OSSLT).
"We're very, very pleased with
these results," said Huron -Perth
education superintendent Dan
Parr.
The standardized test is adminis-
tered annually on behalf of the
Education Quality and
Accountability Office (EQAO), and
successfully completing the test is a
requirement for graduation from
high school. Those who are not
successful may repeat the test in
Grade 11 or 12. Or, especially in
the case of students who are
unable to perform under the pres-
surized environment of a one-time
test, graduation may be granted if
the student completes a full -semes-
ter, full -credit Literacy course.
As has been the case consistently
over the past few years, both the
Huron -Perth Catholic and Avon
Maitland District School Board
achieved above the provincial aver-
age on the 2007 OSSLT.
This year, the average success
rate among first-time writers
across Ontario was 84 per cent.
The province -topping rate among
Huron -Perth Catholic students was
91 per cent. Meanwhile, 84 per
cent of first-time writers were suc-
cessful in the Avon Maitland board.
Students from the district's two
boards were virtually equal in
2007. Both boards recorded a suc-
cess rate of 75 per cent among
first-time writers in the Applied
stream, compared to a provincial
average of 62 per cent.
There is, however, some variation
between schools within the Avon
Maitland board. While St. Michael
(Stratford) and St. Anne's (Clinton)
Catholic secondary schools record-
ed first-time writer success rates of
91 per cent and 90 per cent,
respectively, the success rates in
the Avon Maitland board's nine
high schools ranged from 80 per
cent at Central Huron Secondary
School in Clinton and 81 per cent in
Mitchell to 89 per cent at Stratford
Central and Listowel District sec-
ondary schools.
"There are definitely some
schools which are consistently
doing well," noted Herbert. He
added the board continues to track
what's going right at the successful
schools, in hopes of applying some
"best practices" across the district.
First-time writer success rates at
other Avon Maitland schools were
as follows: 83 per cent in Goderich,
82 per cent at Exeter South Huron,
88 per cent at St. Marys DCVI and
Stratford Northwestern, and 85 per
cent at F.E. Madill in Wingham.
The OSSLT is administered in two
75 -minute sessions, and Herbert
says preparing students is accom-
plished through a combination of
curriculum work in the years lead-
ing up to Grade 10, and a type of
psychological preparation for the
stress of the test.
Ag officer speaks to Bluewater council
Continued from front page
and there were a lot of fish kills
and manure spills.
While Ross said while many citi-
zens feel the environment isn't
improving, "it is a hard thing to
measure."
According to Ross, there is now
a lot of proactive environmental
work being done by farms and
industry.
Ross told council after being
hired as the Huron County AEO,
he decided to do a Bayfield River
watershed project to study farms
in the area.
Ross explained the NMA phas-
ing -in process, part of which
states that existing operations of
300 Nutrient Units (NUs) or more
should have complied with these
requirements before July 1, 2005.
The act also states that after
Dec. 31, 2005, any new or
expanding agricultural operation
that applies for a building permit
for a structure to house farm ani-
mals or to store manure must
have a provincially approved
Annual meeting
Continued from front page
her written report, she credited
administrative staff with their
assistance.
"While it's operational (Lam said
of the new systems), we are still
within the learning curve and sort-
ing out the growing pains. With the
successful rollout of the two new
systems with our medical staff, I
am confident that quality of med-
ical care and treatment provided to
patients of the hospital will contin-
ue."
South Huron Hospital Auxiliary
chairperson Pat Down was absent
but in a written report updated the
board on Auxiliary activities. She
said the Auxiliary's fall and spring
rummage sales raised about
$20,000 for the hospital. Bartlett
said it is "amazing" what the
Auxiliary accomplishes every year.
Also on hand at last week's meet-
ing was John Van Bastelaar, a
board member with the Southwest
Local Health Integration Network
(LHIN). Van Bastelaar said he is
excited about the future of hospi-
tals and called them the "heart" of
the community. He added hospitals
need to stay current.
Nutrient Management Strategy
(NMS).
Ross said he identified 13
phased -in farms in the study area
and of the eight farms he wants to
inspect, six have been completed.
Ross said his report will not
identify any of the farms, only
what he finds, and says the recep-
tion has been great.
"They understand," said Ross
who added all the farms have new
types of best management pro-
grams he hasn't seen before and
the six he has inspected have
done environmental farm plans.
"Many have put in more than
the minimum manure storage,"
said Ross.
In response to a question from
Coun. Kay Wise about what the
timeline is for farms to be phased
in, Ross replied "if they're not
phased in now, they don't have
to...under the present situation a
lot of farms may never be phased
Ross said when the NMA was
passed, "phasing in was a part of
politics that went with going for-
ward" and added he would like to
broaden the scope.
"One way is to identify contami-
nation sources and go after
those," said Ross.
Asked by Coun. Jim Fergusson if
the MOE has the resources for
stream monitoring, Ross said "no,
but I feel strongly that is the
approach we should take."
Coun. George Irvin noted that
the Bluewater
Shoreline
Residents
Association
(BSRA) has
been doing
extensive water
testing and
should have
been in Ross's
report. Ross
agreed saying,
"they were the
reason I started
the report."
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EMPLOYMENT
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REGIONAL WRAP UP
Fire safety award given
to local boy
HURON EAST — A local boy was honoured recently
with a Fire Safety Action Award from the Fire
Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council ceremony June
28, reports The Citizen.
Michael Gulutzen of Huron East was commended
for his reaction after a fire broke out in his home Feb.
9, 2007.
Gulutzen, who was eight years old, and his three-
year-old brother Ryan were hi the family's living room
when Gulutzen noticed smoke coming from the
kitchen. Gulutzen then yelled for his father who was
outside.
Flames were already hitting the ceiling when
Gulutzen's father came in the kitchen doorway.
Gulutzen then awakened Ryan who was sleeping in
the living room, both boys crawled on the floor under
the smoke to where their father was waiting.
The Fire Safety Action Awards are given to young
children and teenagers who have demonstrated fire
safety behaviours they have learned.
The awards recognize outstanding contributions to
fire prevention in Ontario. Fire departments through-
out the province nominate individuals. This year 21
recipients were selected.
Cadman memorial walk
PARKHILL — The seventh annual Curtis Cadman
Memorial Walk was June 24, with about 70 walkers
making their way to the Great Canadian Hideaway,
according to The Parkhill Gazette.
Although the walkers had to adjust to a motor vehi-
cle collision which was in the midst of the route, the
event still raised around $10,000.
This brings the tally to over $92,000 in seven years,
which is donated to London's Child Health Research
Institute.
The Curtis Cadman Memorial Walk is dedicated to
Curtis Cadman, the son of Dwayne and Bernice, who
died suddenly June 15, 2000, as a result of an undiag-
nosed rare genetic disease.
The Cadmans are still collecting donations.
They can be contacted at 519-294-0923.
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