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Page THE HERALD Wednesday March 8 1989 Standardized testing Boards await directive By DONNA KELL Herald Staff Haltons two boards of education are anxiously awaiting a Ministry of Education announcement to standardize elementary tests in the province affecting Grade 3 and 8 students Education Minister Christopher Ward said Feb that within the next two years elementary students across the province will be given diagnostic tests in reading writing and arithmetic Halton Roman Catholic School Board superintendent Lou said the separate board is anxiously awaiting this report of Mr Wards which should be released within the next month He said his board would be sup portive of diagnostic testing Catholic board director Cliff Byrnes said he was confident the Catholic board has a good caliber teachers and would achieve the provincial average or better on standardized tests Both Halton boards say their quality of teaching is high and believe the diagnostic testing results would show good quality learning in the Region My guess is diagnostic testing wont make a big dif ference said Halton Board of Education Director Bob Williams Weve already been doing systematic testing for many years Not all Ontario schools will be tested when tests are conducted said public board Superintendent of Curriculum Services Graeme Barrett but Halton would volunteer results he said A Ministry of Education spokesman closely involved with the diagnostic testing program said the new tests would be unlike tests prepared by consultants formerly used by the Ministry Those tests had varying levels of difficulty to determine how much a child knew he said The difference between off-the- shelf tests and our diagnostic testing is that we would be testing for achievements and not for failures said Ministry program director pill He said that teachers would have input in preparing the tests which would be aimed at remediation A raw score will be given to students to show weaknesses to help either this years teacher or next years teacher said Mr Mr Ward said the test is not designed to fail more students but to prevent failure and to increase the number of students graduating from high school PA days subject of discussion The Board of Education has approved back toback pro fessional activity days for the school year In teachers will not teach classes Feb and 2 a Thursday and Friday and June 28 and also a Thursday and Friday These four days as well as Sept Oct 27 and Nov 24 and May and June 1990 will be designated professional activity days Under government regulation the board can approve a maximum of rune days while providing at least days of instruction trustee David Coons said at the boards recent meeting he did not agree with the back-to- back planning of next years PA days But Acton and area trustee Bruce said the clustering of the PA days was good planning Most of us are aware that if you have an interruption in the middle of the week that has to be the most interference a child can have she said think clustering of PA days is a step in the right direction Georgetown and area trustee Dick Howitt said he would like to see the number of professional ac tivity days reduced to seven or eight But trustee Howitts motion was rejected Burlington trustee Bullock said it was too late to vote in 15 minutes around the board table And Oakville trustee Millman said trustees didnt make the PA day decision with blind folds on They were trying to rush the results to the Ministry of Education I think for this year the deci sions gone she said Some board members say the professional activity days are im portant for staff development The board maintains that the minimum 185 instruction day quota will be met The board issued surveys to parents asking them to indicate preferred professional activity days Take to the high seas The Hills Public have an excitmg week planned for youngsters this March break as children are invited to sail the south seas On Tuesday March 14 at p both the Acton and Georgetown branches of the library will host Seascapes Youngsters are invited to dress up in tropical clothes and create their own tropical seascape picture at the library The event is for children age five and up and participants are asked to register On Wednesday March 15 at the Georgetown branch from 10 a m to noon youngsters aged five and up can drop into the library and make a sea crab that they will be able to take home Thursday March from a m to noon at Georgetown there is for ages five and up Youngsters will make a folder to keep their special things in SAVE SAVE SAVE 10 OFF ALL MODELS IN STOCK Both branches of the library will also host a Munch to the Movies day On Thursday March 16 from noon to m the Acton branch of the library invites everyone to take a wild adventure to Treasure Island as they munch on their lunch and watch the movie But dont forget to bring your lunch On Friday March 17 the Georgetown branch will host Munch to the Movies from noon to 1 pm Halton Hills Public Libraries is also hosting a Create A Fish Con test Youngsters are invited to use their imagination and whatever else they may have at home to create a tropical fish Entries will be judged in three groups Ages Ages 810 Ages 11 and up and families For more information pick up an entry form at the library Survey results says a board report show that the current school calendar is supported by all groups Guelph University offers Planning Workshops In todays market inter- municipal competition is keen All municipalities face problems aris ing from corporate restructuring industrial change and the demand for labor with technical expertise Often the need to generate more revenue from taxes and fees leads to conflict with other levels of government More than ever com munity economic development re quires planning To help the University of is offering a workshop on Strategic Planning in Community Economic Develop ment April 6 to This is an intensive practical program for municipal economic development officers senior ad ministrators municipal planners and representatives from chambers of commerce boards of trade and similar organizations in small towns villages single- industry communities and rural municipalities in Ontario It will be conducted by David Douglas director of Guelphs school of rural planning and development Experience has shown that com munities are more successful if they design and pursue economic development says Gary Lodge program manager for the division of continuing education He can be contacted for registration informa tion at 5198244120 ext 3064 FAX MAIN STREET SOUTH GEORGETOWN Enlitnca Off Rear Parting 8732441 WE ARE DEDICATED TO SERVICE Georgetown Hobby Tov 8776988 Wo have asked our carriers complete their deliveries as early as possible each week II your Herald Is not delivered to your home please phone our circulation department DEPARTMENT HOURS For your convenience Circulation Department Is open from to 500pm Monday to Friday WELL DELIVER TO YOUR HOME 8772201 Bubble headed Fowler gives a birds eye view of her scientific experi ment during a science fair at Bishop Reding Secondary School in Milton Satorday The Georgetown Grade student did an experiment on soap bubbles proving the bubbles are held together by surface tension Secondary and public schools from all over participated In the daylong science fair Herald photo SAME DAY TAX RETURNS 101 Guelph St Georgetown 8772217 Just Call Us Your Electronics Hospital Specialist In Repairs To All Models Stereos VCRt Microwaves Day Warranty on Pans and Labour Seniori Discount Used Equipment For Sale Quality At Affordable Pricma FREE ESTIMATES To All CarryIn Repairs JJ ELECTRONICS 3S0 Guelph SLUrdl Georgetown 8731820 the HERALD 44 MUSIC TRIVIA CONTEST J You Could Win A Gift Certificate Valued At 00 QUESTION Who Was The Cat In KISS ANSWER NAME ADDRESS PHONE No Deadline For Entries Monday at Noon Please Send Your Entries To the HERALD una