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REALITIES Friday May ml Halton school system dealing with varied issues When Bob Williams Director of Education for the Halton Board of Education reflects on the past school year he finds somewhat of a contradiction in that most school student at titudes are positive but there is also an apparent increase in the number of students who have serious psychological and social disorders It has been an excellent year When I visit the schools m regularly thrilled by the great things going on and the positive response from students he said But I continue to be concerned by the relatively large number of kids who have serious psychological and social disorders He said the school system is fin ding that many of the students t being treated by the medical social and psychological network We do have some child counsellors and psychologists but they don have the expertise of child psychologists and we don t have the numbers to deal with these children he said There t enough resources available to treat these kids In a study the board received three years ago concerning the problem it was revealed that bet ween and 20 per cent of students have treatable psychological and social disorders he said Presently the school system is also dealing with the return of older students to the education system due to the economic tion School begins to look attrac live again when there t any jobs for them said Mr Williams This places stress on school resources since these are the students hardest to serve The present economic situation also affects the school in another way he said When there is a recession the demand on schools increases perceptively The kids come to school noticeably more upset and frustrated and they begin like society to look at the bad instead of the good Yet despite these difficulties Mr Williams is optimistic about the future of Halton s schools He said the implementation of Toward 2000 Strategic has had a positive impact on the schools 1991 will see the third year of implementation of the five year plan We re going to continue work on our three priorities said Mr Williams These include classroom instruction where we will continue to build up the repertoires of teacher skills school based planning and deci making where we 11 continue to foster the idea that each school is responsible to the needs of he community they serve and staff resources I m excited about the con tmued implementation of our strategic plan he said A LOOK AT BOARD OF ED OVER PAST YEAR New Schools Pilgrim Wood Public School River Oaks Public School in Oakville Major School Renovations Thomas A Blakelock High School in Pine Grove Public School in Oakville and Sunningdale Public School in Oakville 1991 Policies Staff Resources This policy directs the Board employment tices It ensures that the Board conforms with all current Federal and Provincial legisla tion 2 Opening Exercises This policy establishes the singing of Canada followed by an in spirational and age appropriate reading as the daily opening ex ercises 3 Trustee Use of School Newsletters This policy sets guidelines for trustees uses of school newsletters Adult and Continuing Education This policy recognizes adult education as a significant component of the Halton Board of Education 5 School Based Child Care The Halton Board will accommodate Child Care programs where space is available Fast Facts There are 67 elementary and 16 secondary schools in Halton Enrolment is 915 at the elementary level and 196 at the secondary level Glen Williams Public School junior grades staged a Science Fair and many thoughtful exhibits were included In the exposition Definitely fitting the bill in the thoughtful and caring sense was the exhibit The Affects of Acid Rain put together by Grade students Kristy Shall left and Melissa Herald Photo by Colin Gibson WSS A FAMILY BUSINESS Quality Workmanship is our Guarantee For Your Spring Renovations We are EXPERTS in Siding Soffit Fascia Eavestrough Windows Doors FREE ESTIMATES Boucher Sons Aluminum Ltd RR2 Cone 8 Georgetown