The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WMW Fh P..., Vàxkmy, JwUM20, 19M. Pq 20 Cluibs ' Smoke Free'9 Whitby's two Rotary clubs and both the Whitby and Brooklin seniors' groups were among 13 area, organizations recently rec- ognized as 'Smoke F'ree' by the Lung Association of Durham Lung Association president Carolyn Greer presented citations to each organization for designating thoir meetings in 1994 as smoke-free. The citations were given to mark World No Tobacco Day, Cittinswore gvn to the Brooklin Centennil Seniors, Whitby Seniors' Activity Centre Rotary Club of Whitby and Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise. Save Our General Hospital THE OSHAWA FESTIVAL SINGERS, in- cluding these Whitby members, are Ieav- ing tomnorrow (Thursday) for the i 6th annual Shrewsbury International Music Festival and a 12-day performance tour of Great Britian. More than 30 bands, choirs and dance groups from ail1 over the world wiII participate in the festival. The choir wil also S.ing at Coventry, St. Martins in the Fields and Westminster Abbey Photo by Mark Reesor, Wýhltby Free Press FROM PAGE i thing like this before now?» says group co-founder Shirley Scott. «I can't understand how the mayor of our comniunity could be in the dark.» «Obviously the politicians do not read the newspapers," adds Hobbs. «I was away ail fali and camne back in December and every paper for about a weok had what the outeome of the consul- tant's report was going to be.» "If this seems like a last ditch effort, it's because we have really just become aware of what the plns are for this hospital,» says The group has prepared a peti- tion, which will be taken to al parts of Whitby, and plans to be part of the Canada Day parade. Members are planning to take their fight to Queen's Park and urge residonts to cal! their k~PP, councillor and hospital board members. As Scott puts it, "if people think the issue is ail settled; no way, there is something we can do -- we can unsettie it.» Save our General Hospital can ho contacted at 430-8794 or 668- 3447. Hospital holds barbecue tomorrow The Whitby General Hospital Auiliary will hold a barbecue on Thursday, Juno 30, il a.m. to 5 p.m, at the Canadian Imperial Bsank of Commerce branches in Whitby and Broolin. Ail proceeds go to the Whitby General Hospital Auiliazy for neoded'equipinent. Durham board revises sohool report cards The Durham Board of Education has revised its report carde for students in grades 1 to 9. The new report carde will ho ready this fail for use by schools wishing to participate in a pilot project. Revising the current report carde became necessary when the Mfinistry of Education and Training released the document 'Common Curriculum,' which divided current school subjects into four main areas: arts, language, self and society, mathematics, science and technology. The Common Curriculum also placed emphasis on improved accoutability to parents through more spocifie information about what students have learned instead of what students have been taught. nhe board's report card reviow .ommttee, composed Of educators, parents and students, began its work in November 1993. It gathered information from other boards and information on outcome-based education before surveying 6,000 parents, students, teachers, administrators and trustees and conducting interviews of 24 groupe of people. The committee's preliminary recommendations were brought before the board in March, then li stributed to a variety of in terested parties for feedback. Revisions were madle and the resulting draft report carda were sent to schools - for response. The final versions are ready for use in Durham schools this September. Thy oerth ormative years (grade 1, 2 and 3 and grades 4, 5 and 6) and the transition years (grades 7 and 8 and grade 9) and consiat of a progress report, an interim report and a final report for both the regular English prograin and the French immersion program. The Durham board hopes to have at least two elementary schools and two secondary schools from each area volunteer to test the report carda over the next year. The new report carda feature consistency in format, inform- ation and scoring methods and should improve the way in which parents are provided with important information about their child's progress in school. For further information, cal the Durham Board of Education's technical resources officer at (905) 666-3821. GRADE 4 AND 5 teachers and librarians with authentic dress, decorations and food. at St. Bernard Catholic Sohool concluded Librarians helped students read Up onl studies on Mexico with a fiesta, complete Mexico in preparation for the event. Pht y mark Reesor, Whltby Free Press Summer a good time to get ahead By Katherine Lantz Dfrector of education Sylvan Learning Centre Summer vacation for inany families means a lesa pressured echedule and, for many students, putting away the school books. Summer is not only important for leisure activities, it's an ideal time for students to I in any gaps that may hinder their aca- demie performance when school starta in the faîl. A summer plan for educational opportunitîes can address poten- tial learning dificulties, develop ways te challenge and motivate bright children and help stu- dents retain learning over the summer. .Grade retention is especially important -- studios show that children can forget up to 80 per oent of what has ben learned if these skills aren't consistently reinforoed. To make the summer count for your child's education, consider the following steps: * before teachers leave for the summer, make an appointment with this year's teachier, school counsellor and, if possible, the teacher for next faîl. Discuss the child's strengths, weaknesses, warning signe of potential pro- blems, personality and socializa- tion at school. * for older students, diseuse with the guidance counsellor courses that he/she should take to meet the student's and parents' goals. That can help a parent make decisions about suminer activities that wilI help prepare for the school year ahead. For example, a shy child may need summer camp or sports activities te enhance self- confidence. Parents can also initiate a variety of learning activities at homo teo enhance learning: * talk about current events geography, health, time anc1 measurement and other subjects. * play r mes that have an educational orientation. * read te a child regularly from ago 6 months; have a child read the map te help navigate during family trips; get your child a library card. * write to, friends, grand- parents an d pn-pals; keep summerjournaror dia . pha with the clasa in the faîl. * keep a child stimulated with trips te the zoo museum and other places toe nh ance learning.