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=. Students, teachers like semester system by Laura Grabinski Midway through the year Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secon- dard School (ESPSS) is get- ting a new facelift. On January 30 a turnaround day will mark the end of the first semester. The se- cond semester begins on Feb. 2. The 1986/87 school year was the first time that the Penetanguishene high school experienced the semester system. Like many other secondary schools in Ontario the change is for the better. Semesters allow a senior student to 'pick up' a few credits to graduate in January rather than in June. It also cuts down on a student's work load; four subjects to concentrate on is easier than eight. This major change in the routine at ESPSS has received a favoured response from many students and teachers. Shawna Sickinger, a new New vice-principal Nancy DeVillers became the Vice- principal of Midland's Regent Public School on Jan. 1. She came to Regent School from Corpus Christi School, Penetanguishene, where she taught for 18 months. Previous to Corpus Christi she was a teacher for five years at Victoria Harbour Public School. grade 11 student at ESPSS enjoys semesters saying that, 'My marks have gone up. It's easier. You only have to put up with a teacher you hate for half a year.' Sickinger attended a Stratford school for two years that had a semester system. She noted that her other school was, "a bit more organized, but it'll (ESPSS) be better next year." Grade 12 student, Mike Patenaude likes the idea of a fresh start in January. He said, "It's good because you only have four subjects and only four exams. When you're done in January you can start fresh." Shawn Fisher, another grade 12 student fancies the idea about having four credits behind you at the end of January. He points out, "The only bad thing about it is that you get the same class every day." Principal of ESPSS, Gilles Cinq-Mars is "'very happy"' with the organiza- tion of semesters, adding that it is "very beneficial"' for a student. Cing-Mars pointed out that the seasonal 'February blahs' are interrupted by more en- thusiasm from new classes and teachers at the start of a second semester. Cinq-Mars also noted an increase in new students this year, partly because ESPSS is the first public high school in the area to offer a semester system. Margaret Rowe, an adult student likes this new system for the same reasons as other students; beause of less exams. Rowe says, "The only thing I don't like is that there's not as much time spent with my family because I'm go- ing every day"'. Grade 12, part-time stu- . dent, Natasha Chapman wasn't completely satisfied with the new system this year because in the first semester she only had two classes, but in the second semester Chapman will tackle a full schedule of four classes. But she still agrees that the change was for the better, saying that, "With the semester system I have more time to catch up on work." Graduating and grade 13 students definitely benefit from semesters. Susan ResRochers, a grade 13 stu- dent says, '""Semesters are better for grade 13. I couldn't have handled six subjects." This time of the year when the beginning of se- cond semester is ap- proching, Head _ of Guidance Department, Dave Paille says, "It's made me busier." In a sense Paille -is arranging timetables and helping students choose classes twice a year now. Paille is having a lot of individual counselling with grades nine to eleven and he says, "T'm also busy signing up a number of students not attending who wish to start Show booth attracts Midland and its harbour are represented through this week at the annual boat show in Toronto. A booth staffed by Har- bourmaster Rick Leaney, and volunteers including members of the Town Council, is attracting a great deal of interest, Midland Harbour Commit- tee Secretary Bryan MackKell said yesterday. The Harbour Committee and the Board of Park Management are sharing the booth. Boat show browsers are seeing a slide show of Midland and the harbour, large photographs of the harbour, a nautical chart of Georgian Bay with routes to Midland marked, and a very large map of downtown Midland with services of interest to boaters indicated. © Among the people taking turns manning the booth with the harbourmaster are Harbour Committee members Sheila Carpenter and Gail White, former in February." John Bayfield, head of the Geography depart- ment, unlike others, is in favour of the day to day continuity of classes and believes that it improves the quality of education. When asked what he thought of the school's changeover, Bayfield replied, "I'm very much in favour of it." Brian Quealey is also very enthusiastic about semesters, jokingly he said, "Tt's fantastic. Only way to fly." So it seems as though every one at ESPSS is en- joying a trial year with the semester system and it's definite by the number of positive responses that ESPSS will continue with semesters. attention Committee member Tony Osler, Committee Chair- man Wayne Cowdery, Council members Robert Brush, Gale Niblock, and Gail Barrie, and, represen- ting the Chamber of Com- merce, Briap Downer. Last year was the first time for a local presence at the boat show. The Har- bour Committee was join- ed by the Chamber of Com- merce, the BIA, and Midland Boatworks Restaurant a year ago. ATTENTION LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NON-PROFIT HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS Help create rental units for taged, low-income, single people will also people with special housingneeds, -- Call now for complete details. Special provincial funding for 3000 units. The Government of Ontario has made a special commitment to fund 3,000 new, non-profit housing units primarily dedicated to disadvantaged people? Who will this program help? Mainly people who are physically, develop- mentally or psychiatrically handicapped, battered women, homeless people and other socially disadvantaged persons. The Ministries of Housing, Health, and Community and Social Services are working together to help people through- out Ontario who require a combination of support-care services and housing. Projects that house low-income families and senior citizens as well as dis- advantaged groups will be considered. Innovative housing projects for disadvan- be considered on a demonstration basis. Attend our briefing sessions this February, Interested community groups and non- profit organizations are invited to attend orientation sessions on the devel- opment of housing with support services. Meetings will be held in February at each Regional Office of the Ministry of Housing. Representatives from the Ministries involved will be on hand to speak and to answer questions. Local community organizations © wishing to sponsor non-profit housing projects can apply for government grants to cover the costs of establishing non- profit housing corporations. Preliminary applications indicating an intent to develop a housing project with support services are to be submitted by March 31, 1987 Eligibility depends on the degree and nature of care provided. The federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corpora- tion, will provide mortgage loan insurance for all projects funded by this program. For more information and meeting times, contact your nearest Regional Office of the Ministry of Housing listed below. "Up to 1,000 units will be selected from applications for supportive housing previously submitted to the Ministry of Housing. Ministry of Housing Ontario Hon. Alvin Curling, Minister A SPECIAL PROGRAM FROM ASSURED HOUSING FOR ONTARIO Regional Offices -- southenomice of the Ministry Penta hn of Housing. dost for Zenith 20450 Eastern Office 1150 Morrison Dr., 2nd Flr. Hamilton, Ontario. L8P4R8 | Ottawa, Ontario.K2H8S9 Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7C 5G6 (613) 820-8305 or dial toll-free 1-800-267-6108 Northwestern Office 435 James St. S. (807) 475-1465 or dial toll-free 1-800-465-5015 Southwestern Office 275 Dundas St., Suite 1101 London; Ontario. N6B 3L1 (519) 679-7110 or dial toll-free 1-800-265-4733 Northern Office Central Office 1191 Lansing Ave. 4950 Yonge St., 4th Fir. Sudbury, Ontario. P3A 4C4 Toronto, Ontario. M2N 6K1 (705) 560-6350 or dial (416) 225-1211 or dial toll-free 1-800-461-1190 '0' and ask for Zenith 20450 Page 8, Tuesday, January 13, 1987 a