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1 I THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, APRIL 4,2001 PAGE A3 BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer NEWCASTLE - A committee will recommend the currently- empty Lockhart Public School be closed. In recent years, the building had acted as a satellite campus, first for Newcastle Public School before its new site was opened in the mid 1990s. It then provided space for Vincent Massey Public School students. students. But it became unnecessary for students to be sent to the Lockhart Lockhart Road building when John M. James Public School in Bow- manville opened in January. Keeping the building open without without students in it resulted in a "loss of pupil place grants," the money used to build new schools, says Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board chairman Bob Willsh- er. Because of the way the Province's funding formula works, closing the school would mean the board would receive annual funding for 98 pupil places, or $107,800. As well, the closure would result in about $10,000 in annual maintenance maintenance savings for the board. "It's the funding formula that's driving it so hard," says Mr. Willsh- er, noting even if other nearby public public schools become too full, it is cheaper to place portables on site than it is to maintain the Lockhart building and bus students there. The board decided to have a look at a number of either empty or under-capacity sites in its jurisdiction jurisdiction last fall, forming committees to look at the possibility of closing the schools. Earlier last week, a com- . mittee looking at Mitchell's Corners Public School, currently home to about 50 students, decided- to rec- ommend the board close that school. ÿA public meeting, attended (by only two people,, , was held ' Thursday night to' garner input into Lockhart, and the same recommendation is being made for that site. The committee will present its recommendation at an. April 11 board meeting. Should the board decide decide the school is to close, it must first offer it at no cost to coterminous coterminous school boards, then to other public bodies. If all other eligible groups turn down the site, then the school board will be given the option option of selling the building and land. / Z'- z ■ Z JL w J Service with a smile A.J. GROEN/ Statesman photo COURTICE - Teachers from Monsignor Leo Cleary School mopped floors and flipped burgers at the McDonald's Restaurant at Townline Road and King Street in Courtice recently recently to raise funds for a multi-media computer for the school. Above, Grade 2 and 3 teacher Jennifer Collins delivers service with a smile at the drive-through window. The event, arranged by the school's parent council, raised about $300. Public school board dissects poor literacy test results Catholic school board strikes partnership with IBM BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer Local students may benefit from a $400,000 partnership between the Catholic school board and computer giant IBM. Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clar- ington Catholic District. . School Board officials will pilot the Learning Village Partnership Initiative in about six yet-to-be determined determined schools in the board's jurisdiction, says superintendent of schools Joanne Hough. The program allows for the expansion of a school's Internet capabilities. Not only will it help students in terms of curriculum, it will allow school staff, such as teachers, librarians and library assistants "share strategies, best practices and perhaps lessons," she says, noting, "Teachers working with teachers really has the strongest effect on classroom classroom change." It will also enhance the use of the Internet as a "learning tool and research research tool," says the superintendent-,' superintendent-,' noting- math may be one area Where the partnership may benefit students. "One of the things this program seems to do is enhance the enthusiasm enthusiasm of students toward mathematics," she notes. The $400,000 from IBM comes in the form of software, hardware, technical technical support and teacher training, says Ms. Hough. The partnership runs until June 2002, after which the board will be able to keep the software software and hardware. "Our contribution is to support the professional development of our teachers in respect to this," by setting setting aside opportunities for teachers to have training, explains Ms. Hough. As well, board computer staff will help with technical support support of thé new technology. Ms.' Hough.pity's, ÎLyi.siqnjjig.'ses^ sion, which will include teachers, library representatives and possibly a trustee, will be held in the next week. Schools will be encouraged to apply to act as a pilot site. It will take about five months to implement' implement' the software, notes Ms. Hough. BY LOIS TUFFIN Special ta This Week Give a student, who is weak in reading, a test for which lie or she has to read the instructions and what do you get? In the case of the local public school board, you gel one of the main reasons only 62 per cent of Grade 10 students students passed last autumn's literacy test. Nine out of 10 students who failed the test were weak or vciy weak in reading reading test-related information, like instructions, board officials officials said Thursday. Another. 15 per cent of students left at least one quarter of the test blank. Catholic board officials believe their lacklustre results results are also "effort-related," says Diane Mather, that board's curriculum consultant consultant for assessment and evaluation. evaluation. Sixty-four per cent of local Catholic Grade 10 students students passed the provincewide provincewide literacy test. "Because it was the pilot (project), it didn't have meaning for students," students," Ms. Mather says. "The ones that completed the test seemed just fine." She is still gathering reports reports from Holy Cross and St. Peter's schools in Peterborough Peterborough to provide a detailed analysis like the one public board staff released Thursday. Thursday. Yet she knows, from some teachers, that many students wrote one-word answers answers or didn't supply the correct number of paragraphs paragraphs as instructed. Educators say they can correct that problem during classroom tests by fielding students' questions or by peering over shoulders as students write. Starting this October, Grade 10 students must pass the test in order to graduate from high school. They can rewrite it if needed. "We expect better results when the test counts," says Bob Willshcr, the chairman of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR). Teachers marking the tests found many students didn't understand what was wanted or couldn't relate the requested answer to their own experience. Most students start writing writing before they think over what they want to write, which undermines the quality quality of their answer, notes Fiona White, KPR's high school curriculum consultant. consultant. Students who wrote the two-day test last October have three years of tire new curriculum under their belts. The Grade 10s of 2006 will be the first class with a full school career in the new curriculum, says Trudy Lum, KPR's superintendent of educational educational services. SPRING DANCE ~ Fundraiser ~ Newcastle and District I C-,f Anril 7 7001 Chamber of Commerce! April /, ZUU1 Newcastle Community Hall Featuring an "All Request ^ Video Dance Party" * 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. - $12.50 Per Person • Cash Bar • Door Prizes • Light Lunch Provided Tickets Available At: Stedmans 987-5187 20 King St. E., Newcastle or ' Must Be of Legal Drinking Age 1 the Door CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON PUBLIC NOTICE Write us Ifie Cattabian Statesman Clarington This Week welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be limited to 150 words and signed with a full first and last name OR two initials and a last name. Letters must include a telephone number number for. confirmation confirmation purposes. Unsigned letters will not be printed. printed. FAXthem: 623-6161 EMAIL them: judi.bobbitt® durhamnews.net MAIL them: 62 King St. W„ Bowmanville, ON L1C3K9 Debbie of Oshawa Lost 29% lbs. & 34 Inches -ZZ-'" Wei^Dt Mancirtenieni anct Nutritional Centres «1 Providing a Natural Way to Better Health and Wellness " 1330 Ritson Road N., Oshawa 432-6999 Bowmanville Mall 697-9484 Expires, April 12, 2001 Get a Healthier lifestyle! Ton Qunliiv Hcrlis Minerals mill Vitamins 2001 DOG AND CAT LICENCES Effective immediately, Clarington dog and cat licences will be sold door to door by Mark Stewart of Animal Licencing Sen/ices Inc. Mr. Stewart, who has been contracted by the Municipality, will provide identification to show that he is authorized to sell licences on behalf of the Municipality. The Clarington Animal Services By-law requires that all dogs and cats be licenced each year. Responsible pet ownership is encouraged with reductions in the licence fee for neuter/spay, rabies vaccine vaccine and microchipping. We are able to return dogs and cats to their owners with a simple telephone call if the animal is wearing a tag. Please protect your pet by purchasing a 2001 licence! If you require any further information, please contact our Clarington Animal Shelter at (905) 623-7651.. Bûlèficvandetfecilveiiess llwHiinllm h nitron THANK YOU Volunteers and sponsors of "Bowl for Millions" 2001 With your generous support Big Brothers & Sisters of Clarington raised $40,000 for community mentoring programs! JL speciaCthianhs to everyone who made this our most successfuf event ever- focaf businesses, service cCuôs, efementary &fiigfi schools, howfing feagues, media, individuafs and especiaffy our sponsorsfor generous ty supporting us each year. Proud Sponsor 0NTARI0FÜWER GENERATION Join us May 12 th . Apple Blossom Fruit Wine & Food Festival 12-5 pm hosted by Archibald Orchards & Estate Winery. Tickets $5 available at: Big Brothers & Sisters (905) 623-6646. Archibald Orchards & Estate Winery (905) 263-2396. Proceeds to Big Brothers & Sisters of Clarington. fruit wines gourmet foods live jazz quartet art exposé ANDTRUCKS Z;/,, , , ; OVER 200 NEW VEHICLES IN STOCK ON SALE NOW VISIT US TODAY AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEST! m uammestâ Wv \ . ■ Chrysler) • SHUTTLE SERVICE • SERVICE • PARTS NEW MODERN 12 BAY SERVICE DEPT. ALSO EXPANDED PARTS DEPT. 799 BLOOR ST. W., OSHAWA (905) 404-0525 Bloor St South Service Rd I éh Durham ■ ' " Dodge Oshawa Chrysler GO Station