WhIlby Fm ePmesa Wekiosday, Deoember 15, 199. Page 25 POLICE LEARNING Lucie Roohete ST, CHARLES GARNIER "CONSTABLE GREG SANDS grimaces with pain as a fellow officer sprays water o n him 1 rinse off a cayenne pepper spray. Off icers are trained in the use of the spray, which causes acute buming in the eyes and a very painful inflammation of the mucous membranes and upper respiratory system, before being allowed 10 carry i. They're aIso given the option of experienc- ing its effects firsthand. It causes no permanent harm. The demonstration was held at the Durham College olice Leam in9 Centre, which was officially opened Friday. Ail Durham police have been trained ai the centre since August. Below, Constable Bruce Kovak of the Durham Regional Police tactical su pport unit answers questions from students at a police career awareness day held last week at G.L. Roberts Collegiate in Osh- awa. Students from across the region who are interested in a career in Iaw enforce- ment attended the day. Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Press Bonjour! Well, it's the lest week of school before the Christmas break Boy, time sure flies, doesn't it? The lest week has been a busy one. Ecole secondaire catholique Saint. Charles Garnier had their first 'Semaine d'Esprie (spirit week). It began on Monday with hat and tie day. A variety of interesting hats and ldes were seen that day. Thero were also activitios during the day. The main activity was bingo. Many prizes wero givon out for the winners and everybody had a good lime. Tuesday was summer day. Students were invited to wear suniglassos and bats and bring beach towels to school. It was a blast. The main activity was karaoko. Students and teachers lined up to croon their favourito tunes in front of their friends and colleagues. Also on Tuesday, students from the Grade 10 Canadien- history class and the Grade 12 law clas visitod Osgoode Hall and old city hall in Toronto. The two classes also sat in various courtroomns and watched trials. It was a lot of fun, and very interesting. Wednesday was 'Battie of the sexes day! The main activities meant girls vs. guys. Needless to say (ahem), the -girls were victorious. That was also a lot of fun. There were contests for the best lips, a tug-of-war and a contest for the best hair. Wednesday was also bad hair day. Students were asked te corne Up with the most, well, interesting nairstyle possible. Congratulations te Andrea Mutton who was the winner. Wednesday mornùng, there was a mass et school t celebrate Christmes. Students were asked te, bring non-perishable food items and toys te, the mass. Thursday was toga day. Students draped themselves in al kinds of sheets for the day. The main activity involved sponges. Pickering trustee Kevin Ashe was elected chair of the Durhm Roman Catholic Separate School Board on Dec. 6. Elections were held et the in- augural meeting, marking the start of the final year of the three-year terni of trustees. Ashe replaces Whitby trustee Tom Oldinan who decided not te, run for another year as chair. Vice chair of the board is Oshawa trustee Paul Woodcroft. Marc Lap ointe of Whitby is chair of t h e French language section, and Robert Boisvert of Whitby is vice-chair. Jim McCafferty is chair of the English laqguage section and Ed Finan vc cair. .Asho was first elected te the board in 1985. Ho is a regional director for the Ontario Separate School Trustees' Association. "Education in Ontario and, in patcular, Catholic education is Let me explain this concept. Students purchased tickets and, for a certain amount of money, received permission te heave a wet sponge et the teecher of their choice. It was quite a popular activity for some reason. I don~t really know why. Students had te throw underhand, and those who cheated were punished (and soaked). Thursy evening was our semi-formal Christmas dance, which was a success. Fridey was the last day of Semaine dTEspirit. It was a non-uniformn day, and the student council woke up.early and made everyone a pancake breakfast. During the aftornoon, students went'back te their homorooms te invent a cheer and name our mascot (a frog). Thon siudentsi talents were displayed in front of the school at a pop rally. Congratulations te, the winning clas. Thon came the grand finale. Two cream pies were auctionod, and the winner mushed the pies on Monsieur Bédard&s face. That, too, was a popular activity for some reason. Monsieur Bédard was a good sport about it. Ho even said that the pies tasted good. Everybody had a lot of fun. Congratulations te student council for a job well dono on our first spirit week. Oops ... gotta fiy. Merry Christmas te everyone, and have a safe and happy New Year 1994. A la prochaine. Heather DURHAM ADULT LEARNING CENTRE Success means support when it cornes te achieving career goals. Graduates from, Durham Alternative Secondary Education (DASE) share what it was like for them te go back te achool, et the adult high school. "It was a safe environment te got te know yourself botter. Within a month, you trusted your teachers," says Linda Eastman, a DASE graduate, who says that without that support, many students wouldn't sucoeed. Nonice Synyard, another DASE veteran, said'»Lating friendships were made with both students and teachers." Achievement award winner Rose Mazzotta, said that attending DASE was a breakthrough in helping hier reach her career goals. "I can now continue with what I want te do in my cereer with 1confidence, she said. "Ites a great feeling, when you're in your last year. The sense Of accomplishment overwhelmed me.l Gerald Murphy, who graduated from DASE this pat year, is studying computers in a co-op program and bas been guaranteed a jo upon completion of bis training. Ho said that, ". without your Grade 12, you wll not; have the success in life that iyou could have had." And succesa is achieved by taking the first stop. Thaes what many adulta are doing, talcing the first stop te a second opportunity.