Williams Lake Tribune, February 14, 2013

Page 1

Breaking news, video, photo galleries, and more always online at www.wltribune.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

City workers to strike

Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930

VOL. 83. No. 14

STAMPEDE QUEEN CONTESTANTS INTRODUCED Greg Sabatino photo

Williams Lake Stampede royalty and this year’s royalty contestants were introduced to a packed house at the Elk’s Hall Saturday night for the Williams Lake Stampede Dinner, Dance and Auction. The royalty helped out throughout the evening by selling hats for the Chinese auction, and by displaying items during the live auction. Pictured are Stampede Princess Terris Billyboy (left), Kyra Stuart, Miss M.H. King Excavating, Rachel Abrahamse, Miss Daybreak Rotary, Karina Sukert, Miss Rotary Club of Williams Lake and Stampede Queen Alexis Forseille.

Unionized employees of the City of Williams Lake have served 72hour strike notice. International Union of Operating Engineers Local Union 882B service representative John Dube said notice was served at 1:53 p.m. Wednesday. The union will be on strike by Saturday afternoon at l:53 p.m. Talks between the city and the union began on Feb. 12, but broke down, Dube told the Tribune. “We’re not even close. We thought yesterday that there were a few things that we’d put on the table that were beneficial to the employer and some concerns they had .” Dube said it’s unfortunate. “We hope this won’t last too long, but the city is going to have to pull up its socks and get serious with the bargaining.” The city was not available for comment by press time.

Inside the Tribune NEWS Labour leader visits again.

Trustees release rationale for middle school choice A2

SPORTS A12 Club hosts fencing tournament. COMMUNITY A17 Children’s art at Station House. Weather outlook: Expect a mix of cloudy skies, snow/rain through the weekend.

PM 0040785583

$1.34 inc. HST

School District 27 trustees released the following rationale Wednesday morning on why they chose Columneetza secondary to become the predominantly grades 7 to 9 campus and Williams Lake secondary to become the predominantly grades 10 to 12 campus next fall. The board of education met Feb. 5 and discussed at length the configuration of the one school, two campus model secondary school in Williams Lake. The following motion was passed identifying which campus would house which grades: “That the board of education designate the current Columneetza Secondary School as the predominantly grades 7-9 campus and the current Williams Lake Secondary School as the predominantly grades 10-12 campus, in the one school, two campus model and that this information be released to the public immediately.” Rationale considered for choosing the WLSS facility as the predominantly grades 10-12 campus included: • Older students travelling - In order to facilitate student choice

and in order to utilize both present facilities to their fullest capabilities, some extent of student travel will be necessary. The board believes strongly that the majority of travel should be done by older students. When timetabling is complete, older students will certainly need to travel to the Columneetza campus for trades courses and may possibly need to travel for upper level science courses or other courses. With this configuration, younger students will have to travel very little or not at all. • Technology infrastructure: Superior at WLSS when compared to Columneetza. Better suited for senior students as we move forward into more personalized learning. • Proximity to Skyline/GROW: We have far more students involved in alternate education at the Grades 10-12 level than at the Grades 7-9 level. It is an advantage having the senior campus with Grades 10-12 within walking distance so that students will easily be able to move back and forth between both educational settings. • Proximity to recreation facilities (i.e. hockey, skating, swim-

ming, bowling, etc.): As older secondary students transition to adulthood, more sports and fitness opportunities are provided to them to give them exposure to the types of healthy activities they may participate in once they have graduated. Preferable for older students to walk as opposed to the younger students. • Proximity to downtown for work experience opportunities. • Superior band and musical theatre facilities. • Industrial kitchen: For cafeteria training/dual credit (secondary and post-secondary credit) chef’s training courses. • Commons/stage: A central location within the school as a gathering place for older students. Rationale considered for choosing the Columneetza Secondary School facility as the predominantly grades 7-9 campus included: • Student engagement: The board recognizes the importance of trades training within the new school. If younger students are given the opportunities to be introduced to a variety of trades experiences

before they reach Grades 10, 11, and 12, they will be more likely to travel to the predominantly grades 7-9 school campus to take these courses as part of their graduation program. In having these trades training courses offered at the predominantly grades 7-9 school campus, younger students will not need to travel to be exposed to these types of opportunities. This will help soften the transition for students in grades 10-12 as they will be returning to a familiar campus to access these courses. • Location: The Columneetza campus is much more secluded in a predominantly residential area closer to larger elementary schools. Whether or not the predominantly grades 7-9 is an open or closed school campus, younger students will not face the constant lure of distractions located downtown (i.e. the park, the mall, convenience stores, etc.). • Supervision: Easier to supervise due to long hallways. • More field space: Space for two fields to allow for more intramural activities.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Williams Lake Tribune, February 14, 2013 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu