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Times-Advocate, 1985-04-17, Page 17Ar Plan RC high schools Questions about curriculum, staff- ing, mandatory credits for universi- ty entrance and sustaining a unique- ly Catholic environment were directed at six members of the Huron Perth- Roman Catholic Separate School Board t 11PR('SS I planning committee by interested parents and separate school supporters gathered at St. Boniface School, Zurich. to discuss establishing Roman Catholic -high schools in Huron and Perth coun- ties in 1986. In response to then premier William Davis' announcement in 1984 of lull funding for Roman Catholic secondary schools through to the end of grade 13. and I8 -member planning committee composed of parents. educators, administrators and priests was set up to examine all aspects of setting up separate high schools in the two counties. For the past six months the com- mittee has been busy visiting secon- dary schools in Ontario and studying available programs. best locations. hiring criteria. financing and all the other areas to be considered when embarking on such an enterprise. The Zurich meeting was the eighth in a series of 12 being held in Huron and Perth. (Other committee members were at a meeting with the same purpose that night in Stratford. and further information sessions were held in Stratford and Exeter two nights later. I Goderich-Clinton trustee Mike Moriarity chaired the meeting at St. Boniface School. Ile said the purpose was- to pass on some of the commit- tee's findings, and toassure parents the schools would be of the highest quality, and in addition "would pro- vide a Catholic dimension and at- mosphere". Moriarity introduced. the panel members and identified the specific facet each would address. Father James. Kerrigan, parish priest at Dublin, led off with a sum- mary of the nature of Catholic Schools. Gaetan Blanchette, former St. Boniface principal recently ap- pointed as superintendent with the HPRCSS hoard, outlined the -program to be followed in the new Catholic secondary schools. Anne Stewart, a Goderich area,parent, focused on ac- commodation and staffing, while Gor- • don Philips. vice-principal of South Huron -and District I ligh School, talk- ed about transportation. Area trustee Dave Durand's Topic was finance. All members reiterated Father Kerrigan's explanation of the philosophy governing Catholic . schools. Ile said separate schools add three more Rs - respect. responsibili- ty and religion - to the traditional :3 lis of learning. Ile added the focus 00 religion distinguished Catholic schools from others "because the whole life of the school -academic anti social - was premeated with the at- mosphere and spirit of the gospel". The committee has deet): cl the two most feasible sites for new schools would be in shared facilities at t en- tral Huron Secondary School in ('lin- ton for Huron students. and in St. (Michael's in Stratford for those in Perth County. The Clinton site was chosen as 72 percent of potential students are within a 20 -mile radius, with the exception of Wingham, Mt. Carmel. Kingsbridge and Listowel pupils. in Huron. the majority reside along the Highway 8 corridor. Students may be transported on at, intergrated bus system, or the separate school system may be extended. The curriculum will he subject to ministry or education regulations. Courses will be offered al the basic. general and advanced levels. Full credit courses . in religious studies will be required for all students: Blanchette said the schools will strive for intramuraLand extramural competitive sports and hope to offer strong arts. music. drama and visual arts options and family studies Technical training. motion() continu- ing education will be considered During the initial year. the schools will concentrate on the 16 compulsory credits which. along with 14 electives, are required for a secondary school graduation diploma. Al present. a total of 1:10 potential students are in Grade ; classes in Huron schools. and eligible for grade 9 when the new school is scheduled to open in 1986. One grade will be added each year, until the full complement of five grades is reached. Ten vacant classrooms are available in the Clinton school. Students would share the gym and technical facilities. The principals of the new schools will need to combine the qualities of educator and sales person, to not on- ly teach but go to the feeder schools to spark the interest and enthusiasm of parents and students. The commit- tee recommends that the principal should be from a teaching order or religious. and the vice principal a lay person: those role requirements could be reversed. in Clinton and Stratford The board would prefer teachers who are practicing Catholics, and Blanchette said in reply to a question that pastoral letters from parish priests will be requested. "We have the right to find out the nature of Catholicity," Blanchette explained. The board would also want assurances that those transferring from the public school system were "acceptable to Catholic philosophy" Stewart added. At first, teachers will be expected to be generalists able to teach more than one subject. Durand could give no firm figures on cost. He hopes for a start-up grant from the province. and expects once rrt( , DAFFODIL SALES — Bernice Maslen of Lucan sells TD Bank employee Jackie Martens daffodils, in the annual Cancer Society daffodil sale. c Maslen's husband organized the Lu an sale. ......... . April 17, 1985 Ames - Serving South Huron, North Middlesex the Clinton school is in operation per pupil cost will compare favourably with Huron board figures. Durand would like to see access to 'industrial and commercial assess- ment resources. "We have been pay- ing for public and high school support for years. It would be nice to get some back", Durand commented. Costs (and government funding) will be determined by the number of students who transfer to the separate secondary schools. Gary Birmingham, new principal of St. Boniface and Ecole Ste. Marie. said the new Huron facility will not get 100 percent of the eligible students. Citing $2,500 as the average cost per student across the province, he wanted to know "where's the bot- tom line? If no start-up grant is given how far are you willing to go to get this off the ground?" Durand replied that the committee has no facts and figures on start-up grants or equal funding. It is waiting to hear from the HPACSS board's finance committee. and from the ministry of education. before making a final decision on whether to go ahead with the -new high schools. Some attending the meeting were concerned about maintaining the desired Catholic atmosphere if non- Catholic teachers were hired. or Pro- testants and Catholics rode on the same bus, ate in the same lunchroom. and studied under'the same roof. In that case "what have we accomplish- ed'?" one woman asked. Stewart replied that non-Catholics presently in the system are doing a good job. She said Catholics would be preferred, and believed attrition dvocate. & North lambton Since 1873 PagelA Residents oppose Tuck,ersmith Township residents have formed a committee to work pith the Foodland Hydro Group which is expressing concern about the proposed Hydro routes through Huron County, from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development. Stephen Thompson of Goderich Township. who is interim Treasurer of the Foodland lfydro Group reported that $40,000 has already been contributed to the Foodland Hydro Committee. The $40,000 is on deposit at the Clinton Community Credit Union. Tuckersmith property owners Deer sighted near Varna By llary ('hessell There were seventeen tables of euchre at the final Orange Lodge card party of the season on Friday night. f ligh lfrizes were won by Erma Crich and Frank Thompson. Prizes for low score went to Grace McBride and Wilfred Choler. Draw winners were Wal Webster. Annie Finkbeiner, Margaret 1layter-and Ed Strachan. Bill and Eleanor McAsh arrived home last 'Tuesday from a six-week Florida holiday. They had good weather in Florida, but encountered a snowstorm around Lexington on the way home. A herd of deer which has been com- ing out of the bush near the Bayfield River to graze in George Keye's field has been attracting some attention. They have appeared just before dark most evenings since the snow left the field. 11'e have been getting a good look a1 then) with binoculars. ('ars and sfx•ctators on the road don't seem 10 make 1hent nervous. One evening last week. two of the regal beasts were silhouetted against a purple sunset like a beautiful pain- ting. while others were leaping gracefully across the field. their white flags flashing. Motorists need to he cautious when they come up from the bridge. as the deer sometimes crass the road. STORYTELLER Bob Munch, a storyteller and poet who hos publish ed severol books and records, come to delight children of Our lady of Mt. Carmel School on Friday. Munch was one of a series of Cana- dian authors who have visited the school. in the. -proposed route through the Township had already been canvass- ed by a number of volunteers. They received signed support and financial contribution to the Foodland Hydro Group from nearly 100x;, of the owners contacted. Bob Allen. Representative' of the White Bean Board and also a member of the original Foodland Hydro Group formed a number of years ago, gave the history of the organization. He also reported on Dr. Ormrocl's study on the ozone level under high tension wires which caused bronzing and kill- ing of white beans grown under them. Tuckersmith's delegate to' the OH route Foodland Hydro Group will be Jim McIntosh and alternate, Bob Fother- ingham. A Tuckersmith Township Committee was elected to provide support to the Foodland Hydro Group. The Committee members are: Ken Carnochan, Andrew Davidson. Gor- don DeJong, Bert Branderhorst, Steve McGregor. Ron McGregor. Bill Charters, Jim Cooper and Bob Allen. The Committee has decided to can- vass other Tuckersmith residents not in the original hydro route line study area, to seek their support. Anyone wishing to support the Foodland Hydro Committee should contact any of the Committee members. would solve the problem of redundant teachers. As for the second concern. Stewart said the Catholic viewpoint would per- vade all subjects. and Catholics mix all through life with those holding other beliefs. She added teachers will have to agree with the Catholic view- point, and be pro-life on the abortion issue. On a more positive note. another parent worried about the impact on local public schools, already facing declining enrolment. if they lose more students to the separate school system. Gordon Phillips replied that declin- ing enrolment is a fact all over On- tario. He agreed there would be some effect, but the degree of seriousness could not be predicted ahead of time. The committee will be assisted in its final recommendations by the results of a survey sent to Perth and Huron Catholics to find out their wishes, how ma,,y have school-age children, what they expect the new schools to provide in the way of transportation and other services, and willingness to sit on an advisory board. The St. Boniface and Exeter au- diences were assured they would be kept informed of the committee's pro- gress, and their questions and con- cerns would be addressed in a newsletter to be sent to all homes this week. 01440- THIS WEEK'S SPECIALS! All fresh baked White sliced 24 oz. Bread ..69. Delicious All Varieties. Muffins 4'6/1.49 - Medium tp Cheddar .b. $2.99 (effective Exeter store only Country Buns Dozen99 ft Maple Leaf Process Slices lb. $2.99 • 14 0 assa y Over 40 varieties of Donuts Bakery (?Cheese House Exeter 235-0332 44. 443`1114:00 itortg 01 4)1 'At 463- AO 01 Check to make sure you're on the voter's list for the May 2 election. 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