The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
High school students in Flin Flon will be offered addictions counseling this year. At Tuesday's school board meeting, Superintendent Blaine Veitch noted that a counselor with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) will spend one day a week at both Hapnot Collegiate and Many Faces Education Centre. In an interview, he called the service a "proactive approach" and stressed that "we do not have a big alcohol and drug problem in our schools." "Like all high schools across the province, we're dealing with young people who are making choices," said Superintendent Veitch, "and if we can help give them better information as far as probable effects of their decisions, I think that would help them make better choices." He said that the use of alcohol and drugs in any school is a reflection of the community in which the school is located. The counseling service will be offered through a program in which AFM offers counselors to schools at a subsidized rate. Aside from helping students who may struggle with addictions themselves, the counselor will talk to them about how to deal with friends or family members who may have such a problem. This will be the second year in which an AFM worker provides regular counseling at the high schools. In another matter, the board learned that the tragic drowning of a Winnipeg child during a school outing last year will affect school division policy. A letter from Education Minister Ron Lemieux stated that Manitoba Education and Youth has accepted two recommendations from a report on the drowning. The recommendations are to be implemented across the province. The recommendations state: All school divisions will, if they have not already done so, need to develop comprehensive policies on school field trips, addressing in particular, standards for student supervision and safety. These field trips will encompass the range of out-of-classroom activities, including aquatic and boating outings as well as other potential high-risk activities like skiing and wilderness trips. Divisions will be required to submit copies of their completed policies to Manitoba Education and Youth. See 'Topics' P.# Con't from P.# The policies of two divisions will be randomly assessed each year to ensure consistency with the key components of monitoring, documentation and accountability. A self-audit tool for divisions is also being considered. These policies will incorporate key components such as monitoring, documentation and accountability. Lemieux wrote that further information related to these points will follow. In June of 2002, five-year-old kindergarten student Joshua Harder drowned at a Winnipeg swimming pool during a school outing. As well, Trustee Angela Simpson made a motion that alternate trustees represent the board at the meetings of the McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac Parent Advisory Council. The motion passed. Trustee Simpson commented that this arrangement would ensure that no single trustee feels he or she must serve as a regular liaison between the board and the parent group. She agreed to attend the next meeting of the parent group, slated for October 8. In addition, Superintendent Veitch noted that the school division will host a career day at the Creighton Sportex on Thursday, October 2. Over 60 presenters will represent a wide variety of careers, training programs and post-secondary institutes, he said. "It is a good opportunity for our students to get career information," commented the superintendent. Students in grades 7-12 in Flin Flon will attend, as will students from other school divisions in the area. Parents and the general public will be welcome to stop by. A recap of other matters: Chair Jim Wilson, speaking on behalf of the Flin Flon School Division, expressed his condolences to the families of the teenagers involved in the tragic automobile accident this past weekend. Superintendent Veitch thanked teacher Lara Maliteare for organizing school choirs for grades 3-6 students this year. Superintendent Veitch congratulated students and staff at Many Faces Education Centre on a recent car wash that raised $845 for the Terry Fox Run. The money will be donated in memory of teacher Charlie Mott, who passed away earlier this year. The superintendent noted that a group of staff and students at Parkdale School are seeing how many kilometres they can walk throughout the year during recess times. They call themselves the Parkdale Pacers. It was noted that school pictures will be taken during the week of October 6-10.
