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Melodee Martinuk Chronicle Staff Gary Leduc is a hard man to track down these days. Call him at his office in the St. Louis Adult Learning Centre, and he will probably be at the Cambridge branch. Call Cambridge, and he‘s likely to be at the separate school board of education‘s offices on Moore Avenue in Kitchener or a marketing conference in Toâ€" This isn‘t because he‘s elusive or evasive, though. The fact of the matter is that Leduc, principal of the board‘s newlyâ€"created department of continuing, community and alternative education, is just very busy developing, implementing and maintaining a system of adult and alternative education programs to serve the entire community of Catholic ratepayers. "Establishment of the department was a natural evolution once fullâ€"funding was announced," said Leduc. "It‘s a commitment to providing full services to the community; to be representative of a fullâ€"fledged system.‘‘ Previous to the creation of Leduc‘s department this summer, the Waterloo separate board‘s continuing education was limited to heritage language courses and leisure programming. L mTWEiIerI;;do;l;Tn-;;& a hard man to find, the tracks he‘s already left behind him are clearly visible. _ _ Most notable of the programs launched this fall has been the transformation of Waterloo‘s vacant St. Louis school into the St. Louis Adult Learning Centre, with a separate campus in Cambridge. The Centre is the separate board‘s version of an adult high school, offering secondary level courses leading to a high school diploma and English as a second language. * Lasagna * Roast Beet * Baked Ham or Chicken * Roast Brown Potatoes * 4 Salads * Relish tray * Rol!s and Butter * Cakes, squares and tarts * Complete with disposable dishes . Min. $8 2 5 10 orde ONLY RC Board‘s expanding programs show community commitment CHEF JOHANNES CATERING per person. plus tax. LUnder 25 orders. add 06 each for more «ntormation «all the ( het We have halls tor every occasion Phone tor our colourtul bro« hure Call today â€" 745â€"3011 THE HAPPY COOKER Fall and Winter Buffet from Min. 10 orders St. Louis Adult Learning Centre teacher Colleen Maloney teaches English as a second language class. The St. Louis centre opened September 15 and already enrolment has grown from eight ESL and five secondary credit students, to approximately 65 ESL and 20 secondary students. Leduc stressed the St. Louis centre is not a duplication of the services offered at the public board‘s Operation Open Door. Unlike Open Door, which permits enrolment only at certain times of the year and classes occur daily through the week, St. Louis offers continual entry through the year and "fexible" class reâ€" quirements. ‘"‘We‘re attempting to try and blend educational opportunity with the realities of an adult‘s world. An adult‘s commitments are such that the time they can dedicate to onâ€"site school work is limited. Many of our clients are shift workers, who must shift between classes during the day and classes in the evening. We can accommodate them. Others have partâ€"time jobs, or families, that make it impossible for them to come to school every day.,"‘ he explained. In order to provide this flexibility, St. Louis‘ programming uses independent learning materials provided by the Ministry of Educaâ€" tion, coupled with the support of qualified teachers. Secondary courses now offered include English, math, introductory science, business, law and contemporary studies. Although courses involving technical equipment, typing or computer science, are not now offered, arrangements will be made for students to take classes at one of the board‘s high schools. In the future the centre may expand to offer computerâ€"based learning opportuniâ€" ties, Leduc added. The fastest growing program at St. Louis is its English as a second language course. Already eight ESL courses are offered, and Leduc predicted further expansions, P 3) Breaded Shrimps 4) Chicken Liver & Bacon 5) Beef Bacon Rolls 6) Chicken Fingers 7) Oriental Balfi 8) Swedish Meat Balls 9) Parmesanâ€"Bacon Bread Puffs 10) Polynesian Putfs Including: Onental peanut sauce dip honey mustard and cocktail sauce Mirmmmum order 5 dozen HORS D‘OEUVRES All varieties to choose from 1) Miss Ptggz Puffs 2) Battered Scallops for Your Holiday Enjoyment ALL HOMEMADE HOT Qoxwtce . . . worthy of your confidence. Â¥ _ _° tradition since 1925. \Ratz~Bechtelaws: Convenient Parking, entering Wellington or King Street including the introduction of more advanced classes, will soon be necessary. ‘"Eventually we‘re hoping to entice In addition to the St. Louis Adult Learning Centres, the board is also piloting two new programs for youths and children: a storefront school set to open next month (see page three) and a children‘s enrichment program for students in Grades 1 to 8. ‘"‘This program is equivalent to an adult leisure programâ€"we want to provide quality leisure and learning experiences after school," Leduc explained. The enrichment program is tuition based; cost is $1.50 per hour. The program, scheduled to be offered at five county schools in the new year, will feature such courses as recreational gym, crafts, introduction to computers, karate, cartooning and babysitting. As well, the board is sponsoring for the first time drivers education programs, summer school, and is investigating creating a summer program for gifted children. Leduc is "extremely pleased" with public response to these programs, and stresses that it is only community awareness that stands in the way of rapid growth. *‘Considering the short time we‘ve been at it, we‘ve been successful. Registration is continuing to grow and we‘re slowly becoming known in the community. Many people just aren‘t aware that the separate school board is involved in continuing education,""‘ he said. _ ‘""We‘re certainly learning. And as we learn we hope to continue to provide additional quality programs that meets the needs of the people in the community. 621 KING WEST â€" 745â€"9495 funeral home and chapel In Time of Mourning â€" We Care ESL into secondary level courses," he SDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1986 â€" PAGE 5 Melodee Martinuk photo