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PAGE 4, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1989 Quest school to close FROM PAGE 1 tions with bright and gifted chil- dren, a lot of stigmas to over- corne. Many parents felt so strongly about the kind of educa- tion Quest offered, they had a second parent going out to work," she said. Pearson, who was on the school's board of directors up until a year and a half ago, had two children attend Quest. Her older son, Chris, gradua- ted at 15 years old. To make the transition easier, he attended a public high school for one year and now, at 16 years old, is taking a four-year honors arts and science course at McMaster University. Pearson's younger son, Michael, is just finishing Grade 8. "I feel a lot sorrier for the younger children," said Pearson. "I think parents are truly wor- ried. Ruth's school is the only school in Canada that offered such a course. "I hope this doesn't give the message that gifted education doesn't work. It does work," says Pearson. "Mrs. Banks is dedicated and energetic. She believes so strongly in what she's doing," sas Pearson. anks did not return calls from The Free Press. y SUMMER, NOW!! and get up to $300 in Factory Rebates Call... HEATING AND AIR P CONDITIONINGLTD. 1380 HOPKINS ST. WHITBY, ONT. L1N 2C3 428-3231 Offer Available Until April 15th/1989 =f Consumers Gas Authorized Dealer RUTH BANKS is principal of Quest and has run th school since it began in 1982. Free Press file photo Janet Baker, whose son Wes- ley attends Quest said, "I was very sad to hear Quest is closing. It was Mrs. Bank's dream to run this school. She is so talented. It was a tremendous school", she said. "There was a difference in qua- lity -- high standards. It's great to bave kids that are of the same mind. Kids that are at an equal level of curiosity. Without this kind of education, some would go by the wayside," said Baker. Baker has already made alter- native arrangements for Wesley. She said she understood finances forced Quest to close this year, and that there was some ques- tion about the building permit for the new school. "There really is a need for this education and for it to have been shattered like this is a real shame," she said. Ruth Burt has two children who have attended Quest for three years. "I think it is a shame the school is closing. I liked the school very much," he said. "I like the class sizes." One thing that prompted Ruth Burt to' seek out Quest was because one of her sons was havin problems reading. 'Wat I notice now is that he enjoys reading and is curious about things. At Quest, they are very positive about everything. They are fast losing this in the regular school system," said Burt. "My children have learned a very mature attitude. They look to their own resources," she said. "I am surprised that it's clos- ing. I thought there would be some way out." Burt's son, Jeff, isn't so surpr- ised. "I knew it was going to corne," he said. "They've had all these problems. I just had a feeling." Brad Cruxton, consultant with the *fted program at the Dur- ham ard of Education, says he I............................................................................................ (formerly Inova) 1801- Dundas Street, East, (K Mart Mall) Whitby 432-EYES GRAND OPENING -SAT. APRIL 1ST See dealer for det1ails.12 OffI *One coupon per purchase. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. - ------------ -- -- -- -- ------------- - --- - -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- doesn't know of any school other than Quest for bright and gifted children. "Our board has programs for gifted children. We screen every student in Grade 2," he ,said. They are given the following standard tests: Canadian test of basic skills, Canadian cognitive abilities test, observational checklist and the Renzulli checklist for behaviorial charac- teristics. Those characteristics are advanced vocabulary, precocious reading ability and comprehen- sion, creativity, and ability to learn academics easily. "After testing, there is more sorting," says Cruxton. "The top hop get the Wechsler IQ test. "We take as many children as qualify," he said. "Those children are then offered the program. "There are also late bloomers and move in," says Cruxton. "If they are recognized as gifted, they are also offered the pro- gram. "We're in a bit of a panic because Quest is closing,» says Cruxton. "Mrs. Banks takes chil- dren that are bright and gifted. That's not nearly as ownerous as the Durham board," he said. A lot of parents have had testing done and Mrs. Banks is planning to do testing," he said. "I would like to emphasize that the students from Quest will be welcome in the gifted program, but they must meet out require- ments,' said Cruxton. Quest began in the fall of 1982 in Oshawa's arts resource centre when Pearson approached Ruth Banks to start a school for bright and gifted children. Today it houses children from many areas in its Whitby location. Banks had run a gifted pro- gram for the Scarborough Board of Education and indicated she was willing to start the school "if there was enough of an interest and a need," said Pearson. The interest and the need was there. "We were supposed to start with 15 students and we started with 30," said Pearson. She estimated that 250 stu- dents have attended Quest over the past seven years and, to date, about 11 students have graduated. The school takes chil- ren from age 3 through to Grade 13. Oshawa municipal councillor Nancy Diamond worked with Pearson to get Queit started. Her daughter, Susan, graduated from Quest two years ago. Dia- mond says, "It is unfortunate that this school is closing. I hope we do not lose sight of education for gifted children in the balance sheet of the school.» Although she is sorry Quest is closing, Pearson is not sorry it began. "It's been the best seven years of my life," she said. "I prefer to look at this, not as an end -- just as an intermission." Blood donor clinie April 11 Whitby's spring blood donor clinic will be beld on Tuesday, April il at the Legion Hall on Byron St. S. from 1 to 8 p.m. Clinic organizers hope that this clinic will be as busy as the clinic in January wben 328 people donated blood. Ail blood types are needed but a supply of 0 positive blood is always required as most people bave this type of blood. Anyone wbo bas O negative blood is known as a universal donor since tbis blood can be given to anyone in surgery in an emergency situation wben tbere isn't enough time to cross-match blood types. O negative blood therefore especiallv important. The process involves registenng, answering a questionnaire, having your blood tested, donating, resting and being served a snack. BEAT THE HEAT NEXT 668-4235 |||| a AIR "i AIR CONDmOKNING ICG. .Com(ort You Can Count On --%ý 1