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Little support for year-round schooling Hundreds attend open house to voice concerns over weather, lost summer activities Monique TaMMinga Times Reporter
B.C.’s temperamental weather dominated the concerns parents and students had about changing Langley School District to year-round schooling. “They are only kids once, let them be kids,” said one parent who spoke against the district’s suggestion to move to year-long schooling. Hundreds of parents, many with children in tow, showed up to the district’s school calendar open house, held at the school board office on Tuesday. “Don’t take away my camping,” said another parent. Others worried their kids would miss out on municipally-run summer camps that are staffed by university students on their summer break. If school holidays were to fall in winter and in “rainy” spring, many parents worry that would put kids in front of a computer or TV screen for the entire vacation, instead of enjoying outdoor activities. “In the summer we do a lot of free stuff, like go to the park,” said Kirsten Schaffer-Charlesworth, who is against year-round schooling. “So now we have to plan inside options, which means taking them to [indoor play centres] which costs money.” Not everyone can afford to fly somewhere warm, said many parents. One parent suggested that if the district is looking at re-arranging the school calendar, why not factor in making the first two weeks of September part of the holidays? “That’s when we have the nicest weather.” The three possibilities the district is looking at are: to keep the current calendar as it is, with the already approved two-week spring break; to bring in year-round schooling, which means instead of eight weeks in the summer, continued, PAGE 4
Miranda GATHERCOLE/Langley Times
Isabelle Loranger, 11, and Garry Elliott prepare authentic poutine made with French fries, fresh gravy and cheese curd shipped all the way from Quebec. The traditional Canadian meal, which originated in Montreal in the 1500s, was part of demonstrations at the Vive les voyageurs winter festival at the Fort Langley National Historic Site over the weekend. The annual festival celebrates French-Canadian culture as it was in the historic fort during the Hudson Bay Company trading days (electric crock pots notwithstanding). Visitors enjoyed food demos, Metis dancing, musical spoons lessons and live French-Canadian music.
Glen Valley land sale approved Sale condemned by residents’ group fighting to preserve north Langley forest Dan Ferguson Langley Times
Langley Township council has approved the controversial sale of Township-owned land in Glen Valley to help fund a new community centre, swimming pool and ice rink in Aldergrove. The decision to sell four
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parcels of land near 84 Avenue and 260 Street was made during a closed-door meeting Monday and announced at the end of the evening session of council by mayor Jack Froese, who read out a prepared statement. “This decision comes after hearing much input from the community, from people
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passionate about preserving these lands,” Froese said. “With this decision, we feel we have struck a balance between retaining environmentally significant land that residents have shown is a much valued resource and the need to raise funds for a new recreation centre for the community.”
Froese said the Township will keep all of the parcels to the west along 257A Street while authorizing the sale of the four lots to the east along 260 Street. Froese noted the decision comes after council cancelled a proposed sale of 21 acres continued, PAGE 3
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