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Pag 24, Whlby Froo Pros. W.e day, Lmarh 1. 1906 e' Parents to decîde if modified.year adopted at new Whitby school KAITI PUCKNELL, 7,,with a preference for published, illustrated books, was at Family Reading Night at R.A. Sennett 'Public Sohool recently. Clifford, the Big Red Dog, a kids' book favourite, also attended. Photo by Jeremy Dresar, Whitby Free Press *By Mark Ree-Q-Isor A new elementary sehool sche- duled te open behind Anderson CVI in September 1996 may ho the flirst in Durham te have a year-round schedule -- but only if amBoarc>f Education sDur- "We're net lôeking at impesing anything. What wele leoking at is, is there any interest in look- ing at the medified schoel year (at the news school)?" Whitby superintendent cf education Carol Yeo assured parents at the fourth cf seven group sessions on the topic last week. .The tender te, build the as yet unnamned scheel, which will ho on the southwest cerner cf the Anderson property, is te ho awar- ded in June, with contruction scheduled te. begin in July. About 400 students are expec- ted te attend the first year. Parents at a Whitby public school, R.A. Hutchison, came cIe- ser Ïhan anyene else in the region in supporting year-reund school when the idea was last raised, in 1992.- Forty-seven per cent of Hutchi- son parents voted in faveur .ef the. preposal in a referendum says Claremont Public Schoof principal Monica Krawetz, who's researched how modified school years have worked in other dis- tricts. Only 25 per cent cf parents voted yes. at West Lynde, the other Whitby sehool where the idea was proposed. The board had promised it wouldn't go ahead unless 75 per cent cf parents supported a. modified year. Boards which have tried it have found that special needs students, gifted students and En5ls sascn-agae st nsdid better when gh Iong summer vacation was broken up, says Krawetz. "Teachers indicated that stu- dents had better retention cf the material learned, there was less time spent in review... and people were more refreshed and ready te work throughout the school year," she saLys. "Just because the schol year was set 150 years ago on an agriculture timetable doesn't mean it can't be changed," argues Bruce Walker, Os gawa supentendent of scheols. ,,"hi is net coming eut cf the boardreom and the trustees are net saying 'Let;'s find somewhere te Dut it in place,'» says Walker. "%e're net trying te pull -one, on you. In fact, ltes your decision as te whether yeu want te, even think about this." Discussion on* chaniging sche- dules has nover stepped, says Walker. uWe haven't been very actively involved with this in the last three years but we've con- tinued ... te get requests for infor- mation. People are looking at it (a modified year) fer a variety of reasons.» Yeo sugesta that students on both a trditional 'and modified schedule could attend the new school. A saxnple calendar drawn up by Krawetz envisions about half the students on oa.ch schedule,- allowing both groups much grea- ter use cf the library gym and computer lab during càays when their counterparts are on heli- days. Staff would ho spit between the no difiod and traditional sehedule. «Whon the class gees on' vacation, se dees the teacher,» the new approach weuldn't save money though, says Yeo, since schooifs are staffod on a formula based on the number of students enrolled. Janis Leering ANDERSON C.V.I. It is upte ou whether March came in like a lamb or a lion; I'm simply grateful that winter is almost over. The il studen ts who are going te Paris are aIse thankful. They bave on March .4 te visit Nice, Versalles,lIe Louvre and la Seine. Along with Mesdames Gadd and Weber, thoy will ho walIng For graduating students, Prom thank you goes out te them. through many .fainous cities '95 is slowîy drawing dloser te - Taking the pictures again this before returning on March 12. reality. The committee 18 waiting year. will ho AB Photographers Last weekend, some cf our to receive any photos of you and and the photos look very students participated in a y our friends for display in the profossional. 30-heur famine, through ACF. slde show. Aise, second payment - On Feb. 23, our school played a Congratulations te aIl whe will be due soon, se, start saving.. part in a nuclear disaster drill, successfully completed the period I. have roceived a list cf some playing hostess te, another school of starvatien for a good cause. sponsors this year, and a big that was evacuated. Andersen is located outside the 10-mile radius surrounding the plant, and would apparently net hoe greatly affected if an accident occurred. Moet cf the winter sports are winding, down.- In boys' basketbal, -the senior team tied for fourth in the division and did net make the. playoffs. The juniors lest te Pickering in the quarter-finals. The junior -hockey team lest in overtime and the senior teazn let last weekend. To maintain consistency, but aIse te impress the senior girls' volleyball team, the senior hockey team lest in the 4'battle cf the sexes' gamie. Mr. Mitchell says the hockey team playod well despite limited talent and no practice. The badminton team has OFSAA competition coming up March 7-8. The midgot volleyball teani lest in the finals, and the seniors played in the semi-finals yesterday against O'Neill after school, while the juniors faced Bowmanville. Track and field is underway, but it will ho in full swing after March break. The first meet is April 5 at St. ike's. Aise starting after the break is girls' lacrosse. Coaches Mrs. Roberts and Miss Koczuîab are still welcomning new members. Baseball teams - have also started indoor workouts. I would like te wish everyone a safe and exciting March break. I amn staying home te work and study. te1'