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Page 26, WWtby Free Presc, Wedmday. December 22,1993 Tentative agreement reached between board and custodians The Durham Board of Education and CUPE Local 218 Custedial recently reached tentative agreement on a new three-year agreement for the perid foniApril, 1, 1993 te March 1,1996. The new agreement contains ne wage increases or benefit imprevements over the three-year period, as legislated by the Social Contract Act, but it does include a number of wording changes te the language of the agreement. Bargaining began last spring but was disrupted while negotiations of the provincial social contract toek place throughout the late spring and summer months. At the local level, CUPE e pted fer the "fail-safe' rovisions of the social contract, t ereéby entitling it te protect its right te extend its collective agreements te March 31, 1996. As a reèult of social contract legislation, the range of matters epen te discussion in local collective bargaining was reduced significantly. The tentative agreement was ratified Dec. il by CUPE Local 218 Custedial niembers and Dec. 13 by the Durhamn Board of Education. There is ne increased cost te the board for the three years of the agreement. JAY BESWICK (Iet) and Michael Meissis exohange misoheviaus glances at E.A Fairman Public School's annual Pioneer Christmas. Student dressed up in pioneer garb, consumed a turkey dinner catered by their moms, and then held an old-fashioned square dance. Photo by Mark Reesor, Whlty Free Press Separateboard to estbish tech centres for grades 7,8 One of two technological centres planned by the Durham separate school board for Grade 7 and 8 students will be estabi- ished in Whitby. At a recent meeting, the board's English language section approved the centres, expected to start 'n September, 1994, to replace the industrial arts and family studies prograra that was suspended in ;ay, 1991. St. Paul Schéol in Whitby will serve east Durham schools, Holy Redeemer School in Pickering will serve west Durhamn schools. Students will attend the centres five times during the school year, each a full-day ses- sion. The pro *11il help stu- dents gain lcnowledge in techno- logy and applied science and develop basic skills«, persenal qualities and values «to function ettectively as Catholic citizens, workers, consumera and learners in the dynamîc technological environment of the 21st cen- tury.» Modules of studXi presented in a computer-base , nitlti-niedia format, will include computer- assisted design, desktop publish- ing, manufacturing, audio pro- gramming, electronic keyboard- ing, video production, photogra- phy, weather, astronomy, land- scape design, interior design, amaîl engines, fabric construc- tion, computer animation, robe- tics, electrenica and electricity and food nutrition and mel planning. The recommendation of the centres came froni a standing committee that worked the paM two years with business, labour and education groups. 'Safie sehool' measures adopted FormaI procedures have been developed te reduce violent in- cidents at Durham Regien achools and help create a safe school environnient. Representatives of the Dur- ham public and separate achool boards and Durham Regional Police say there aren't large numbers of violent incidents in schools, but the new protocol wîll outline the role of pelice and the echool when incidents of vielence occur. Police officers have the right te demand entry te a school te make an arreat or carry eut a search for weapons or drugs. An offlicer wanting te interview a student is urged te de se, before or after achool heurs, and that students will ha escorted from clasa by the principal. School administraters or edu- cators don't have te attend stu- dent interviews with an officer, and a student can request they be excluded. Schoel officiais can't offer legaladvice te. a student but can remind the student of the rght te contact a lawyer. Plice presence in schools, through such efforts as the 'Adopt a SchooVAdopt an Officer prograni in some 'Whitby, and Oshawa achools, is aIse recom- mended. Dear Santa Claus, I have been good and bad alI year. lim sorry fer getting inte fights with my sisters. I will try te do botter. Can you bring me a new pair of white roller blades and 3 minute ice cream maker. Oh! What I really want is my birth atone ring. Thank-yeu veiy very much. There prebably will ha some treats for you and your reindeer. Could you please say hi te Mrs. Claus. Thank you. Sarah M.L Cany ge 8 Kathleen Rowo Public col Dear Santa, I really want te see you. What I want for Christmas is: a pair of roller blades, some fish (any kind), dinosaurs, and cookies. I juat love this year. Can you bring me another fishing rod for xny <ad? I love you very, very, very, very much. And I want te see Rudolph Harmony Kulikaushas Grade 3 St. Bernard Catholic Sehool 70MOS D DME at an even Grde Plza I love Christmas with family, -it is a joyetia time, Sitting by the Christmas tree, reminds me of good times. Christmas aniella and inistletoe, a fire crackling bright, Christmas lights aIl aglow, and the warm Christmas night. Decorations ornamenta, halls and bows, Oh what a sight, Camdy canes, sugar pluma, frostbitten tees, and Santas long flight. Going te bed on Christmias Eve, as you quietly turn off the light, Off te dreamland yeur mind will leave, as you sleep ail through the ight. Opening presenta on Christmas mer"7 by the Christmas tree, You will rememrber te thank the Lord, fer the blessing he gives te thee. Graham nicholls Grade 8 West Lynde Publie c h" BIG FEET Elves are compact and neat, But when I was born they said, "Look at his feet!" I went te work in Santa's shop, Standing for hours making tops. When I first went te, work I was going quite well, Until when decorating a tree I feuI, Down I tumbled tewards the paint vat, But thanks te my feet I bounced off that. Santa came by and said with a grin, Thanks te your feet, you didn't falI in. So back on the lime I amn making tops, Trying te ha leas clumsy in Santals shop. Laura Tindo Grade 8 West Lynde Publie Sehool TUE CHISTMS TREE On Christmas Eve I go outside To pick my Christmas tree The place 1 go is an hour's ride A place where they are fr-ee. I walk inte the forest green With sparkling snow all about To find the hast te ha seen I cut it down te drag it out. I place the tree hasi de the hall 1Istring the lighta so bright I put an angel up so tal Tinsel shining in the light. Jamie Goodfellow Grade 8 West Lynd Public Sehool SANTA GOES ON A HOLIDAY One sunny day Santa thought te himself if he could missaa Christmas and if the children wouldn't mmnd. Santa asked Mra. Clauis "Would you take the place for me" "Yea dear" said Mrs. Claus. Santa thought about where he could go for a holiday. Should I go te Hawaii, or Florida, or Washington DC? No. I can't do this. The children will really mimd. He sa-id te Mrs. Clatis "Oh dear, yeu won't have te take my place after aIl" That Chr'istmas Santa went eut te give the presenta te the childrem, and the childrem lived happily ever afler. Frank Underwood, age 8 Grade 3 E.A. Fairman Public School The advent wreath is made up of four candles. Three of them are purple, thats mot tee hard te hand.le. But did you ever steop and think that only one of t he candles is pimk. But when they're burning bright, in the middle of the night. With the wreath of evergreen, baby Jeaus won't ha mean. He will ha the only sight, left there in the light. Hel ha born on earth and have a lovely birth. He'll ha borm in a manger, I just hope he wen't ha in danger. The halls will ring and the angels will sing when ha waICes up in the morning. Jenny Grade 5 St. Matthew Catholie Sehoci