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The Huron Expositor, 1990-11-14, Page 3THE HURON &X1 10+4. NOVEMBER 14, 1980-3 PUTTING IT TOGETHER - Becky Laverty puts words 1M sentences dunng a neons on reading held at the public sem ani week. Robinet photo Tutorial program improves students' reading , listening skills PEER TUTORING - Seaforth Public School suit Jeremy Bennewies gets some tutoring in reading from highschool counterpart Brett Lee Robinet photo INTEREST PIOUED - Amanda Butt is able t0 pique the interest of public school student Michelle Kuntz during this reading exercise, which Is part of a peer tutoring session arranged between the Seatorth Public School and the Seaforth District High School. Robinet photo BY HEATHER ROBINET Seaforth Public School and Seaforth District High School students are working together to conquer the English language, in a program known as Peer Tutoring. The program, which is at least five -years -old in the community, caters specifically to those students in Grades three to six, who are experiencing some difficulty in reading. This year, 18 students from the highschool's Grade 11 Family Studies class, have been paired up with 36 public school students, over two two-week sessions. The first session concluded on Friday, and the second is set to begin in two weeks. In an effort to provide a kind of private tutorial, the highschool students work with their young proteges on a one-on-one basis, one hour per day, for a full two week period. Some of the daily activities they participate m are: sight word checks; comprehension checks (where a story is read and questions answered); reading for fun; shared reading (so the child learns to enjoy listening); and the keeping of a daily dialogue journal. Grammar and punctuation are also discussed, but the session always ends on a fun note, so that students feel positive about the ex- perience. "It's very helpful for them (the public school student)," commented Carol Hoelscher, a Resource Teacher at SPS. "By working one-on-one, the student is able to focus on the task, and there's someone right there to help with a problem when it is there. And that's essential. Oftentimes when they're sitting in a classroom it's going right over their heads." In a reciprocal fashion the Peer Tutorinn program is also helpful to the highschool students, since it gives them more insight into real life problems they might encounter themselves some day... as parents, at home or at work. "It also answers the question, "Is teaching what I want to do", and helps measure the kinds of vocation they (the highschool student) might set out for," commented Mrs. Hoelscher. However, the main thrust of the program is two -fold - first, to build the self esteem of the younger student; and second, to improve his/her reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. "So many of the students use the excuse, "I can't"," explained Mrs. Hoelscher. "You have to make them feel good about themsel- ves before you can even auempt to do something about their reading skills." The bonding process that occurs during the Peer Tutoring sessions, has, according to Mrs. Hoelscher, done wonders for the images the young students have of themselves. In many cases the older students are being regarded as role models and someone to look up to, and as such can entice the younger ones to put forth a bigger effort. "There's a real trust built between them - a real bond," commented Mrs. Hoelscher. "These kids are really motivated by the highschool students." "We all have problems in certain areas. These kids just happen to have language problems. And if you can't read what can you do in life. You have to be able to read something." McCa 11 SOU COMPUTER GRAPHICS - Marcy McCall, Seaforth Public School, Erica Clark, Blyth Public School, and Andrea McGrath, Huron Centennial School, Brucefield, show off t -shirts they designed on the computer. All three students participated in an Enrichment Program in Brucefield last week. Robinet photo. GETTING HELP from Brussels Public School teacher Jim Prior is Dana Cooper of Huron Centennial School in Brucefield. Dana was one of 36 students to participate in an Enrichment Program on Computers. Robinet photo. Enrichment students learn new computer programs BY HEATHER ROBINET Thirty-six Grade 7/8 students from six area schools participated in an Enrichment Workshop on Com- puters held over two days last week at Huron Centennial School in Brucefield. The students in atten- dance came from Seaforth Public School, Vanastra Public School, Hullett Central School, Clinton Public School, Blyth Public School and Huron Centennial School in Brucefield. Chosen because of their adeptness in computers, and because of their leadership ability, the students were taught four new computer programs over the course of the one -day workshop. They will be expected to introduce those programs to their respective schools. "I think the students are doing quite well," commented Marie Tiernan, a teacher at Huron Centen- nial School who introduced students to two of the four programs. "There's some preuy heavy stuff, but this a pretty super bunch of kids, and they've done well with it. it's very hard on the concentration by the end of the day." The two programs taught by Mrs. Tiernan teach students how to make critical decisions in their lives. The one, "A Week in the Life of..." is a guidance/health program for students in Grades 7/8 and deals with 20 issues including; Drugs, Aids, Leisure, and Racial Prejudice. Students select are of four teenage characters in the program and fol- low that person through a week, making important decisions in the process, completing projects, deciding places to go and friends to meet. The "New Kid in Town" program is meant for Grades 4 to 6, hut is considered a good program to do before moving on to "A Week in the Life of..." In this program the student has just moved, and ac a result has a new home, a new w frie ' . It also .1 1,, encourages the making of decisions and solving of problems. Bill Marsh , another teacher at Huron Centennial School, introduced students to the program, "Tour of the Universe". It gives students the opportunity to ex- perience a scientific expedition to the frontiers beyond Earth. Students must first design and equip a scien- tific mission to the planet they select, then interpret the ex- pedition's results upon their return to Earth. "It makes students make logical decisions," commented Mr. Marsh. "It develops their thinking and research skills, and their infor- mation processing. It really makes them think. They have to see all the angles." The final program the students were introduced to was "Deluxe Paint II", a creative program developed for use on the Amiga computers. This program, taught by Brussels Public School teacher Jim Prior, allows students to develop a critical eye, and was a totally different process than the previous programs. In this particular workshop students designed their own t -shirts. "The comments we've received on the workshop have all been positive," commented Jill Johnston, Enrichment Area Resource Person with the Huron County Board of Education. "The kids have really, really enjoyed the day, and the oppor- tunity to work on the computers without waiting for turns." The purpose of the enrichment programs is to help meet the needs of those kids who need more sophisticated programming. Accor- ding to Mrs. Johnston one workshop is held every term in each of the four regions of the county. All the topics are different. "They are all topics in the cur- riculum, and not completely gravy as far as the menu is concerned," she said. "The key word is differentiation. We take one topic and stretch it to fit all the kids, from the ones still at the introductory level, to those who require more sophisticated work. We have to provide the opportunity for every child to work at his/her level- whatever that may be." Mrs. Johnston said the whole purpose is to provide a lower PTR (Parent -teacher -ratio), promote faster learning, and let kids from one school meet kids from other schools who have the same interests. "We can't compete with the city kids, who have the numbers to have an enrichment class at each school - here we have to do it regionally, " she said. Other enrichment programs in the past have centered on puppetry, science, storytelling and drama. LEA ' t EXPERIENCE Tina Burkhold, Blyth, and Shelia Litt and Marcy McCall of Seaforth Public School, were part of a o ne -day Enrichment Workshop on computers held in Brucefield last week. The workshop taught advanced level computer students tour new program which they. in turn. can teach • +$ I 1!.6/-- i,•,•, 11;1 •,1.•, 1 Mid -Huron nearing capacity BY MIKE WILLISCRAFT 1'he Mid -Huron Landfill Site (MLS) will be full and closed by the end of November, says Grant Stirling. chairman of the MLS board. "According to the amount of garbage going in, if we continue to put in as much as we have been, we'll be out before the end of the month," said Stirling yesterday (Tuesday). If the landfill site is full by the end of the month, Stirling said no interim plans have been made for the period before the proposed new site will be approved by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and ready for business. "If we get approval for the land, we'll use that. If not, I guess we'll keep the garbage in our backyards," said Stirling. Stirling said there is a chance that the MOE could approve the new site ahead of the Jan. 1 target for approval but the chance is slim. "That all depends on the ministry. Government works very slow, unless you owe them money," he said. -Community Calendar Wed., Nov. 14 1:00-3:00 p.m. - Seniors, Parents and Tots Skating 1:30-4:00 p.m. - Senior Shuffleboard at Arena 4:30-5:30 p.m. - TWeen Ringette 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Novloe Hockey prep - doe at Arena 8:00 p.m. - Seaforth Horticultural Society Annual Meeting & Potluck Supper at Saforth Public School 8:30-7:30 p.m. - Centenairss practice 7:304:00 p.m. - Minor Broomball 8:00-9:00 p.m. - Fitness is Fun at the Anna 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Recreational Volleyball at High School 8:00-11:00 p.m. - Men's Challenge Curling 9:00-11:30 p.m. - Ladies' Broomball et the Arena Thurs., Nov. 15 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 practloe et Arena 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Minor Broomball et the Arena 7:00-11:00 p.m. - Mixed Curling 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Mixed Basketball at the High School 8:00 p.m. -12:00 midnight - Men's Broomball et Arena Fri., Nov. 16 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Story Hour at Seaforth Library. Ages 3 to 5. 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Bunny/Novloe Ringette at the Arena 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Junior Houseleagus Hockey practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Senior Houselsague Hockey practice 7:30-8:30 p.m. - Pathe Ringers 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Mixed Curling 8:30 p.m. - Luoan vs. Centenalres Sat., Nov. 17 7:30-8:30 a.m. - Canadians vs. Oilers 8:30-4:30 a.m. - Kings vs. North Stars 9:00.11:00 a.m. - Tap Dancing at the Arens 9:30-10:30 a.m. - Leafs vs. Whalers 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Penguins vs. Flames 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.rn. - Mites Hockey 12:30-1:30 p.m. - Petite RIngette at Arena 1:30-2:30 p.m. • Story Hour at Seaforth Library. Ages 4 to 7. 1:30-3:00 p.m. - Free Public Skating sponsored by: Independent Order of Oddfellows 3:00-4:00 p.m. - Mites Hockey N1 vs. 4:004:15 p.m. - Aloin 1 hockey pram- doe ra -floe 5:15-7:00 p.m. - Hensel, vs. Atom 11 Hockey 7:00-8:30 p.m. - Listowel vs. Midget Hockey 8:30-10:30 p.m. - Free Teen Skating sponsored by the Seaforth Lions Club Sun., Nov. 18 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Bunny Ringette 1:00-4:00 p.m. - Port Stanley vs. Centenalres 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Wingham vs. Atom 1 hockey 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Goderich vs. Petite 11 6:30-7:30 p.m. - St. Marys vs. Tween 7:30-8:30 p.m. - Goderlch vs. Junior Ringette 8:30-9:30 p.m. - St. Marys vs. Belie Ringette 9:30-11:00 p.m. - I.H.L. Mon., Nov. 19 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. - Seaforth Hospital Auxiliary Bazaar 4:304:30 p.m. - Figure Skating 7:00-9:00 p.m. - Furniture Refinishing at High School 7:00-11:00 p.m. - Men's Curling at Curling Club 7:30 p.m. - Minor Sports Dabber BINGO 8:30-10:00 p.m. - Beaver OldtImers 10:00-11:00 p.m. - Midget Hockey prsotloe Tues.Nov. 20 9:00-10:00 a.m. - Fitness Is Fun at the Arena 10:30 a.m.-12 noon - Senior, Parents and Tota Skating 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Tesohers Hockey 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Pee Wee Hockey practloe 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Stephen Twp. vs. Atom 11 Hockey 7:30-10:00 p.m. - Ladles' Curling at Curling Club 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Mitchell vs. Midgets Hockey Wed. , Nov. 21 1:00-3:00 p.m. - Senior, Parents and Tots Skating 1:30-4:00 p.m. - Senior Shuffleboard et Arena 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Tween Ringette peso- floe 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Minor Hockey Novic• practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Centenalres prsotic• 7:30-9:00 p.m. - Minor Broomball at Arena 1:00-9:00 p.m. - Fitness 1. Fun et Arens 8:00-10:00 p.m. - Recreational Voleybsll at 60148 8:00-11:00 p.m. - Men's Challenge Curling 9: p.m. - Ladles' Broomball at Arena N you're organizing a non-profit avant of interest to other Seaforth area residents, phone the recreation office 52 7 0552 or the Expositor at 527.0240, or mail the information to Community Calendar, Tho Huron Expositor. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK IWO w*N in advance of the scheduled date Free listing inoluctee data, time, name of evert and location only Space for the Community Calendar is donated by Theo Huron Expositor