Regards,
Kim Lynch-Staunton, Brander Gardens
780.761.0525
http://www.whitemudnews.com

From MR
Bravo for supporting the EFCL initiative to lobby for reduced speed zones!

From DD
All the members of my family, and many I have spoken to in our neighbourhood, strongly support the idea of reduced-speed school zones. In the U.S., 25 MPH speed limits are the rule, and tight enforcement successfully counters a culture which otherwise tends to think little of pedestrians. In our own neighbourhood of Aspen Gardens, tensions rise a bit each morning as commuters and school children both rush to their days work across the same intersections. Several members of our community have worked tirelessly with the local police, the Transportation Department, school administrators, the Community League, etc. to help find a solution. Support for their efforts has been widespread, and suggests that similar support exists for the proposed school zone speed limits.

I am in favour on starting the school year before labour day and having a week off in November. It would help to break up our long winter.

As far as taking out a district membership in the Alberta School Councils Association, it seems unnecessary since so many schools have only Parent Advisory Committees and no actual School Council. It might be worthwhile if schools, parents, students and community members were educated as to the difference.

From KB
I think this a long time overdue. EPSB would benefit from having the School Councils be part of this organization.

From LF
Being there are so many financial cutbacks this up and coming year, my question would be is this the most suitable time to this expenditure when possibly aides for special needs students may be cut back or budgets cut to support ATL and it’s equipment? If this is all coming from the same budget I know which one I would more support.

(FYI: Ms. Michele Mulder offered the district one year free trial membership when she presented to the Board)

From KH
…sounds like a good plan to me. The PAC groups are in place to support the principal which does not seem like it would exclude input from a group like that. A representative on the PAC could also attend the ASCA meetings and report back with pertinent information.

I wanted to comment on the proposed calendar changes. As a child, I best recall Remembrance Day for the assemblies that were held in our school’s gymnasium. We remembered. Clearly, none of us were old enough to have known anyone who fought and died in either of the great wars, but nonetheless, what we couldn’t remember from our own experience, we appreciated through stories and accounts of those older and wiser. That appreciation brought a powerful personal sentiment to the words If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies blow in Flanders Fields.

I was disappointed when Remembrance Day became a holiday rather than a time to remember; to turn it into a week off to gad about thinking about anything but those who fought and died would be a travesty.

Those thoughts said, it’s also relevant to point out that for parents of Div I & II students, daycare becomes a nightmare when school holidays don’t coincide with Statutory holidays. Granted, if it became a routine holiday, many daycares would eventually adjust their service offerings.

I recently read a brief article on the CBC website regarding a possible November break and I would like to take this opportunity to comment. I am absolutely in favour of this proposal. I would like to see more time off given throughout the school year and consequently shorten the summer break. I have typically found that the last two weeks of school are generally filled with fun year-end activities such as field trips, sports days, assemblies, and other housekeeping tasks, and the first week or two of school is spent settling in, organizing classrooms and supplies, as well as establishing important rules and routines. These 3-4 weeks, combined with 8 weeks of summer vacation, make for an extended non-instructional period of time. Although this may not play as significant a role for the success of strong students and those that receive much support from home, I think students that need additional encouragement and assistance in a school setting will largely benefit from a shorter summer break.