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Principal's Message ESPSS students complete second set of examination by Gilles Cing-Mars Principal ESPSS ESPSS students have just completed their second set of formal examinations. For a good number of them. it will likely be their last set this year, given that exemptions from the June examinations are possible if the students have consistently achieved at a high academic level. All students should realize however, that high marks up to now are not a guarantee of an exemption in any subiect. 'That perogative properly belongs to the subject teacher who will make his or her decision based on the student's work and effort over the entire vear. Please keep that in mind if you should notice a slackening of effort by your student during the nex! term. 1. Attendance and academic success. Concern was expressed at a recent staff meeting that in some cases, students appear to be missing school for less than substantive reasons, and_ that parents are giving their blessing to those ab- sences. For example, Friday afternoon absences, justified by notes from parents. are recorded for the purpose of hairdressing --appoint- ments: going shopping; meeting friends at the bus or airport; trying for a driver's licence; etc. As educators of your children we have no real problem with student absences, if thev are verified by the parents, for reasons or causes such as illness or other events that are of extreme and which cannot be scheduled at other times We do have real concerns, however, with the practice of parents agreeing to their child's absence from school for reasons or causes which. in our opinion, could be scheduled at times other than the school day. The increasing frequency of these absences on Friday afternoons indicates that in all probability you as parents may not be realizing fully the impact of the per- mission slips you are giving vour child. Some teachers have analvzed the term marks in their classes, related to student ab- sence and have discovered a_ positive correlation between the absence rate of students and lower marks of students. I hope you are keeping a close watch on this type of thing. 2. Drugs. We know that any organism, animal or vegetable, is more succeptible to importance -- harm: while it is growing. Students in their teens are such organisms and con- sequently in danger of harm (emotional, psvchological, intell- ectual. and physical) if allowed to indulge in drug use which can become addictive. It is fhe position of the personnel at ESPSS that the great majority of youngsters attending school must be protected from _ the hazards of drug use, advocated and prac- ticed by the few. Con- sequently, I wish to acquaint all parents, not onlv with the perceived dangers, but also with Mv position on this issue I believe that a small minority of students are drug users and sometimes peddlers. I believe they represent a danger to the other students in the sense that they can convince other more im- pressionable youngsters to indulge in drug use. This in my view places most of our students in double jeonardy -- not only are thev ridiculed by the few users if they don't indulge; they bring harm to themselves if they do, as well as placing themselves in a position of breaking the law At ESPSS any drug user or peddler must realize that he or she is indulging in a very high risk activity. Students caught using or dealing in narcotics will be subject to the full force of Board policy concerning suspension from school, as well as subiect to the full force of the law insofar as it can be applied by the judiciary. be a deterrent to those who would use drugs in our school, and a warning to those who might that it may well prove to be a dangerous activitv I know, my dear parents, that we at ESPSS have your full support in this matter. I can also assure you that we do not have a high incidence of drug abuse at ESPSS. 34 Rotary Club Student Exchange. Congratulations are definitely in order to Inge Schwauss_ of ESPSS who has been selected by the District Rotarv Club to represent this area in a foreign country next year. Inge who is presently in grade 12 will live in either of Australia, South Africa, or West Germany from September, 1981 to June 1982. Inge certainly has the best wishes of all who know her at ESPSS. 4. General Review. It was finally our turn and ESPSS hosted a team of fifteen SCBE and Page 6, Wednesday, March 25, 1981 "This policy is meant to Ministry of Education superintendents during the week of Feb. 3-6, 1981. These individuals visited every teacher in several classes, examined all our courses of studies and practices, procedures, and policies. They interviewed staff. students, custodians and clerical staff. All in all it was a verv thorough visit and we appreciated the opportunity to be their host for the week. While we have not yet received any formal report on the general review, all informal accounts received in- dicate that the team feel verv positively about ESPSS. its students and staff. It appears that they were particularly im- pressed with the polite deportment of our students towards each other and towards staff, and vice-versa. I can onlv conclude that these same students are living the very values which you parents teach them at home. That certainly makes our task of educating these youngsters much easier and we appreciate your support. 5. Report Card Distribution.. Please note that report cards will be distributed to all students on Monday, March 30. Please sign the report card, make whatever comment you wish in the appropriate section, and return them promptly to the school via your son or ent). daughter. 6. Parent-Teacher Night. Now that there appears to be no chance of a storm, we have scheduled a Parent- Teacher Interview Night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. 1981 (no joke, to be sure). We strongly urge vou to take ad- vantage of this op- portunity to chat with the teachers at ESPSS and. in some case, meet them perhaps for the first time. You may be assured that all staff here looks forward to meeting you on those occasions. 7. Linkage Program (Technical Departm- Linkage is a relatively new program introduced by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in con- junction with secondary schools and_ industry. The program involves several trades; at ESPSS it applies to the Motor Vehicle Mechanic and the Machinist trades. The objective is to provide a_ basic training for students whichis common across the province' and recognized by industry. The basic material learned is. recorded in the student's personal record book as he or she completes each section. Once all the necessary basic material is covered, a_ student wishing to continue an apprenticeship in the trade may have the basic training session waived by the em- plover. This effectively WHEN WE PREPARE YOUR TAXES WE gt If your H&R Block- | prepared tax return | Is questioned, we , step in to represent ) you to the district taxation office, all year round, atno extra.cost. We know all the tax laws, and we double-check your return before you sign it. We'll take your place, because nothing can take the place of good solid service. This year be sure. We can help you with Ontario Tax Credits. THE INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS le a aS, Hé&R BLOCK MIDLAND 517 DOMINION AVE. (next to post office) Open9a.m.-9p.m., weekdays 9-3 Sat. Phone 526-3001 PENETANG 75 MAIN ST. Open 9 a.m. -5p.m., weekdays 9-1 Sat. Phone 549-7101 ; OPEN SAT. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY shortens the ap- prenticeship period, which means a higher pav scale sooner. Basic material would normally be completed Machinist classes should ensure he or she is ineluded in the linkage program. Although they may not now intend to pursue by the time a student one of these ap- finishes the fourth year prenticeships, who in a secondary school. knows what the future Anv student enrolled in mav bring? senior Automotive or This program could It's supposed to sink The winner of the Spring Splash contest. sponsored by Chalet Sports and Faquipment, will be the person when snowmobile body at right sinks who guesses _ best through ice the also be available for mature, part-time students who would like to acquire the basics of a trade while working. In other words, we at ESPSS will welcome enquiries from any community adult who mav have interest in this program. at the Penetanguishene town dock. Chalet Sports owner Don Ealev says two years ago the date was April 23. Last. year the ice was out before the contest started. October 1, 1981. THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE RATES IN ONTARIO New Minimum Wage rates will go into effect March 3ist, 1981. A further increase will go into effect Effective Effective March 31st October 1st General hourly rate $3.30 $3.50 Learner hourly rate $3.20 $3.40 Student hourly rate $2.45 $2.65 Liguor Licensed premises set Shisd hourly rate $2.80 $3.00 Construction hourly rate $3.55 $3.75 Additional information may be obtained from the Employment Standards Branch, Ontario Ministry of Labour, in the following cities: TORONTO 400 University Avenue M7A1V2 Tel: (416) 965-5251 KINGSTON 1055 Princess Street K7L1H3 Tel: (613) 542-2853 OTTAWA 2197 Riverside Drive KiH 7X3 Tel (613) 523-7530 SUDBURY 199 Larch Street P3E 5P9 Tel: (705) 675-4455 WINDSOR 500 Ouellette Avenue N9A 1B3 Tel: (519) 256-8278 For toll free numbers check the government listings in HAMILTON 1 West Avenue South L8N 2R9 Tel:.(416) 527-2951 KITCHENER 824 King Street West N2G 1G1 Tel: (519) 744-8101 - ST. CATHARINES 205 King Street L2R 3J5 Tel: (416) 682-7261 THUNDER BAY 435 James Street South P7E 6E3 Tel: (807) 475-1691 your local telephone directory. Ministry of Labour ® Ontario Employment Standards Branch KENORA 808 Robertson Street PON 1X9 Tel: (807) 468-3128 ° LONDON 205 Oxford Street East N6A 5G6 Tel: (519) 439-3231 SAULT STE. MARIE 390 Bay Street P6A 1X2 Tel: (705) 949-3331 TIMMINS 273 Third Avenue P4N1E2 Tel: (705) 267-6231