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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-11-21, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 21, 2007 SHDHS library impresses at board meeting By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE EXETER — As the superintendent in charge of the Avon Maitland District School Board's elementary curriculum, Pat Stanley doesn't get to spend much time in the board's secondary schools. But when the board took its twice -monthly regu- lar meetings on the road recently, bringing top administrators and trustees to South Huron District High School's library Nov. 13, she was clearly impressed by the techniques used to display read- ing material. Stanley, in preparation for her presentation about the "District Improvement Plan" — in response to results from annual provincially -standardized tests for Grade 3 and 6 students — gathered a series of magazines prominently displayed in the library. Among them were the most recent editions of "Car and Driver", "Sports Illustrated", "Guitar World" and — obviously the most well-read of them all, judging by its well-worn corners — "Four Wheeler." "I think this demonstrates a real commitment on the part of this school and this library to develop a culture of reading among students who haven't tra- ditionally been strong readers," she commented. The District Improvement Plan makes commit- ments to such activities as sharing best practices between different schools, developing literacy skills among students in younger grades, and shifting the focus away from reading — where improvements have been achieved in standard - Donate to those in need Continued from front page the use of the bags. The Christmas Bureau served 977 children and their families in 2005, 110 fewer children but before last year, numbers had been rising since 2000. Poverty statistics in Huron County, according to 2001 statistics show that 645 families in Huron County earn less than $10,000 a year with another 1,420 families with annual incomes of less than $20,000. They also show 2,665 children under age 18 living in low income households, 1,580 of them being raised by single parents. In Exeter, the number of children using the service rose by 31 up to 289 in total with 128 families. This year, Christmas bureaus are located at Exeter United Church, St. George's Anglican Church in Goderich, St. Paul's Anglican Church in Clinton, Northside United Church in Seaforth and Wingham United Church. These locations will be open to receive gifts from Dec. 10-14 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. REGIONAL WRAP UP Six people hurt in bridge collapse LUCKNOW — Six people were taken to the hospital after the Eighteen Mile River Bridge between Lucknow and Amberley collapsed. The bridge has been under construction since July and is two months past its expected completion date, reports the Goderich Signal -Star. On Nov. 10, 15 men were pouring the top deck of concrete when the entire centre gave way underneath them. Wet concrete and debris were also dumped into the river. The injured workers were sent to local hospitals, including one man who was air -lifted, according to South Bruce OPP media relations officer Const. Jim Conrad. Lucknow firefighter Steve MacPherson, who arrived on the scene short- ly after says, "It was quite the site. The bridge just fell straight down. Fortunately no one was buried underneath and with all that rebar stick- ing up...those are very lucky people there." Golf fundraiser HURON -BRUCE — The Lung Association is once again offering Golf Privilege Coupon Books. The books feature 40 coupons for golfing deals at 17 area courses. Some participating courses are Bayview Golf Club, Bluewater Golf Course, Goderich Sunset Golf Course, Goderich Sunset's Baby Boomer Golf Academy, Seaforth Golf Club, Stratford Country Club and Stratford Municipal Golf Course. The coupon books feature mainly two-for-one deals. The project is con- sidered a major fundraiser to support the work of The Lung Association. The money raised will support vital medical research into respiratory disease and fund the Lung Association health initiatives, like the Asthma Action Program and BreathWorks. One in five Ontarians lives with some kind of breathing problem and lung disease is the third leading cause of death in Canada. ized tests — towards writing. But after the presentation, Stanley boiled down the strate- gies to a few tangible targets: attracting the attention of boys in both reading and writing by concentrating more on non-fic- tion topics; involving students in daily writing; and moving reading materials off the dusty library shelves so the front cover can be easi- ly viewed. "Many schools are now ordering or have built racks which display the cover of the book, much like the ones in this library," Stanley said, while gesturing around the South Huron library. "And what we're hearing back from these schools is that books that have sat on the shelves for years without being checked out are now off the shelves almost all the time." Stanley encountered some negative feedback from Perth East trustee Tina Traschel, who related the story of one student who was discouraged by school staff from bringing to school a hunting -themed magazine. Traschel noted the school's library contains read- ing materials about war, yet the student was told there was too much of a connotation of violence in the hunting magazine. Stanley responded it's not board policy to prohibit reading materials about hunting, and that the mat- ter requires further investigation. "We anticipate that schools and students would use good judgment in terms of resources," she said. Oke says council needs training Continued from front page ment committee, admitted she was the one who scheduled the meeting. "I went ahead and booked the meeting," she said, apologizing. She added she phoned Oke last week, but he was away. She said since the Oct. 30 meeting she has been encouraged by many in the community to continue the economic development meetings. "The people are calling out and I am answering them," she said. Oke responded that councillors are not to work as individuals. "The mayor is your leader," he said, adding he believes council needs additional training on how to perform their duties. Oke said he is committed to economic development and wants to see volunteers representing all of South Huron on the committee. Council eventually went behind closed doors to con- tinue the discussion. Earlier, Oke said to councillors, "We have to sharpen up our professionalism a little bit." He said he wants to see councillors show more enthusiasm in meetings and put their hands up high while voting on motions; he explained that sometimes when he calls for votes, some councillors barely raise their arms, if they do so at all. Oke had other comments for council. In addition to suggesting a re-training day in the new year, he said all reports councillors give at meetings should be sub- mitted in a written form as well as given verbally. Also, questions concerning the accounts and finances should be asked of the treasurer before the meeting. Oke explained that the treasurer is rarely at the council meetings, so it's difficult to provide answers during the meeting. Oke also reminded councillors they are not autho- rized to spend money on behalf of council without council's authorization. He said expenses will only be reimbursed if they are covered by policy or by a reso- lution by council. Another topic was money for conferences. Oke said if councillors go over their allotted conference expense amount, they can request money from council if there is any left over in the general conference allotment fund. He said the money can't be reimbursed until the end of the year. Oke also said members of council only have one employee — the chief administrative officer (CAO). Oke explained that all other municipal staff work for the CAO and staff are not to take orders from councillors. Pryde family makes $50,000 donation to SHH Family pleased to donate Oct.1724. < 7 South flaw 1,spr Fouwdaunw IS 50.000" I ilfotaad Qo _ GO DOLI �.. . THE FAMILY OF ACK & HAZEL PRYDE Hospital donation — The Family of Jack and Hazel Pryde recently made a $50,000 donation to the South Huron Hospital fundraiser, taking the thermometer to $1,315,000. Pictured above from left are Peter Pryde, Peggy Von Drasek, John Pryde, Ron Bogart, Chuck Erb and hospi- tal CEO Deb Hunt. We are very pleased to make this donation to South Huron Hospital Foundation. Our parents were very involved with the hospi- tal: Dad with the board and Mom was very active with the Auxiliary. They recognized the hospi- tal's importance to the community and that importance has only grown. It is a vital factor in attracting both business and families to move and stay in the community. The level of care received at South Huron Hospital by members of our family has been out- standing, and we hope this gift will help ensure it continues. The family of Jack and Hazel Pryde John Pryde, Peter Pryde, Peggy Von Drasek Al J Gaiser ,Ins. Broker Inc. 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