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HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Alice Anne LeMay Chair of the Board Lou Piovesan Director of Education TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2008 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Advanced Registration for those children who will be attending Junior Kindergarten or Senior Kindergarten in Halton Catholic Schools in Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills (Georgetown/Acton) will be held at all schools on: for September, 2008 JUNIOR / SENIOR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION AGE OF ADMISSION AND REQUIREMENTS Junior Kindergarten Senior Kindergarten Children are required to be 4 years of age on or before December 31, 2008. Children are required to be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 2008. Roman or Eastern Rite Catholic Baptismal Certifi cate is required. Proof of age is required. Before registration is fi nalized, a child will have completed the prescribed program of immunization for diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps and rubella. Parent(s) must provide evidence of immunization record. For further information or alternate registration date, please contact the principal of your nearest Catholic School. Please Note: Children currently registered in their Catholic schools Junior Kindergarten program are not required to register for the Senior Kindergarten program. Placement in the Senior Kindergarten program will be processed by the school unless otherwise notifi ed by the parent(s)/guardian(s). HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Area Schools Burlington St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School Georgetown/Acton Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School Milton Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School North Oakville St. Matthew, St. Bernadette & St. Marguerite dYouville Catholic Elementary Schools South Oakville St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School REGISTRATION INFORMATION DESIGNATED FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOLS Alice Anne LeMay Chair of the Board Lou Piovesan Director of Education TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2008 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. student must be entering grade 5 in September, 2008 in a Halton Catholic School; in person only - parent, guardian or other adult with a letter indicating they are acting on the parents behalf; registration is on a fi rst-come, fi rst-serve basis and is to take place at the French Immersion school designated for your attendance area; enrolment for the French Immersion Program is limited; transportation is not provided; click on the following link to access the list of feeder schools and dates for Parent Information Sessions in your respective area: http://www.hcdsb.org/frenchimmersion/ Registration for those families who wish to enrol their child in the French Immersion Program in the Catholic Elementary Schools in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills will be held at all designated schools as listed below on: for September, 2008 FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM REGISTRATION 10 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, January 25, 2008 When most people hear the word Pokn, they think of the Nintendo video game, or the trading cards. But there is an underlying game that is played with those cards, more sophisticated and intricate than most people are aware. And Georgetowns Koehler family can boast at having Canadas number one and number seven-ranked players. Quinn Koehler, 9 and his brother Patrick, 6, have been playing Pokn competitively for almost two years, and, along with their dad Terry, compete in an organized play league schedule, which plays regu- larly at Mold-Masters Sportsplex. Terry oversees the organized play league, which is sanctioned, award- ing points to maintain the world- wide standings. It was Quinn who got them start- ed, after he acquired a Pokn trading card from a friend. He did some research and discovered there were literally thousands of different cards out there, and he became bit- ten by the bug originally as a col- lector. But when the family realized there was also a game to be played with those same cards, they jumped into the game circuit and never looked back. Terry explains that the game is similar to chess, but each player builds his own deck of 60 playing cards. The various cards have strengths and weaknesses over other cards, and use energy cards, which can enhance that cards capability to attack the opponents cards. With so many variables and strategies to draw on, as well as try- ing to second-guess what the oppos- ing player has in his deck, each game strategy becomes unique. There are about 700 legal cards available, says Terry, And the play- ers must build their personal decks of 60 cards from those 700. In addi- tion, the players really need to know the capabilities of all the cards, so they can make the appropriate play in the game. There are basically two groups who play seriously, said Koehler. The first group are the younger players, 8 to 9 years of age, said Terry, but there is also the universi- ty crowd, who are attracted to the prizes which can be quite worth- while, as well as scholarships. Terry said world level players can receive prizes in the $7,500 range, as well as free transportation to the tournaments and free accommoda- tion. Quinn is in charge of deck- building for us, said Terry, He builds seven or eight combinations and we learn how to play each par- ticular deck. He knows what each card can do and how to play it to the best advantage. If someone throws down a certain Pokn card, youd better know what it does and what strategy to use. We say that Quinn is our walking encyclopedia of Pokn cards. Terry said that skill is certainly paramount in the game, but there is also an element of luck, since both player must shuffle their cards prior to starting the game. The Koehlers have played in com- petitions as high as the national level, last year in Toronto, and this year the family has plans of compet- ing nationally in Edmonton this summer. Before Christmas, Quinn took first place at the provincial level tournament in Hamilton, and cur- rently holds the number one spot in Canada. Patrick, age 6, also compet- ed at the Hamilton tournament, being the youngest competitor there that day. Terry admits hes more of a train- er than a player, but does enjoy the game as well. Both Quinn and Patrick play at the Junior level (ages 11 and under, and there is a Senior level (ages 11 to 15,) as well as the Masters level (age 16 and up.) While Terry runs the local league here in town, he said March 1, there will be a Provincial level tournament at Mold-Masters SportsPlex, which he will facilitate, but not run. Its a great game, says Terry, It is not only entertaining, but also enhances other skills for those kids playing it. The game requires the use of reading, math and memory skills to play the game. The new season in Halton Hills starts tomorrow (Saturday), and all are welcome to attend to try the game, said Terry. Were happy to teach the game, and let others enjoy it, said Terry, We hold about 5-6 tournaments during the season upstairs at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. Anyone wishing to take part, or receive more information about playing Pokn in town, can con- tact Terry by e-mail at precambrian.trading@gmail.com During the recent launch of Crime Stoppers Month the programs annual statistics were announced along with some initiatives for 2008 that will help Halton Crime Stoppers celebrate its 20th anniversary. On hand for the launch were Halton Regional Police chief Gary Crowell, Detective Gary Gold and Crime Stoppers International President Gary Murphy. Photo by Liesa Kortmann Reach milestone Dufferin Aggregates is hosting a public information ses- sion to discuss future activities at the Acton quarry Monday evening. Dufferin is proposing an extension of its Acton operation both to the north and south of the existing quarry, with the applications anticipated to be filed in March. The session will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the hall at the Acton Arena, 415 Queen St. A presentation and discus- sion will begin at 7:15 p.m. For more information call 905-532-3209 or visit www.dufferinactonquarry.com. Local youth top-ranked Pokn player TED BROWN Staff Writer Dufferin to host information meeting