It was the last regular board meeting for the 2003-04 school year and the Rainy River District School Board took the time here Tuesday night to honour some of the successes of students and staff over the last few months.
First, the board recognized the efforts of students competing in the annual intermediate district speech contest which was held April 29 at Robert Moore School.
Twelve students in Grades 6-8, representing both the local public and Catholic boards, participated.
First place went to Matthew Hebert (St. Francis) for his speech entitled “Being Nice.”
Andrew Friesen (Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program) took second place for his speech, “Summer Vacation 2004,” while Dave Sandoval (Robert Moore) and Deanna Saunders (Crossroads) tied for third.
Sandoval’s speech was about El Salvador while Saunders’ was called “Monsters Under Your Bed.”
Friesen and Sandoval recited their speeches last night to the delight of the board members.
Also Tuesday night, the board recognized the achievements of two students from John Loewen’s class at the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program who recently went to St. John’s, Nfld. to attend the national science fair.
Dan McBride and Brandon Olsen both received honourable mentions for their efforts.
“At a national level, that’s quite an accomplishment,” said Walter Rogoza, the board’s math and science curriculum co-ordinator.
Olsen was on hand to explain his project, entitled “What’s Brewin.’” He set out to determine how to make a better cup of coffee—and save money in the long run.
Olsen measured the concentration of coffee by passing light through it onto a solar panel attached to a voltage reader. The lower the voltage, the stronger the concentration, he explained.
Olsen discovered that by mixing the grounds and the water together, rather than using a drip coffee-maker, a person could use about 66 percent less grounds.
“Canadians could save $350 billion annually by using this new method of mixing,” he said.
The entrepreneurial student hopes to design and patent a coffee-maker using this new technique.
The board congratulated Olsen and McBride on their accomplishments, and looks forward to hosting the regional science fair here next year.
A third presentation to the board Tuesday night came from students and staff at F.H. Huffman School here, who held a musical celebration of positive character called “From the Inside Out.”
The school-wide project was an effort to educate parents about bullying and the board’s anti-bullying curriculum. It took place May 13 at the Townshend Theatre.
Teachers Mary Lynne Bondett and Rhian MacIver gave parents some basic information about bullying. Then the students sang a series of musical numbers about respect and tolerance.
“The musical was all about building positive character,” said Bondett.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the board:
•voted to approve By-Law #156 to issue 2004 educational taxes within the board’s jurisdiction in the unorganized areas as indicated in Section 257.7 of the Education Act;
•voted to approve write-offs of unorganized taxes in the amount of $3,812.89 and in supplementary taxes in the amount of $1,474.82; and
•voted to approve the Anti-Bullying Curriculum Implementation Plan.
The board will hold a special budget meeting Monday, June 21 at 7 p.m. at Robert Moore School.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
