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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday March 31, 2007 - 17 Underachiever says Aquinas teacher was the greatest By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Beth Robertson had never heard of Humber College's Greatest High School Teacher Award until she found out she won. Her surprise to receive the honour turned to laughter when she was told which of her past students nominated her. "If there was one student who wouldn't nominate me, or any other teacher for that matter, it was this student," said the St. Thomas Aquinas teacher, smiling. "She was an underachiever with a major attendance problem. She never came to class. I think I even failed her the first time." But Robertson did get through to Monica Blumhoff. The 20-year-old Humber public relations student is the one behind the nomination. She took Grade 11 law ­ possibly two times ­ with Robertson. Blumhoff submitted an essay about Robertson for the college's Greatest High School Teacher Award Contest. The two best essays ­ judged for both writing style and the story of the favourite teacher ­ earned an award for both its author and the teacher men- tioned. It's easy to see why Blumhoff's essay stood out. "There were times when I hated, I mean truly hated Mrs. Robertson. I never understood why she was always on my case about my schoolwork, my grades and my attendance," the letter reads. "For a while I thought she hated me, until I realized that she did not hate me, it was the reverse, she actually cared about me. She saw that I was not living up to my potential and cared enough about me to try to change that, and thankfully she succeeded." A nomination coming from a student like Blumhoff, Robertson says, is extra special. "It feels good, I guess for all the right reasons. It wasn't a kid who got straight A's and said, `These were great classes, I got a lot out of them and I did really well.' "This was a kid who said, `you were the only one who reached me. Your classes were neat and challenging, and you got through to me and made me work.'" The pair also had a special relationship. Blumhoff's mother died of cancer ASHLEY CAMARA / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SHE'S THE BEST: Beth Robertson of St. Thomas Aquinas won the Greatest High School Teacher contest presented by Humber College. Here she is seen with the award against a wall in her classroom where she displays photos of her students from over the years of teaching at the high school. Calling All Friends! OAKVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Celebrating 25 Years Serving The Community Former students, faculty, staff and supporters are cordially invited to the See Aquinas page 19 OAKVILLE - Celebrating 150 years! STATUTORY PUBLIC MEETING Proposed Official Plan & Zoning By-Law Amendments Location: 197, 209 & 231 Oak Park Boulevard Applicant: Silwell Developments Ltd. & Pouncet Main Street Inc. File #: Z.1414.06 Members of the public are invited to attend this statutory public meeting, hosted by Town Council, to provide input. April 23, 2007 - 7:30 p.m. Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Council Chambers. A staff report and recommendation will be considered. The purpose of these applications is to facilitate the construction of two, linked office buildings, one being six storeys in height and another at four storeys. An Official Plan amendment is required to permit the six storey height and a Zoning By-law amendment is required to re-zone the lands to regulate the proposal. (Note: This proposal may be subject to modification) PLANNING ACT REQUIREMENTS: If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to The Town of Oakville before the by-law is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of The Town of Oakville to the Ontario Municipal Board. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submissions to The Town of Oakville before the by-law is passed, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so. The public may view planning documents and background material at the Planning Services Department between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Questions, written submissions or requests for notification may be directed to Gabe Charles Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O.Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6, telephone: 905-845-6601 ext. 3984 or e-mail: gcharles@oakville.ca Dated at the Town of Oakville this 31st day of March, 2007. For information on Town meetings, services and programs visit www.oakville.ca O OAKVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL C 25th ANNIVERSARY GALA 5h DINNER & AUCTION on Friday, May 4th, 2007 Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre 2515 Wyecroft Road R.S.V.P: bhartwig@ocsonline.org or 905-825-1247 ext. 221 112 Third Line, Oakville (905) 825-1247 ocsadmissions@ocsonline.org www.ocsonline.org