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The Citizen, 1997-11-26, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26,1997. Carroll explains Huron Grade 3’s test results The results "are nothing to be ashamed of when three-quarters of the students are at or above the standard in language, and 67 per cent in math are at the acceptable level." Huron County Board of Educa­ tion Director of Education Paul Carroll, was responding to a news item in The London Free Press, published immediately following the release of province-wide Gr. 3 test results, when he said he didn't like what the Free Press had done. "They eliminated all the vari­ ables." In the published chart, Huron County school children appeared to not fare well against their counter­ parts in neighbouring counties. Only eight of the more than 45 cur­ rent public school boards in the province, were included in the chart. The other six used for analy­ sis were Catholic school boards. However, Carroll pointed out that the Education, Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), who administered the test, had warned school boards and princi­ pals not to compare results with other facilities. "It would be inappropriate to publish school-by-school results," said Carroll. The reason, he said, is the fact that Huron County has fewer segre­ gated special education classes which could affect results, he said. Eighteen per cent of those involved in the testing were receiving special education programs and another five per cent were English Second Language students. "I am not a statistician, but it has to distort the results. I don not want to make excuses, but (the news report) is a sad thing that happened. It is yet unclear whether Huron County's higher pupil-to-teacher ratio (second highest in the province) and lower spending (low­ est public board) had an impact. The traditional classroom focus in Huron has been on basic skills whereas the testing was applica­ tion-based, said Carroll. "This may indicate a requirement for a greater shift to the application side of skill­ learning." "This testing is good. It helps principals and teachers to deter­ mine where programs need to be strengthened." Ironically, Carroll said a "beefing up" of the math program in the ele­ mentary panel had already begun before the test results were in because those working in the schools indicated a need. "I will be the first to admit there are things to work on," said Carroll, "and that is what we are doing." As well as students working at Canadian Theatre BLYTH FESTIVAL As winter sets in, we're all fired up with our plans for next summer. We ve chosen four captivating, funny, romantic, and meaningful stories about people you will recognize as true to life... your life, your relationships, your challenges, your the acceptable level, one in five were at the higher-than-expected level in math and one-third in the upper level for reading and writing. P.O. Box 10 BLYTH, Ontario NOM 1H0 519-523-9300 fax 519-523-9804 Brussels PS news victories. Kdgns learn nursery rhymes X 19 9 8 Season A BUSY WEEK AT BPS By Les Pepper and Curtis Schlosser It has been a very busy week at Brussels Public School. The kindergartens have been learning songs and nursery rhymes. They have also been painting, learning everyone's birthday and telephone number. Mrs. Sygrove, the Early Years Co-ordinator, gave them building toys to work with. Grade 1 students are writing in their journals, and learning more Blyth PS news By Michelle Cook The Grade 6/7 students have been enjoying many activities this term. In Canadian studies they have learned the Canadian provinces, territories, capitals, cities, and important waterways. They have finished studying primary evidence, secondary evidence, fact and opinion. Last week the students completed a project on fact and opinion. To do this they had to research a current newspaper article and present it to the class. The students have also been using their creative and scientific minds to complete a science project. Their instructions were to create an environmental and an animal/plant with specific adaptations to survive in this environment. I strolled around the room to see all of the creative ideas and I discovered that everybody seemed to have a different idea. Here are some of the ideas that I found interesting: play-doh models, magazine cutouts, lift-ups or pop- ups, and dioramas. I have also listened to a few presentations and they sounded great. The class has also been involved with designing posters, and writing stories and poems for the Remembrance Day Contest that was sponsored by the Legion. Twice this term, the class has* visited the public library to obtain additional reading material for individualized novel studies. The Grade 6 students are doing several different types of poster reports which contain questions about certain characteristics of their novel. The Grade 7 students are using three different book report forms to complete their assignment. words. In French they are making fruit booklets and learning how td say the colours. They are learning about, and making graphs. Grade 2s are reading a book called, The Tortoise and the Hare. Wade Stephenson said, "We have a lot more work to do now than we used to have!" In Grade 3 Mrs. Clark is very busy doing the report cards for each student in her class. Good luck with the results on your report cards. Oou, what is it? It's a spider! Grade 4 did a project on spiders, then had a spider test. In French they have been making sport pictures. They are also working on Remembrance Day posters in art, and made up some Remembrance Day stories. Grade 5s have also been very busy. They are making sport front and back posters. They have been writing tests. A couple of the tests have been a music test, and a math test. They are learning about ecosystems. The Grade 6/7 class has been writing letters to their relatives, and to famous people. In math they are now doing a seven-piece Chinese puzzle. Graduation TZe YOUR. LiW FAMILY MEMBER'S 1ST NEW YEAR - Sample -Please Complete Baby s Full Name Birth Date Parents Names $10.50 Enclosed □ DEADLINE - DECEMBER 19/97 John Smith August 21,1997 son of John and Debbie W5, ITSVOU COMMEMORATE THE NEWEST Join the gallery of faces in The Citizen's baby photo display January 7, 1998 Send or bring a picture of your little one bom in 1997 along with a MICHELLE BEUERMAN daughter of Denis & Bonnie Beuerman of R.R.l Blyth graduated from Fanshawe College with a diploma as a Health Records Technician. She is currently employed in Stratford. Congratulations and Best Wishes from your family. Nicole White learned that a moth is attracted to light. They have been busy doing French, math, spelling and science tests. They also did a shape quiz. Rachel Elliott said she isn't worried about getting her report card; but Nicole White is. She said if she gets a bad mark she will be grounded. Grade 7/8s have been busy doing the three steps of their independent writing assignments. All of the Grade 7/8 students have done one book talk in front of the class, in French, they are busy working on a grammar unit for this month. Yesteryear by Joanna McClelland Glass Jobs, Jobs, Jobs by Keith Roulston Huron County Blues by Andrew Moodie 13 Hands by Carol Shields • • • • Gift-Giving Packages Now!Available writeup which includes full name, birth date and parents' names, to be featured in The Citizen's Gallery of Faces on January 7, 19^8, for only $10.50 (GST included). Please send picture (with name on back), along with a cheque, to The Citizen, prior to Dec. 19. Photos may be picked up after January 8. This must be pre-paid.