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Wednesdsay November 24, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A3 Five schools could have JK in 2000 10 classes seen operating in September By Dennis Smith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A g r iz z ly b y a n y o th e r n a m e Old pine tree lives on as unique sculpture By Kathy Yanchus SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The Halton District School Board is looking at implementing junior kinder garten (JK) next September, but not in every elementary school. In Oakville the board would initiate 10 JK classes in five schools. Under the current proposal JK would be set up in three classes at Eastview, two classes each at Gladys Speers, Lome Skuce and Brookdale and one class at W. H. Morden. Across Halton the board is looking at establishing 30 JK classes to accommo date 600 pupils in a total of 14 schools. Total cost of this proposal would be $324,000, plus teacher salaries. The proposal is still in the discussion stage, but trustees heard an information update which suggested starting with 13 classes in Burlington, 10 in Oakville and seven in north Halton (Milton and Halton Hills). Families outside these school bound aries can apply for their children to attend JK based on current optional attendance policy and practices. "We did our best to spread it out and have an equitable number of classes, with minimum disruption to other early learning classes," said superintendent Paul Anthony. "We need both kinds of learning." He said, where possible, the first schools targeted for JK will be those with excess capacity. When questioned later, Anthony said portables would be needed as the junior kindergarten program expands to other schools. Trustees agreed last spring to recon sider JK after an Early Years Study emphasized the importance of learning during the first six years. JK provides half-day education for children aged four. The cost of JK and its impact on other early grades were two major concerns expressed by trustees. Early learning grants for primary grades could be lost if junior kindergarten is established. "I believe JK is a phenomenal pro gram," said Oakville trustee Lynn Roberts. "But I want to make sure we get some gains." Anthony said any losses would be offset by the head start junior kinder garten provides. "You get kids into school a year earli er and get them assessed a year earlier," he said. "We hope to find a balance to retain early learning teachers." JK classes would require 15 full-time equivalent teachers and it was suggested some early learning staff could be reshuffled to fill the positions. Superintendent Wayne McNally said JK startup funding is not in the 2000 budget, but could obtained there or through reserves, a school renewal bud get or the anticipated budget surplus. "I'm not uncomfortable saying we can find the funding in one of those places," he said. Anthony said most of the $324,000 cost is a one-time expense, except for a $37,500 ongoing budget for supplies like paper. Jolante Grzeslo of the board's early learning team said special training is needed to teach children ages 3-6. `We need to know how these kids grow and develop and how they learn," she said. "They leam differently from older children and adults." Grzeslo said language development is particularly important for JK with class time also required for other situations such as activity, small groups and out door play. "Play is children's work," she noted, citing how working with building blocks helps kids leam. "It helps their hand-eye coordination and they leam to look at a closed space, which is helpful for read ing." Grzeslo said early learning years and junior kindergarten should encourage independence, problem solving, self esteem, social competence and overall growth. Appropriate safety measures, super vision, space and materials are needed for JK students, she said. Oakville trustee Peter Petrusich said JK would hurt Grades 1-3 students in a couple of ways. Besides loss of early learning grants, he noted the lower pupilteacher ratio required for junior kinder garten would mean larger classes for pri mary grades. "Look at our Grade 3 and 6 testing results, we've got better students now," he said. `W e're going to spend all this money and we won't have as good a stu dent as we do today." He also said money will be wasted renovating schools that won't be able to sustain JK classes once the program is expanded to all Halton elementary schools. We've heard of Whatever works. Actually security of Lakeshore Road East have a giant grizzly in their front yard. It may look absolutely genuine, overlooking the road, reared on its hind legs, but have no fear. The only real thing about this bear is the excitement it has generated. The wooden structure, grandly perched on a pedestal for a total height of nine feet, was recently carved out of an elderly pine which was felled because it overhung and rotted the Goodale's roof. Rather than chop the old evergreen down to firewood, however, the cou ple chose a differ ent route. "Once it's chopped down for firewood, it's gone," smiles Rose Goodale, who is enjoying the com ments and doubletakes from neigh bors and passersby. "We didn't tell anyone, not even family, what we were going to do." G o o d a l e 's daughter had ini tially told her mom about a Mount Forest man by the name of Peter Morgensen, who did incredible chainsaw carvings of animals and birds out of stumps. `This is a hobby for him. He works fulltime but he guard dogs, but a guard `bear?' goes to ploughing matches and fairs," said Goodale. The Goodale's solicited Morgensen's services and is not the reason why the Goodales seven hours later, their stump had a c o m p l e t e makeover, as did their yard. The pine had a circumference of eight feet and its age was an esti mate "because we started counting the rings, but lost count at 70," she said. The Goodale's house is more than 80 years old and its driveway is precar iously close to the construction going on at the subdivid ed Bailey estates. "I wanted to make a statement," smiled Rose. The Goodales are mighty proud of the latest addition to their family. Not only does he -the bear has yet to be named - have his own personal spot light for night effect, but Rose plans to decorate him with a `bear-y' merry bow for Christmas. As for adding sound effects, Rose said she had too few trick-ortreaters this year. "I wouldn't get rnoto D y reter j. inompson any next Don and Rose Goodall and dog "Peanut" display their newly chainsaw Halloween if we carved 8 ft. Bear statue. The statue was cut from a dead tree by carver did that," she smiled. Peter Mogensen. CLOSING OUT SALE! Everything M ust Go! 6 Days Only! 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