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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-11-07, Page 3,f FITTING ATTIRE - Intentional or not, Bill Brown Sr., of Eg- mondville, found the appropriate garb for Monday night's bingo at the Seaforth and District Community Centres. What could possibly be more fitting than a hat enscribed, "Rats". The bingo in Seaforth in many years, attracted over 125 people. Robinet photo. THE HURON EXPOS+ TOH. NOVEMBER 1 1960,3 Junior kindergarten myths need dispelling BY MICHELE GREENE Junior kindergarten is a nam local politicians volleyed back and forth during the last pruvwetel election. However, no one really Cxplamed what u means or how it affects children and =Penh Since the H Perth Separate Schoch Board decided at last Monday's mooting to implement a half-time junior kindergarten program begwwng w Saplember, u's tune to dispel some myth. It's not cunpul.sory and it's not "'Cc. board believes it is a good educational opportunity," said superintendent of education John McCauley. "There will be information nights in the schools to explain the benefits of this optional prognun• " The boardrages parents who have dee desire a and the time to provide efariy education at home. It is as effective as early education provided at school, said McCauley. "The parent is the prime educator," said McCauley. "We are the advocate of the parent." The reality in today's society is many parents have the desire but not the time, or the money to pay for daycare. Parents who don't want junior kindergarten should not deprive those who need or want the program. "One may long for the day when society was such that young children could receive the custodial care and socializing and educational experiences they required far healthy development within their immediate or extended family, but it is increasingly clear that for most families that day is past Social Separate school board BY MICHELE GREENE The Huron -Perth Separate School Board released its five-year capital forecast at last Monday's meeting. Superintendent of Business and Finance Jack Lane said these projects are pending Ministry of Education funding. "We have asked the ministry for renovations in 1992 but it might make them a priority for 1995," he said. St. James School in Seaforth is number one on the board's list of renovations in 1992. The school's general purpose room will become two classrooms. The administration office will be converted into a health room, the staff room will become a special education resource room. Also a science lab, gym, library, and administrative area will be constructed. St. James is crowded, said Principal Gary Birmingham. The school has five indoor classrooms and four portables. There is limited storage in the school, limited staff and office space. The portables are beginning to occupy a good part of the school grounds reducing play area for the children. "Seaforth is experiencing a migration from the cities," said Birmingham. As a result, enrollment is gradually increasing. The general purpose room was formerly two classrooms, said Birmingham, but is too small for a "gym." So, the general purpose room will again become two classrooms. The library, special education centre, and storage area are all in one classroom. The students now change. has therefore provoked a need for tic school system to provide a new form of education for young chick n," stated the update on a report and recommendations on The Foundation Yam Junior sad Senior Kindergratai. '"the ipoal of sucinluatioo is the same in both daycare and kindergarten. The difference, if any . is socialization in the Catholic and Chrisuan milieu, and education that takes them and guides than so they can advance y in any number of endeavours," said McCauley. There art sigruficant benefits tit early primary education such as development of social and physical skills, asset for early and on-going identification, better language development, enriched environment for disadvantaged children, optimum time to start structured learning experiences, it gets parents involved early, good orientation to formal schooling, gives rural and onlychildren an opportunity to play witothers. Currently, French immersion is offered at the kindergarten class. However, with the implementation of junior kindergarten, the Ministry of Education may decide to disallow French immersion at this age level. The ministry promotes socialization in the child's own language. There are many educational benefits combining junior and senior kindergarten classes. The Frontenac County Board of Education research project shows many advantages of this organization of classes. So, the Minton -Penh Board will also combine junior and senior classes. Cora m iced classes will allow chili1es four sad Live years of age to learn at their own pact. Children at this age have die tram needs but are at many dittoed' stages of Wig. Children Innen in a continuum, avleion McCauley. Tire order in which periods of development is fixed but the rate a child progresses through them varies. They tears through play. Far example, two children of the same age can be at two different stages in understanding spatial concepts. . Oae child may build a castle with blocks while another may at lane of stacking them one on top of the other until they fall. Children will advance through the stages by learning from other children. The program will meet each child's individual stage of learning. "Our concentration is on the child's strengths," he said. Teachers who spend two years with the same children will get to know the child's learning patterns. They will be able to pinpoint the strengths of individual children and modify the program so they all benefit. In effect, they will be beuer prepared for further education. "A good base often makes for education as a lifelong goal of the student," said McCauley. The classes will be kept small with no more than 20 children. On average, classes will have 15 students, he added. McCauley said the board will hire more teachers to operate the program although the board does not yet know how many will be required. Teachers will be provided with in-service taming to effectively leach al a baselines i r Jerky, icact>crs will bei viable Ohm schools whore junior Liridegspromu already in place- does trot Although the g requut school bawds rilltle,mmeat junior -Perth teen MB 19,4. iht HSchool Board l� declibd the best uma to begin the Prognin is now. The goverunent is offe ri9g subtanual start-up grants to school boards for implementing junior kindergarten in the schools. The government will provide the classrooms. For Huron -Perth, that mewls six new classrooms at St. Columban, Seaforth, Holy Name in St. Marys, "Lunch, and St. Joseph's in Stratford. The ponabies are regulation kindergarten rooms with child site washrooms included. Also, furniture and equipment, like toys, will be provided by the ministry. Plus, the Huron -Perth Sewale� School Board is receiving a $3000 grant per school for any further costs. These start-up costs are one-time only, said McCauley, and are mostly covered by the ministry. There will be minimal costs to the board after the program is in place. Schools get government grants based on the number of students enrolled. The program will be supported by this grant in future years. So, the program is cost- efficient, said McCauley, with little of the burden placed on local ratepayers. Final details, like hiring teacher aids and staggered entry, have not been determined yet, said McCauley. rojects awaiting funds from Ministry study science labs in regular classrooms. St. Patrick's Separate School, Dublin will receive one classroom, science lab, special education resource room and a library in 1992. Currently, students study science in regular classrooms. They need science desks, heating equipment for experiments, better access to sinks, and a room that reaches safety requirements. Principal Adrian Pontsieon said the students need more working space in the library. He said the school has an adequate collection of offices. St. Marys' enrollment is increasing every year. More and more students ae being attracted ti6 its French immersion program, said Principal Jim McDade. Currently, students study science in regular classrooms and need better access to water. The library is attached to neighboring classrooms. Students in class and in the library are interrupted as a result of this floor plan. "The school is very well equipped but it is just too small," said McDade. Renovations for Joseeph's books, however the school lacks sufficient storage and study space. The additional classroom will offset the need for portables, of which the school already has two. St. Mary's School in Goderich is led three up for renovations in 1993. Six classrooms including a science lab, library, and design and technology lab will be added to the current building. The existing library will be converted into administrative School in Clinton alscheduled for 1996. Four classrooms including a science lab will replace a relocatable structure and one protable. Pricipal Ed Cappelli realizes the board's priorities are not the same as the ministry's and the year of renovations may change. Currently, the school has a relocatable structure on its property. These structures are intended for short-term use, however the school has been using it for over eight years, said Cappelli. Other projects include r classrooms science lab, one special education resource room, and altering size of staff room in 1992 at Holy Name in St. Marys; a new school in Listowel in 1993 with core facilities puls six attached portables from St. Michael's Secondary School in Stratford; roof replacements in 1994 and 1995 at various schools; portable complex and one single portable willbe replaced with four classrooms including science lab in 1995 at Precious Blood in Exeter; and core facilities or portables for St. Joseph's School in Stratford in 1996. Hospital well on its way to computerization BY SUSAN OXFORD At the Board of Govemors for Seaforth Community Hospital meeting, October 30, Chief Executive Officer, Don Smith, informed the meeting that some hospital staff will be receiving a wage increase. Through their union CUPE, housekeepers, dieticians, maintenance workers, and RNAs have been awarded a wage package with an increase of 8 percent back to October 1, 1989, and 7 percent as of October 1, 1990. Mr. Smith reported that the CUPE members have been able to resolve the local issues and will sign an agreement shortly. The Board of Governors also heard about the progress of a Patient Care computer program being implemented by the hospital and the success the hospital is having with the program. The hospital is also having success obtaining funds to purchase and implement the program. The financial committee reported that the Patient Care Com- puterization system, which is to be introduced in the hospital in two phases, is to receive an additional $50,000 in funding. The first phase, the Emergency Patient Registration Information System, has received a $40,000 grant from the Ministry of Health. More money for the program will be received when a $50,000 Federal Sales Tax rebate on the hospital expansion arrives in a few weeks. The money will buy the system and enough hardware and software to handle full com- puterization of the patient infor- mation system by December 31, 1990. Phase two will begin after that date and will concentrate on hardware and software to incor- porate admission, discharge, transfer information, OHIP billing and ac- counts receivable. In other financial business a surplus of $254,924 in the operating budget was reported. The surplus is to cover the final half of the hospital's fiscal year. To help the hospital with the implementation of the GST it was recommended and approved that Deloitte & Touche be contracted to implement the GST for the hospital. The accounting firm has employees who have spent some time studying the GST as it relates to Healthcare. The Board approved between $2,400 and $4,000 for the service. The public relations committee reported that $613.85 was raised by a 50-50 draw at the Seaforth Fall 111111641W. 4"4111111' HIBBERT BARN BURNS TWICE - Seaforth Firelighters responded twice to a call at a buming bam in Hibbert Township, November 1. The fire was quenched s�eohond er from bla2e ate�treservoirs hat night (illed Oxford withwaterer from the tanker The bam completely bumed down in Hibbert barn fire burns twice BY SUSAN OXFORD Seaforth Fire Department have completed an investigation into two fires at a Hibbert Township barn, November 1. The firefighters responded twice to a fire at the barn, and the second time the barn was completely desstmyed. Firefighters responded to the first call in the morning at the property of Stanley Hooper of Concession 12 East, lot 29, Hibbert, to find smoke coming from the barn. Inside the barn was hay and straw on fire and the firefighters managed to put out the fire and then soaked the barn, using two reservoirs of water. The entire call lasted three hours. At 12:30 a.m. Seaforth firefighters were called out again to the same ham and this time the barn was engulfed with flames. When they arrived the roof was beginning to collapse. The firefighters protected the outstanding buildings. The pum- phouse was cooled down so it wouldn't catch fire. Mr. Hooper's horses had been left in the field that night and he didn't lose any horses in either fire. After three hours the barn had completely burned down and the firefighters returned to Seaforth. Fire Chief Garrick said he felt the probable cause of the fire was "Mrtriral Fair. The hospital auxiliary commit- tee reported it raised $221 from a pie sale, October 5. The auxiliary is participating at the Toy Sale, December 2, and will have a craft table and a draw on a basket of groceries and a craft. Mr. Smith reported in his report that the accounts payable subsystem is functioning on the AccPac com- puter system. The hospital will soon by tendering for the printing of the new cheque forms required for the system. By late November the new cheques will be in use. The success of the Well Women Clinic at the hospital was com- mented on by Mr. Smith. He said the clinic, which features Dr. Patricia Kresan's services to females, is fully booked until the end of November. Mr. Smith pointed out the clinic is running on no cost to the hospital and Dr. Kresan is billing OHIP directly. In new business a volunteer was appointed to a new committee to bring about a memorial to A.Y. McLean at the request of Marlen Vincent, on behalf of the Seaforth Lions Club. Board member James Crocker volunteered to represent the hospital on the new committee. The possibility of extending Side Street through to Alexander Street as an alternative route to the hospital was brought up at the board meeting. Mr. Smith reported he had attended a public meeting October 29 to discuss the possibility with homeowners whose properties would be affected. He said the hospital is interested in an alter- native route to give the ambulance better access to the hospital and emergency entrance. The board briefly discussed a different opening than the Side Street extension, but that idea was met with murmurs of "Too much money. It would take big bucks," from some of the board members. The matter will now be reviewed by the Town of Seaforth's Transportation and Environment committee. _Civic Corner SEAFORTH COUNCIL will hold its regular November meeting Tuesday November 13, 1990 at p.m. in the Council Chambers, Town Hall. -Community Calendar Wed., Nov. 7 1:00-3:00 p.m. - Seniors, Parents and Tots Skating 1:30-4:00 p.m. - Senior Shuffleboard at Anna 4:30-5:30 p.m. - TWoen Ringette 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Novice Hockey peso - tic* at Arena 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Centenalres practice 7:00-8:00 p.m. - Stretching Clinic at Anna 7:30 p.m. - Sisterhood Night at Public School 7:30-9:00 p.m. - Minor Broombell 8:00-9:00 p.m. - Fitness is Fun at the Anna 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Recreational Volleyball at High School 9:00-11:30 p.m. - Ladies' Broomball at the Arena Thurs., Nov. 8 9:00-10:00 a.m. - Fitness Is Fun at the Arena 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Figure Skating 5:30-8:30 p.m. - Bantam Hockey practice at Arena 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Minor Broomball at the Anna 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Mixed Basketball at the High School 8:00-12 midnight - Men's Broomball at Arena Fri., Nov. 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Story Hour at S*aforth Library, egos 3 to 5 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Bunny/Novice Ringotts at the Arena 5:304:30 p.m. - Junior Houselesgue Hockey practice 0:30-7:30 p.m. - Senior Houseleague Hockey practice 7:30-8:30 p.m. - Petite Ringed* 8:30 p.m. - Zurich vs. Merchant Oldtlmers Sat., Nov. 10 7:304:30 a.m. - Canadians vs. North Stars 8:30-9:30 a.m. - Kings vs. Oilers 0:00-11:00 a.m. - Tap D.ncing at the Anna 0:30-10:30 s.m. - Leafs vs. Penguins 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Whalers vs. Flames 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Mites Hockey 12:30-1:30 p.m. - Petite RIngette at Arena 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Story Hour at Seaforth Library, ages 410 7 1:30-3:00 p.m. - Fro Public Skating sponsored by: Soeforth Community Hosphai 4:00-6:30 p.m. - Mitchell vs. Pee Nits Hooky► 5:30-7:00 p.m. - Milverton vs. Atop, II 7:00-8:30 p.m. - London Grey vs. Beaver Old TM,ers 8:30-10:30 p.m. - Free Teen Skating sponsored by the Seaforth Uons Club Sun., Nov. 11 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Goderich vs. Novice RIngette 1:00-2:30 p.m. - Minor Hockey 2:30-4:00 p.m. - Minor Hockey 4:00-5:00 p.m. - Atom Hockey 5:004:00 p.m. - Stratford vs. Petite!! 6:00-7:00 p.m.- Junior RIngette 7:00-8:00 p.m. - Clinton vs. Belle RIngette 8:00-9:30 p.m. - Legends vs. Merchant Otdtlmars 9:30-11:00 p.m. - I.H.L. Mon., Nov. 12 4:30-8:30 p.m. - Figure Skating 7:30 p.m. - Minor Sports Dabber BINGO 8:30-10:00 p.m. - Beaver Oldtlmers 7:00-9:00 p.m. - Furniture Refinishing at High School 10:00-11:00 p.m. - Midget Hockey practice Tues., Nov. 13 9:00-10:00 a.m. - Fitness Is Fun at the Arena 10:30 a.m.-12 noon - Senior, Parents and Tots Skating 2:00 p.m. - Seaforth Women's Institute will meet at Seaforth Legion to view their display, then mooting to follow at Ginette's Restaurant 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Teachers Hockey 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Pea Wee Hockey practice 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Bantams Hockey Gams 8:00 p.m. - Seaforth Hospital Auxiliary meeting In Hospital Board Room. Please bring article for gro- cery basket. Wed., Nov. 14 1:00-3:00 p.m. Tota Skating 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Arena 4:30-5:30 p.m. floe 6:00 p.m. - Seaforth Horticultural Society Annus( Meeting i Potluck Supper at Seaforth Public School 5:304:30 p.m. - Minor Hockey prim - doe et Arena 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Centimetres practice 7:30 p.m. - Ringette meeting at the Arens 7:304:00 p.m. - Minor Broomball at Arena 0:00-9:00 p.m. - Fliness le Fun at Arena 9:00-11.30 p m - Ladles' Broomball at Arena 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Recreational Volleyball at SONS - Senor, Parents and - Senior Shuffleboard - Tween Ringette prole - II you're organizing a non-profit *vent of interest to other Seaforth area residents. phone the recreation o lac* 527-0882 or this Expositor at 527-0240, or mail the information to Community Calendar, Th* Huron Expositor, Box 69, Seaforth. Ontario. NOK IWO w*N r advance of the scheduled date. Fra* listing includas date. time, name of *vont and location only. Spec* for th* Community Calendar is donated by Th• Huron Expositor.