THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
PEDAL TO THE MEDALS
A trio of victories by Olympian Tory Nyhaug highlighted the Canadian BMX Championships A35
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‘Back to normal’ in schools
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Teachers return to extracurricular activities
SHOOTING IN BRADNER A5 Man suffers gunshot wound to his arm in early morning incident
Vikki HOPES Abbotsford News
Most Abbotsford teachers have returned to participating in extracurricular school activities, following a period in the spring that saw them step back from roles such as coaching sports teams, organizing grad events, and supervising students during breaks. Jeff Dunton, president of the Abbotsford District Teachers’ Association (ADTA), said the organization has provided no directive to teachers on the issue. Most who participated in extra activities in the past are continuing to do so, he said. “They still have the option to volunteer or not … but there are a number who are concentrating on their teaching and making sure they’re doing their best for their students in the classroom.” Provincial job action began at the beginning of the 2011 school year while the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) were engaged in contract negotiations over issues such as wages and class size composition. The first phase involved teachers refusing to attend staff meetings with administrators and take part in activities such as “meet the teacher” nights. A three-day strike was held in March, followed in April by a further withdrawal of teacher involvement in activities they deemed “volunteer.” Continued on A4
TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY A4 Former Abbotsford man among several charged in drug ring
TALIA’S CLOSET A5 Program that helps grads prepare for prom needs a new home
Celebrating Sikhism
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Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9
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Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A35
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Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8
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Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A40
JOHN MORROW Abbotsford News
Thousands of people came out to watch the Nagar Kirtan parade held Sunday . The day-long event is a celebration of the Sikh faith, and is an opportunity to share Sikhism with the community.
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