Clinton News Record, 2013-11-13, Page 13Wednesday, November 13, 2013 • News Record 13
Four AMDSB employees Champions of Inclusion
Teresa Hopkinson,
Diane Porte,
Carole Oliver and
Leanne Armstrong
recognized
Steve Howe
Avon -Maitland board
Four Avon Maitland District School
board (AMDSB) employees were
recently honoured with the Champions
of Inclusion award.
Collectively, this group of enthusias-
tic, highly motivated individuals has
over 100 years of experience in the field
of speech and language pathology. Ter-
esa Hopkinson, Diane Porte, Carole
Oliver, and Leanne Armstrong recog-
nize the value of inclusive education
and work very hard to ensure that all
students who have communication dif-
ficulties (and all those individuals who
work with them) are supported in their
classrooms.
They work countless hours to pro-
duce materials and design communica-
tion tools, which incorporate the cur-
riculum and meet the students' unique
language needs and abilities. In design-
ing, creating and/or modifying the
tools, the ultimate goal is to improve the
students' ability to communicate with
and learn alongside their peers in the
classroom, and to assist them in meet-
ing and exceeding expectations as
learners, friends and citizens in their
schools and communities. They value
teamwork and reflect a positive attitude
when they meet with students, parents,
teachers and educational assistants to
provide training in communication
methods and work closely with them to
ensure that goals are being met and the
student is "always learning':
As well as supporting individual stu-
dents, Teresa, Diane, Carole and Leanne
initiated a very successful program in
our board known as the KLLIC (Kinder-
garten Language Learning in the Class-
room) program. This unique language
and literacy program celebrates all stu-
dents learning together.
It is a fun and interactive approach to
literacy, which aims to improve lan-
guage and phonemic/phonological
awareness skills.
Teresa, Diane, Carole and Leanne
work closely with teachers and early
childhood educators to demonstrate
effective teaching approaches to sup-
port all kindergarten students and their
diverse needs.
Outside of the classroom they lead
School board looking for parents'
before/after school input
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
The Avon Maitland District School
Board is asking parents - would you use
an after school program?
From now until November 30, par-
ents are being asked to complete a sur-
vey from the school board to help deter-
mine the need for before and after
school programs. The program is geared
toward four and five year olds, however,
if there is enough interest from parents,
the program could be extended to 6-12
year-olds.
Primary services coordinator at the
AMDSB, Jodi Regier, said the current
model provides before and after school
programming to Junior and Senior Kin-
dergarten students, offering them what
she called a seamless day.
Clinton parents have until November
30 to fill out the survey to help deter-
mine the feasibility of an extended pro-
gram, which is determined entirely by
community need.
www.pitch-in.ca
The focus right now is on Kinder-
gartners, those currently in Junior Kin-
dergarten and those registering for the
2014 school year. However, the extent of
the service is up in the air - whether it
be morning, afternoon, PD days or
summer and March Break program-
ming as well. Third -party providers
work hand in hand with the schools to
provide the care, often in the Kinder-
garten room, and sites, schedules and
locations will likely be determined in
April. The Clinton Community Cooper-
ative Childcare program currently oper-
ates out of Clinton Public School, with
students from Kindergarten to Grade 5
participating.
The programs augment full day Kin-
dergarten, which has been around at
Clinton Public School for four years
now. Principal Don Rauser said the full
day classes have been very successful
thanks to the effort of teachers and early
childhood educators.
"Our only growing pain is that we
grew another class," he said. "We have
two full classrooms with ECEs in them
and a smaller class with 15 students and
one teacher. All three work very closely
with the children."
The survey is being offered on the
AMDSB site at yourschools.ca.
Our only growing
pain is that we grew
another class. We have
two full classrooms
with ECEs in them and
a smaller class with 15
students and one teacher.
All three work very
closely with the children."
— Principal Don Rauser
Join us for our
GRAND OPENING
Luxe for the little ones
Saturday, November 16th (prizes, treats, promotions)
Special guest Karen Rose of Oyaco
Karen is a baby consultant for children's products, and will
be here to answer your questions.
Dens and Friends, of Goderich would like to welcome
you to their new Exeter location,
EXETER'S NEW CHILDREN'S BOUTIQUE
C , 451 Main Street, Exeter 226-423-3019 • facebook-twitter-instagram @ Luxe_Exeter
`professional learning communities' to assist teachers in fur-
ther developing their knowledge of speech and language
learning so they can better facilitate this learning in their
inclusive classrooms. Teresa, Diane, Carole and Leanne are
"champions" for their ongoing contribution to promote
"inclusion" and should be recognized and celebrated.
The `Teaching to Diversity' award was developed in 1999 to
recognize, celebrate and highlight educators who live,
breathe and implement inclusive education. They may be
active in the inclusion movement but more importantly, their
behaviour and the choices they make always reflect a positive
attitude about the worth, value and ability of all students. The
awards are sponsored by The Centre for Inclusive Education
in Southwestern Ontario.
MAIKE•• ISH®
Canada
Because some wishes
can't wait for someday.
www makeawish.ca 1-888-822-9474
HURON COUNTY'S ANNUAL
CULTURAL SYMPOSIUM
Saturday, November 23, 2013
9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Lower Hall - Blyth Centre for the Arts
431 Queen Street, Blyth
Cost: $10 (to cover the provided lunch)
NEW CULTURAL PLAN
Review of the first draft of the new
Municipal Cultural Plan being developed
by the County of Huron and opportunity
to provide feedback and input
GUEST SPEAKER: RANDY JONES
Artist and Illustrator from Exeter, ON who
has done work for and many international
publications including the New York Times,
Wall Street Journal,Toronto Star, Globe
and Mail, and Cambridge University Press
Plus a first look at the new Cultural Tourism
Brochure for Huron County
To register, please contact:
Rick Sickinger, Cultural Development Officer
rsickinger@huroncounty.ca
519-482-5457 ext.8
IRON
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