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Newtonville Sehool News BLOCK PARENTS NEWS I'm pieased to welcome Steplianie Hogg's louseliold at 29 Jones Ave. and Dustin and Danielle Armstrong's family at 2078 Newtonviile Rd., as our-newest BLOCK PARENT locations. Please point out Block Parent sigus> i windows to your chiidren and reiniforce that these are "SAFE STRAN GERS" to go to in an emergency. Anyone interested in becoming a Block Parent can caîl me at 786-2593 for an application. The Block Parent sign need onily be displayed at your con- venience. Sharon Steele N.P.S. GREENING Over the- next few years I will be assisting our custodi- an, Carol Berney, in revitaliz- ing our schooi's gardens. If anyone lias extra perennials they are cividing or discard- ing, or has an excess of annu- ais or top soil that they wouid like to donate, please contact me at 786-2593. Sharon Steele POCKET PASSES Students need to talk to parents abut suitable footwear- and clothing required for play on the yard. Witli the passlnýg of the montlis of extreme weatlier coniditions_ the POCKEýTý PASS system will not be i place again until next October. BROOMBALL On Monday, 21 April, a team of 17 players represent- ed Newtonvllle Scliooli an' ASG Tournament held at O'0rono Mrena. The players performed extremely weli and placed in the top three! A great day was liad by ail!!! Players included Paul Higligate, Darryl Lucyk, Kyle Searle, Jesse Gimblett, Ryan Frank, Dana. Schultz, Amanda Hambleton, Devan Sutton, James Sarginson, Mike Sharpe, Nathan Stripp, Jessica Nichols, Brianna McKay, Mellissa Currie, Meglian McOustra, Sarali Carter and Sarahi Frank. A specil thanks to the parents who drove the players to the arena and to those who watclied and cheered for the team! Thanks to Nancyý Forrest for ail of lier efforts in preparmng and coachmng the team. Late in May, there will be a 3-Pitch Toumnament. SWIMNG PROGRAM The swimming programi for ail of our students is well under way. ,On the last day of class, yourchild vi1, receive a writ- ten memo telling you how they have progressed and wliether or niot they have completed that level. They will also receive a badge. The level number will be on the badge if tliey have completed their level and you will enroli tliem in the next level wlien tliey corne back. If tliey have not completed the level, they will receive a Participation Badge that lias no number and tliey will have to repeat their level. POSSIBILITY 0F A CHANGE TO THE SOHOOL DAY The School Board lias embarked on a program to reduce the number of school bus runs used by schools. In Clarke Township, the plan involves two sets of runs. In the morning, early running busses would take students to St. Francis, Clarke H.S. and The Pines Sr. P.S. tlie samne busses would do later runs and take the students to the- junior schools (Newtonville, Orono and Krby). Ini the afternoon, early running busses would bring students back from St. Francis, Clarke and The Pines. The same busses would then pick up at the junior scliools. This plan is estimated to save $100,000.00 with at least 50% of tlis savings going to the Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education. Tlie implications for Newtonville P.S. is that the scliooi day would change. If this plan was to be followed as it now stands, the starting time for the scliool day wouid be between 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. The school day would end between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Bus pick-up and drop-off times would be similariy altered. If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, please cail Bob Proie at Newtonville P.S. 786-2550. Witli summer riglit around the corner the Central Lake' Ontario Conservation Autliority would like to remind residents that before starting projects that include the placing of land fil, con- struction or alteration of waterways please chieck with the Conservation Autliority. Depending on the project and the-location, a permit may need to be issued to the owner from the Autliority. Why issue permits? By issuing permits the Conservation Autliority is able to regulate various pro- j ects and advise applicants on the best way to complete their projects with no or minimal impact on the watershed. "People are becoming aware that their actions have a direct relationship to the health of the watershed in whlch tliey live," states Russ Powell, CAO of the Authority. Board of Edlucation gets world-wide fîrst The Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education is one step dloser to a paperless world. Traditionally. agenda and Iengthy background materials were photocopïed and mailed to trustees prior to board meetings. Now, thanks to a partnership with Xerox the high-tech firm which special- izes in document manage- ment, board members are able to use their lap-top computers to dial up a central informa- tion repository and view the material directly on their com- puter screen. While trustees are essen- tially testing the new system, its "real strength is what will be seen at the classroom level," says James Thomas, a representative with Xerox. Teachers will be able to put together packages of informa- tion for students by calling up a variety of material-taking minutes 10o do what, in the past, might have taken hours. "By continuing to work together, we can manage our watershed resources'to safe- guard life, struc tures and homes from flooding and ero- sion, thereby ensuring the continued healtli of the creeks, valleys and natfuraI features which we aIl enjoy." For more information a brochure concernlng the Authority's fil," construction and waterways regulations is available at the Autliority Office or please -contact CLOCA at (905) 579-0411 or email cloca@speedlmne.ca. What we do on the land is mirrored li the water. "This is a world-wide first," says Thomas, who pre- dicts future hooks to audio and links to libraries. This method of retrieval and dis- semination of information bas neyer been used at this level in education before, he says. The system is a sophisti- cated database - an infrastruc- ture which, when fully opera- tional will hold ail the board's information. A high level of security will be maintained through a series of "permis- sions" which will determine who can see a document, who can change a document, and who can comment on it. Il should eventually eliminate the need for large volumes of photocopyîng and save time in s earching for, and retriev- ing information. "This board has always taken a leadership position in technology," says Dick Malowney, director of educa- tion for the Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education. "This is one more exciting step into the future." The board's share of the cost of settinp, un the new sys- temn is $3 8,000 with Xerox contributing the remaining two-thirds. Dave Meldrum, manager of computer and information services, says this wiIl gradually be offset by savings in paper. e0bl'OWGAR»e-qjc, HOSTAS PERENNIALS TREES AND SHRUBS PLUS ONE OF A KIND ART AND CRAFTS ALL IN A GARDEN SETTING .5147 Patterson, Road Orono. Oniwo LOB 1 MO (905) 983-8246 Subscribe ta the Orono Weekly Times (905) 983-5301- &Reading Glasses Reg. $7.99 1/'PÎ: il' s r2 FREETT Planning a backyard project? help protect the environment