0 The Durham Region YMCA and the YMCA. Youth Employment Service bas received a grant from the Multicultural Council of Oshawa/Durham te develop a ' Youth Connections' prograin that will help create a permanent youth network. Tiprogram's goal is te provide high Shool-aged youth with the opportuni t comunicate their =ed and concerns on a variety of issues. The prograin is seekng a project co-ordinator interested in multiculturalism/aflta-racisifland who meets criteria set out by the Futures prograin. Prograin startup is Feb. 8. A final community forum in early April and a report on youth issues as they relate te multiculturalisin will conclude the project. Communlty services representatives wlll be invited te attend the forum. For further information about the co-ordinator pstion, contact Philip Brown of the YM'ffCA Durham Youth Employment Centre at 427-7670 or Lee Fraser of the Durhamn Region YMCA at 668-6868. RecommendationS ot parents' council wiII be discussed Barbara Smith of the Ontario Parents' Council will- make a presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 8s 7 te 8 p.m., te Durham Board of Education trustees, school administrators, school growth team, members and parent advisory comniittee members. The presentation will take p lace in the board room at the Education Centre, 400 Tauntený Rd. E., Witb. Sith is car of the conimon curriculum and assessment comnittee of the parents' council. She is the founder and president of the Quallty Education Network and directer of the Coalition for Education Reformn. She will outline the recommendations by the Ontario Parents' Council. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. For, further information, contact Ron Gugula, staff development facilitator, at 666-5500 ext. 5198. $?8@O@ tee to loin" OPSBA Sehool board be 1nefits from membership,, says Bowman By Mark Roesor The Durham Region Board of Educationi is spending more than $78,000 for its 1995 membership in the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA). That's $2,600 less than last year, notes board chair Patti Bsowmnan, and well worth the nioney. "It's rated on a formula that relates te student enroment and no, I don't believe it (cost) is high OPSBA represents communi- ties across Ontario "ini their con- cerns as well as their encourage- nment of what the ministry (of education) will do on behalf of echool boardsi," shé says. OPSBA worked with the Cath- olic Trusteesl AssociÎation on a social contract a-reement, for example. "An individual school board would not have been given that status'» says BowAman, "but a provinciÎ1 association could go in on behalf of school boards... «T'hats one example where we have saved literally millions.» The province's employment eq-uity legielation le another case of the board money, Bowman says. OPSBA created a cOomputer- ized structured ftrmework on how te iniplement that; we pur- chased that, as a local school board, for much less that what we could get it if we were doing it on our own... «It's like a co-op on behalf of public education.» OPSBA also lobbies the Minis- try of Education on behaîf of its members, she says. "That way you have 90 boards in the province of Ontario saying te, do and make the impact we have without OPSBA? Not a chance. "On employment equity alone we would spend thal ($78,0005 and more.' Garni1er concert series begins, Brasse-Camarade, a band with a sound described as «between rock and heavy metal,' will pr- formn at* Ecole Secondaire Saint- Charles-Garnier in Whitby on Friday ihFb3 It wleone ofthree 1perfor- mances organized by Les Pro- motionsCult urelles of L'Amicale, the French community theatre. 'En Bref...,' which perforins a variety of music from rock te folk, will perform on March 31, and 'Les Hardis Moussaillons' with a mix of folk, rock anâ polka, on May 26, aZso at Gar- nier. Tickets are $8 for students,' $15 for adults, for each show. For aIl three performances, the cost is $20 for students, $38 for adults. For more information, caîl 434-. 7676. if ac.t Janis Leering ANDERSON C.V.I. L A Theresa Magee FATHER LEO J. AUSTIN A collective sigh of relief was heaved by the entire Austin student body as two weeks of exains finally ended on Friday. Some senior students had tears glistening in their eyes as they walked out of their asat high school exani -- ever. Of course, most of us will be back in June te write finals and, at that time, al graduating seniors will truly bid goodbye te the joy of bigh school exanis. The Wlldcat bas stirred froni its lair after two weeks of exam-induced suspended anima- tion. Many teains, including junior, midget and senior girls' volleyball and boys' basketball, are back on the courts, ready te continue their reigns of terror. Austin's aquatic teain will dive back into the swim of things beginnlng th' ý week. Without xnlssng a beat, rehearsals for an April opening Of "The Beggar's Opera' resumed on Monday and many other clubs resumed their weekly and bi-weekcly meetings this week. The prom commlttee's plans for 'Prom 1995C are well under way, as are the OAC retreat commlttee's plans for an overnight retreat te be held within the next two months. The students and teachers of Fr. Austin, as weil as sevea other secondary echools, were saddened by the tragic loss of Lana Hebert. A former Austin student, 16-year-old Laiia died Jan. 19 as a result of a car accident. Lana will be sorely missed by many. Welcome back te second semester. Hopefully everyone bas now found their new classes and bas recovered from exain stress. There is not much happening in the realin of extra-curricular activities, but my article this week will address another impornt event in our sehool. Fo the past eight years, Anderson bas bad the privilege of being cha]lenged by a man who bas wanted us to be the very best. A mian named Arend Dekker bas been our principal, and he bas seen the school tbrough many changes. Mr. Dekker has been descrlbed by afl teachers as a very supportive person who bas a posvtive attitude toward education. Several years ago, Anderson experienced an addfition to, the school which bas improved our facility. The new gym becaine home to the Anderson Raiders, and the weight room is enjoyed by teachers and students allke. Mr. Dekler bas always been an avid sports fan, was formerly a gym teacher himself, and he bas shown his love for the gaines by occasionally 'bearingi' the bleachers and cheering our teains on. Also, the new library is a gift because we now have advanced research facilities. Mr. Dekker bas overseen dramatlc growth in the number of computers in Our school, and the A/V room is an extremely useful education tool. . Mr. Dekker believes that it 15 impotn egow as a school, and grow wedd. Our population at one time reached nearly 1,900 stdents. Our principal foresaw this, g*iding the biring of new staff and placing of portables. When hlring staff, Mr. Dekker made sure ofa blend of experience and youtbful energy. We bave a good staff-student relationship because the teachers are open-minded and comproflusing. Our new dramna room bas alo been given a facelift because of M.r. DIekkrs belief in the importance of a strong dramna progirain. The lights, curtains, bleachers and sound systemn would not exist without his generous support. The drama department bas presented, Mr. Dekker with a plaque commending hlm on these efforts. One thing Mr. Dekker always said 18: 'The strength of Anderson i5 its people." That statement bas proved true, because he bad taught us tbat the only way te gain success in life is by working together and co-operating with others. Anderson is going te miss hlm but we will remember the opportunities Mr. Dekker gave us te, learn from him, and froin each other. We wish hlm best of luck in bis new job as principal of Dunharton. . ,» & L # i t . ,. L %. , I.- . *1- 'I Whlby Free Press, Wednosday, Fobruay 1. 1995 . PM 29 KRISTA BROADBENT of Sinclair Second- development of their public speaking and ary School expresses ber ap reciation at presentation skills. The club meets every an Osawa oastmasters Club awards wednesday, 7 p.mr., at 100 Whiting Ave., night, held recently at the Whitby school. Oshawa. For more information, cail Mike Many students received awards for the Topolinsky of Whitby at 668-0301. Photo by Jebemy Dresar, Whltby Free Press Youth Connections program to be developed à t.,j ý.,j j-èà jý.p à zi&É,»ti  à ý -à 1 à 1