% CASTLEGAR NEWS REVIEW, March 24, 1985 ducati nme i 'sa top priority COMPUTERS IMPORTANT AT HI-TECH TIMES . . . Computer Studies 11 students at Stanley Humphries Secondary School. Since a textbook was not available for the teaching of computer science, a great deal of time and effort was taken in the development of instructional materials to assist in the teaching of the course. In 1981 three additional Apple computers were and a printer was added. In 1984 eight Apple HIGH SCHOOL During the past decade, a have played an ever. ing role in B.C. Such has been the experience of School District No. 9 with application of computers in instruction and adminis- tration from elementary grades to the school board office. At Stanley Humphries Secondary School this same trend is obvious. Direct of in the Education Department began in 1982 with the acquisition of three Apple II-plus computers. Recent additions now provide an inventory of 10 Apple IIIE computers and five printers. These computers are now used in IDP II (Introduc tory Data Processing), Typing 10, Typing 9 and Account- ing 11 and 12. Students use the computers for word pro- cessing, ore bps te-inforeement drills, and cycle. With the taf machen of further culiwere programs and the acquisition of further computers the Business Education Department envisages further application of s in Busi E i Education Career decisions influence every part of our lives. They are tough. di we all face our working lives. There are literally thousands of choices a ble to us in today’s work force. How can anyone possibly know enough to select the most appropriate career? Stanley Humphries uses the choices computer program, the career centre, career education, work experience and personal career counselling to assist the students with their decisions. Math In 1977 the first computer arrived. The PDP 11/03 minicomputer system consisted of four video display terminals and one teletype. A computer club was formed in the spring of 1978. In 1979, our first Computer Science 11 class was formed. The first class consisted of approximately 29 students. In 1981 four Apple computers were added, and a computer literacy course for students in Grade 9 developed. computers and two printers were purchased, giving us a total of 15 Apple computers, four PDP 11/03 terminal and three printers. This year we have five Computer studies 11 classes. In addition to the computers being used for the teaching of Computer Studies 11, they are used for the computer literacy course which all Math 9 students are required to take, for computer aided instruction in Math 10x, ITMA11, and Algi2, and a very active Computer Club. We are is the p' of this spring. C Science 12 will be offered for the first time in the 1985-86 school year with Pascal as the main programming language to be taught. COMPUTERS IN COUNSELLING Computers are used in various ways in the Counselling department of Stanley Humphries Secondary School. One of our most immediate uses is the CHOICES career program. CHOICES is a career selection/prepara- tion program written on two disks, which we use on an Apple Ile tomputer.~~~ ° oo a : Another high-priority use is the “ “word-processing” system used in writing and printing the Student-Parent Handbook. In prior years, after the student handbook had been edited, any corrections or alterations meant having to re-type an entire stencil. With the “word-processing” system, any changes in the prepared material can be made very easily and very quickly. Student information can be stored on disks available for immediate recall without the problem of filing large amounts of paper and taking up space. Since our use of computers is relatively new, we have not progressed very far into this area. COMPUTER USE BY THE SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT Computer use within our department can be sub- divided into two main categories: student-oriented and teacher-oriented. Student-oriented uses include: © remedial skills work (ie. map interpretation, climograph and hythergraph application) e simulation games © student-produced software and projects © interpretation and analysis of — materials (Le. age-sex p: © essays and other written sesigunents produced via. word-processing programs. School Bus Safety Program is ongoing. All buses are inspected semi-annually by the mM ransport. Every driver is to per- form an extensive pre-trip inspection of bus. OF PROGRAMS District provide WOODLAND PARK ELEMENTARY Woodland Park is enjoying its second year of cross-country skiing, thanks to equipment purchased last year by the Parent Group. Fund-raising activities such as lunch-hour hot dog sales secured the money with which we were able to purchase 24 pairs of skis, poles and boots. All students have benefitted from skiing instruction this year, and most have managed a field trip arranged by the teachers to the Castlegar Golf Course. Each year the school hopes to add to its basic equipment, increasing the range of boot sizes, and enabling more students to ski at one time. TWIN RIVERS ELEMENTARY The Twin Rivers Elementary school complex — ineluding both Castlegar Primary and Silver Birch schools — is the focal point for most of the Castlegar School District's special needs programs. Located within this complex is the Russian Immersion kindergarten, English as a Second Language instruction for new Canadians and those whose main language of use is not English, both the Primary and Intermediate Individual Progress classes, the Silver Birch program for senior students, the Transition Room Class, and Learning Assis- tance. Those are just the special groupings. In addition there is a full, regular prog covering ten through Grade six. The constant interacting among the three schools and the many programs makes it “complex” indeed. There are students who attend both Twin Rivers and Castlegar Primary; others attend Silver Birch and Twin Rivers; still others receive instruction in C.P., T.R., and S.B.; a few from Silver Birch take classes in Stanley Humphries Senior Secondary. In some cases, the student moves to take advantage of special offerings located in only one school. For many, the switch between schools and among classes is to permit what is known as “mainstreaming” or “integration.” Integration is the placing of a special needs student in a regular program class for one or more standard subjects. For example, a child very weak in reading may have his learning to read needs met best in an Individual Class. Yet, the same child may be okay in Arithmetic and, then, is most suitably placed in a regular class for that subject. The key is providing for the special needs of each child while, at the same time, integrating to the fullest extent appropriate to that individual pupil. KINNAIRD-VALLEY VISTA SCHOOLS Kinnaird Elementary and Valley Vista Elementary operate as an educational unit within the school district. They take pride in the total educational program offered at these schools. Teachers, students, and parents work hard together to meet the demands of the elementary curriculum. This team ‘The goal of integration is to provide the best and most appropriate educational opportunity for every child’ approach to education also allows the schools to offer many extras during the school year. Teachers find parents willing to help in the regular classroom. It is not unusual to find parents assisting reading groups, listening to children read, marking books, helping with a demonstration, assisting in Canada Fitness, or helping with public speaking. This regular volunteer help allows teachers time to deal with more specific needs of students in the classroom. Students can easily see that teacher, student, and parent can work together to make school successful. As well, parents are involved with staff and students outside the classroom. A well-structured parent support group works hard to support the school. They sponsor many fund-raising events such as hot dog sales, Christmas raffles, tie-dyeing, printmaking and Ukranian egg-decorating. The money raised by these events has provided funds for an adventure playground. The playground equipment purchased and by parents in to be a positive addition to our schools. CREEK ELEMENTARY Pass Creek Elementary may be small in enrolment, but it is big on involvement. The students at the school have been active in curricular and extra-curricular activities. The children of Pass Creek school eagerly welcomed the highlight of their second term — the “Artisans in the School” program. Artisans in the community volunteered their time and professional expertise to teach their crafts to the children of Pass Creek school. This program will offer workshops in pottery, tie-dyeing, printmaking and Ukranian egg-decorating. OOTISCHENIA arena A ig SCHOOL In Ootiseh ively easy to do activities involving all the grades pi often the parents. The school has made cross-country and downhill skiing a regular part of its physical education program for some years now. Asa result, many of the children are skilled and keen skiers. Switzerland, Austria, Norway and Sweden are often thought of as the natural places to ski and the national governments in those countries make skiing a mandatory part of the PE curriculum. The West Kootenay has identical in and snow and i parents and teachers so, it is a pleasure to give the children the — to start what may turn into healthy lifetime oo Ticve years age the echesl invested in a reek tumbler to grind and polish assorted rocks. The final products — highly polished stones — have made wonderful gifts when mounted ima proper setting. Grades 2, 5 and 6 study elementary geology in Science, so it is a natural extension of their studies to do something practical and real with their new knowledge. schools variety LIFE SKILLS . . . Kinnaird Junior Secondary School's life skills provide all students with an opportunity to do everyday things like sewing. SILVER BIRCH SCHOOL teacher aide and what roles does an aide fulfill 1 setting? An aide is a para-professional who, under the direction of a teacher, provides direct service to special needs students. Although to the uninformed the idea of an aide may seem like a luxury or fringe, in fact many young people would have no chance at a just and appropriate education without aides. Unfortunately, without personal assistance some students would not have opportunity to integrate, or spend time, with their peers. At Silver Birch School the teacher aides play a vital and integral role. They participate in all planning sessions and parent meetings. They provide input for the development of every child's program. They participate in all field trips and often donate their free time to the students and their families. Integration is an important aspect of the program. The teacher aides accompany children who need support in classrooms. They observe the student, assist teachers, and provide input during planning sessions. The contribution of aides is not limited to just the school day. Teacher aides have been involved in coaching school teams and take it upon themselves to attend school conferences at every opportunity. Are these paraprofessionals a fringe? The school thinks not. They are instrumental in providing quality education for students with special needs! KINNAIRD JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL When Grade 7 and 8 students enter KJSS, they begin expanding their curricular and extra-curricular horizons. While stressing the “basics,” the school offers a variety of new courses for students. Life skills courses, for example, provide all students with an opportunity to cook, sew, do woodwork and metal work. KJSS offers a variety of options such as typing, which provides students not only an opportunity to learn to type but also the opportunity to work on computers and learn word processing skills. Band is a very popular option with the marching band well known for its excellence and the good public relations it provides the school and ity through its participati in such events as Spokane’s Junior Lilac Festival, Cran. brook’s Sam Steele Days and our very own SunFest. A wide variety of intra-mural and extra-mural activities allows the students to participate in many different sports ranging from soccer in the fall to slow-pitch softball in the spring. KJSS is proud of its school teams which always do very well. KJ students, in this unique stage of their development, on the border between childhood and adolescence, have many opportunities to prepare themselves for the final chapter in their public school careers — senior high school. ey For Over 35 Years We Have Furnished Thousands of Homes| throughout Southeastern B.C. and the Boundary District. Homegoods gives you the biggest selection and the best in style, color and models available anywhere. immediate delivery at NO EXTRA eee Full set- up in your home at NO EXTRA CHARGE. And besides all this, ds offers the lowest prices! QUALITY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE We are proud to have been part of the history of hi n British Columbia . . . and a par- tner in its future! 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