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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-02-13, Page 66 Times -Advocate Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Opinion Forum News Children's Aid Society offers thanks On behalf of the board of directors of the Huron Perth Children's Aid Society, I write to express our gratitude to the over 250 volunteers of the Huron County Christmas Bureau, who worked diligently to brighten the lives of chil- dren and families in need during the Christmas season. A special thank you is also extended to members of the central \.. committee who begin their work in August to plan for the needs II of the Bureau and continue through much of January to evaluate and begin planning for next season. Each year, the Bureau collects food and gifts that assist more than 1,000 children and their families throughout Huron County. It is through the efforts of these volunteers that the Huron Perth Children's Aid Society, through the Huron County Christmas Bureau, is able to reach out and meet the needs of economically chal- lenged families during the Christmas season. In closing, I also wish to commend and recognize the generosity of the community organizations and individuals whose donations support this long-standing program. MARIE PARSONS, President, board of directors Huron Perth Children's Aid Society wonder how we as a community allowed it to come to this. This is a community that supports other key institutions with great generosity — for instance the recent, highly successful drive to raise $1.6 million for South Huron Hospital. I have a theory. We support the hospital for many reasons: one key factor is that we are not only helping the greater good, we're helping ourselves. We're not just being generous; we're supporting something that gives back to us. I'd like to argue that Big Brothers Big Sisters also benefits every- one. The impact is more subtle, more difficult to recognise, but Le make no mistake: our community and ultimately each one of us is ttiers r'' much better off due to the good work of Big Brothers Big Sisters. o the We all want the children and adolescents in our community to �j ct. t be healthy in every way. They deserve the best chance in life, to �r fully develop their unique talents. We all have a stake in this since they will grow up to lead and shape the community. However there are many threats to their well-being and some are difficult to identify. We are concerned about obvious problems like childhood obesity. But who can identify a child with a wounded spir- it? Who can spot a teen whose self-esteem is spiralling downward? Who can sense that a young person is consumed by loneliness? These problems can lead to anger, alienation, despair — they can derail a life just as easily as poor physical health. We can see property that has been vandalized, or a headline about a tragedy result- ing from a young person abusing drugs. But can we recognise the problems that led to these results, the opportunities to intervene that were missed? And what can we do about the challenges that young people face, instead of just shaking our heads and muttering about "kids these days?" We can care. We can give. We can support those who care passionately and reach out to young people, like Big Brothers Big Sisters. Not just because it is a good and generous thing to do, but because our community will benefit, we will benefit. PAUL Ciui o, Grand Bend Big Brothers Big Sisters benefits all of us I'd like to offer kudos to the highly committed board and staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron (BBBSSH) as they tackle a serious funding crisis with energy and creativity. I also applaud those who have stepped forward with donations. However I South Huron is getting to be a better place to live, to work and to play SOUTH HURON — This past week Huron County council passed a motion to donate $500,000 towards a CT scanner for the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich. Council rejected motions to give money towards the scanner twice last year and this third time the motion was carried by a small majority. Health is supposed to be the mandate of the provincial government and not that of the county or the municipalities. For this reason some felt it was not the responsibility of the county to donate municipal tax dollars to a provincial mandate and refused to support it. Others felt the county should not be responsible for a provincial mandate, but it was important that we should have a CT scanner in this area. I feel the provincial gov- ernment does believe they are responsible for health care in our province, but they do not historically support funding such things as a CT scanner. The recent upgrades to our South Huron Hospital were important but the costs were not covered by the province. The people of South Huron rallied and supported these upgrades with their own dollars because they Ken Oke realized the ramifications of not having a modern hospital. The CT scanner is a brilliant piece of modern machinery to assist in diagnosing a lot of medical problems. I believe its full potential is not even fully realized yet. Doctors tend to migrate toward areas equipped with modern machinery to ensure their successes. I feel we are going to be more successful at recruiting doctors to our area if we can prove we are progressive. This scanner will also be a big bonus with eco- nomic development. We have a better chance of promoting new industry and new residents if they know our area is serious about modern and effec- tive health care. The scanner is expensive and not all hospitals can have one. We have to share and unfortunately it has to be in a hospital that can afford the daily operation of it. It needs the support of all the hospitals in Huron County to function. It is our scanner in South Huron as well as the scan- ner for Goderich. This area has contributed approximately $84,000 through our county taxes towards the scanner. This scanner is good for Huron County and it is good for South Huron. More money is still needed and your personal contributions would be appreciated. Hopefully doctors will consider the CT scanner, being so close and handy for their use, when considering a place to practice. South Huron is just getting to be a better place to live, to work and to play. Principal's message EXETER — Weather permitting, we will be holding our annual Grade 8 Information Night tonight (Feb. 13). Students entering Grade 9 next year are invited to visit the school, along with their parents and other family members, to see the school, meet our staff and some of our students, and find out about the great things South Huron has to offer. The evening begins with an informal tour of the building starting at 6:45 p.m., and runs until 7:30 p.m. During that time parents and students are encouraged to wander about the building to see the facilities and ask questions of the students and staff who will be on hand. We will have students demonstrating the many learning and extracurricular opportunities available at SHDHS. A more formal presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the large gym so parents and students can get more specific information about the academic programs and course choices offered in Grade 9. We will also be presenting information about career counselling services, special education and student organizations, including Students' Council. This will be an excellent opportunity for students and parents to ask questions and get information before making their choices for Grade 9, and we encourage all prospective students and their parents to attend. If the weather should happen to be a problem, we have chosen Feb. 20 as an alternate date. Cancellation infor- mation will be posted on the Avon Maitland website, www.yourschools.ca The approach of the Grade 8 Information Night always causes me to reflect on what a great school South Huron is and how proud I am to be principal. From the custodians and support staff to the classroom teachers, we have a very dedicated and hard-working staff, offering an excellent aca- demic program to our students. In addition to the core subject areas, we offer a very well-rounded program, with courses in Arts, Business, Co-oper- ative Education, Social Sciences, Physical Education and Technology. For a school of our size, we offer one of the most comprehensive programs avail- able. Our extracurricular programs are outstanding as well, offering a range of activities to meet the varied interests of our students. South Huron has a long history of athletic achievement and we continue to offer many athletic opportunities in: badminton, basketball, cross-country, curling, field hock- ey, golf, hockey, rugby, soccer, tennis, track and field and volleyball. In addition to sports, South Huron offers many other opportunities for student involvement: chess club, choir, concert bands, the Ecoteam, Envirothon, euchre, guitar club, Habitat for Humanity, jazz band, Reach for the Top, Relay for Life, the school show, student travel, video club and the weight training club. There really is something for everyone who wants to get involved. Throughout the year our students are also involved in doing community work, especially in fundraising for charitable organizations. Every year we raise thou- sands of dollars in events such as: The Terry Fox Run, the Christmas Child shoebox campaign, the Christmas Bureau campaign, Jesse's Journey, the 30 Hour Famine and Relay for Life. We also support many other community organizations and our students are busy doing volunteer work throughout the year, with many of them contributing far more than the 40 hours required for graduation. Students at South Huron also have many leadership opportunities, through involvement in athletics and Students' Council, but also in a variety of other groups, such as OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving), Peer Mentors, Peer Tutors and Habitat for Humanity Each year we also send a student to HOBY (Hugh O'Brien Youth leadership camp), to Ontario Educational Leadership camps and to Encounters with Canada. As well, we have an active School Council, which meets monthly in regular meet- ings but also hosts five community forums each year on a variety of topics, from drug use in the community, to health and nutrition, to Internet safety. South Huron also has excellent equipment and facilities, particularly in the area of technology where you will find a mixture of well-maintained basic equipment and very up-to-date, sophisticated equipment. We have five computer labs and three mobile laptop labs, as well as SmartBoards, numerous data projectors and a mod- ern library resource centre. Every summer we have some kind of renovation or upgrade happening in the building, and we are just putting the finishing touches on a new fitness room. Our custodial staff does an excellent job of maintaining the building and visitors frequently comment on how great it looks, especially since the "her- itage" end of the building dates to 1950. Finally, I must comment on the excellent students who attend South Huron. While we do have student behaviour problems from time to time, I have to say that the students for the most part are polite, friendly, and helpful. The atmosphere in the building is one of energy and activity and it is the stu- dents and staff who make this school the great place that it is. I am extreme- ly proud of South Huron and there is no place I would rather work. I truly am proud to be principal of this great school. In doing a column on a topic like this, there is always a risk that I will overlook something important and if I have done so, I apologize. There are so many good things about this school that I can't possibly touch on all of them in the space I have been allotted. JEFF REABURN PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE