Times Advocate, 1999-11-10, Page 8Opinion&Forum
Remember when..:
On June 30 to July 2, 2000,
South Huron District High School
will celebrate its 50th
Anniversary. The Exeter Times
Advocate would like to join in the
celebrations by sharing articles or
pictures which have appeared
over the years.
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HI HIGHLIGHTS — 1970 - 1979
SHDHS mat team
wins -Huron-Perth
The South Huron District High School
wrestling team captured the Huron -Perth
Conference Championship in Stratford,
Thursday.
The local high school grapplers amassed a
total of 156 points. Stratford Northwestern
was second with 119 points and Goderich
third at 89 points. A total of eight schools par-
ticipated.
It was the sixth title win in seven years for
the Doug Ellison coached team. Last year they
were second.
Seven South Huron.wrestlers won individual
championships. The entire team will be com-
peting at WOSSA in St. Thomas Friday and
Saturday. Winning in their respective weight
divisions were Vince Winters, Richard
Rooseboon, Mike Westelaken, Perry Sereda,
Mark Paton and Brian Maver.
Placing second were Rick Skinner who lost a
close match to the champion and Rick Bilcke
in the unlimited category. Bilcke was out-
weighed in the final match by 60 pounds.
Cliff Hicks and Randy Fisher finished third
and Kevin Hern, Brian Thomson and Ron
Bilcke ended up in fourth spot.
The best wrestler of the week was Mark
Paton and John Coolman took honours as the
most improved.
South Huron will be meeting Stratford
Northwestern today, Wednesday at the old
gym at the local school for the Huron -Perth
dual meet championship.
SHDHS has won eight dual meets this year
without a loss and Stratford has a 7-1 record.
South Huron has won the dual meet title
every year since 1968.
WIN WRESTLING TITLE AGAIN. The South
Huron District High School wrestling team won
the Huron -Perth championship for the sixth time
in seven years,Thursday. Back, left, Murton Brock,
Brian Pym, Rick Skinner, Ron Bilcke, John
Coolman, Rick Bilcke, Randy Fisher, George
Armstrong, Mark Pridham and coach Doug Ellison.
Front, Richard Rooseboom, Cliff Hicks, Brian
Maver, captain Mark Paton, Brian Thomson, Mike
Westelaken and Kevin. Hern. Missing were Vince
Winters, captain Perry Sereda, Dave Robinson and
Preston Dearing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHDHS
"AIL -YEARS REUNION" CONTACT
KENDRA ARTHUR 235-4006 OR PAT RowE 236-7167
AI)DI11:SSI:S \F1;,I)1+,1)!
Address forums availcivie it.
• AIM Exeter Clinic -
• Times Advocate • RSD Authentics •
Exeter Town Hall • South Huron
District High School
or visit our web site at
www.ovonniaitland.on.ca
click onto South Huron
OPINIONS AND LETTERS
School
accommodation study
Continued from page 7
that the Boar! must clearly communicate why particu-
lar schools are chosen to be studied for closure and
what the financial implications and benefits will be of
the closure.
• Avoid Split Grades / Maintain Small Class Sizes -
We strongly prefer single grade classes to split grade
classes, and we urge the Board to consider changes
that will result in fewer split grades while maintaining
as small as possible class sizes within provincial guide-
lines and negotiated contracts.
• Allow Flexibility in School Attendance - We urge
the Board to respect parents' input to where their chil-
dren will attend school and allow for flexibility during
this time of change.
Finally, the report makes these recommendations to
the Board to implement during the accommodation
review process:
1. If the Board recommends a school closure in an
area, only one option for further study should be con-
sidered, not a number of options, so that communities
aren't pitted against one another.
2. The Board should describe fully the specific rea-
sons for recommending a particular school to be stud-
ied for closure.
3. The Board needs to fully describe the specific cost
savings and benefits to our children.
4. The Board should clearly indicate the expectations
of any community committee that is part of further
accommodation review studies.
5. The Board should take all steps to demonstrate to
the community that it is fiscally responsible and clearly
communicate other savings that are being undertaken
(e.g. janitorial services, facility leasing, etc.) at the
Board level to show that all avenues for cost saving
and revenue generation are being pursued.
The report is being submitted to the Board on
November 1. On November 9th, the report will be offi-
cially presented to the Board at fife regular Board
meeting in Seaforth, and the Committee will make. a
presentation to the Board. If you have any questions
or comments about the report, or if you would like a
copy of the report, please contact the School Council
Chair at your school.
Osborne pork barn
construction
Dear Editor:
Application for yet another building permit for a
neighbouring new big hog barn confronts Usborne
Council. On Tuesday Nov. 16, I have been granted
some time to dialogue with councillors as a very con-
cerned rate payer whose nose, water, wallet, ecosys-
tems, family, neighbours and future are all stakehold-
ers pending a wise outcome.
I base my concern on the already overwhelming con-
centration of livestock units on the Sunshine Line, con-
sidering a perceived lack of compliance of the nutrient
management laws already in place. Both farmers and
non -farmers are rightly frustrated since MOE has been
downsized and litigation is a non starter at all three
government levels. Recent tcientific evidence suggests
we have a waste problem locally and unwise manage-
'ment of liquid hog waste is a major offender.
Keith Roulston's November article from the Rural
Voice is timely. Quote "We need to realize no matter
how much. we'd like to see big barns as just the next
step in agricultural efficiency, they're so much larger
that their effects, and potential for danger, go beyond
the border of the home farm".
Should the trio of investors be granted the new barn
permit, my "Garden of Eden" on 50 acres will have
been encircled with 10,000 living, breathing, drinking
and defecating hogs, all within the last few years and
within one mile from my house.
Is it still my right and my chosen pleasure to sleep
with a window open, hang laundry on my solar
clothesline, hold family picnics for 97 members on my
lawn, all without fear of no water, contaminated water,
downwind odour or property devaluation?
If level heads prevail, interested stakeholders offer
positive suggestions and natural limitations to all our
behaviors are considered, we all win. This is no time
for emotional harangue. I like, my neighbours - all of
them.
Respectfully and Patriotically,
David Hern,
10th Concession
Wednesday. November 10, 1999
Amommasemeiramonemeemmirmablimow
Principal's message
You never know where your education and
skills might take you! Last week
there was a picture in this news-
paper of graduates of SHDHS's
automotive program who are
now . mechanics at Exeter
Chrysler, a wonderfulexample
of how well a program at South
Huron D.H.S. does prepare stu-
dents for future plans.
' nother terrific example leapt DEB
'he page this week when I FbMt1 s
Ad an article entitled "An out AES
this World Experience " in
Fanshawe Colleges alumni magazine.
The article profiles Dave Gingerich, a grad-
uate of SHDHS. Dave is a Senior Project
Analyst at Allied Signal Aerospace in
California. In his role he works with a team of
some of the best minds in space science.
Dave's team is responsible for the develop-
ment of the SSTO (Single Stage to Orbit) vehi-
cle, also known as demonstrator model X33.
This is a proposed replacement for the current
space shuttle program and the stakes are high.
Success of this project will revolutionalize
space travel.
While being involved in an exciting project of
this magnitude may seem like a giant leap
from Dave's hometown of Zurich, his class-
rooms of SHDHS and Labs of Fanshawe College
it really isn't. After all, it is the knowledge,
skills and attitudes that are transferable to
other fields that make for success.
Some of those transferable skills and atti-
tudes come from the extra -curricular experi-
ence of students as well as from the classroom
courses. South Huron has a broad range of
extra -curricular for students to get involved in.
The teamwork they practice as members of an
interest club, athletic team or arts group lasts
a lifetime in terms of developing the skills to
work well with others.
As we make our way through this first
semester and the mid-term report cards are
distributed to parents, it is an important time
to refocus on the valuable preparation that is
happening for our present group of students.
Students only need to look at many of our
alumni and what they're doing with their lives
to help stay motivated to work hard. No one is
ever hurt by setting their sights high.
Finally, grade nine parents are reminded
that the new provincial report card for grade
nine will be issued to all our grade nine stu-
dents during the week of November 22, 1999.
A newsletter has been sent home for grade
nine parents explaining this situation. All
other report cards were distributed on
November 9th. We're looking forward to
Parents Night for all students, grades 9 -OAC,
on Monday, November 15th. Please have your
son or daughter book an appointment with the
teacher.
POLICE BRIEFS
Deer whistles
work for OPP
HURON COUNTY — October turned out to be a
bad month for car -deer collisions but the Huron
OPP have come up with something that helps
them avoid accidents with the creatures,
October had another 43 collisions with deer,
leaving the '99 to date total at 161 with two
months to go, Huron OPP Const.. Don Shropshall
said.
The OPP are asking motorists to pay "special
attention" during the dawn and dusk hours when
deer collisions are the most prevalent.
Some collisions are taking place at night but
most occur in the early morning or as the sun is
setting.
ShropshalI suggests motorists slow down, scan
the road ahead and check the ditches as deer
move in.large groups usually three or more.
Last December all Huron OPP cruisers were
installed with deer whistles which Shropshall said
have proven successful. •
Last fall three cruisers were involved in deer
collisions but no cruisers have run into deer in
the last 10 months since the whistle pilot project
started.