SCHOOL CLOSED
CAT SHOT IN HATZIC
Bomb threat shuts doors
Feline loses leg
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MISSION CHRISTMAS BUREAU PAGE 3
Tree lighting starts campaign
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COUNTDOWN TO THE
GAMES
85¢+ GST
98 Thursday, November 14, 2013
SERVING MISSION SINCE 1908
Majority of speakers want school changes
A total of 18 sports will be featured during the upcoming B.C. Winter Games, including alpine, freestyle, and cross-country skiing.
Jason Roessle ABBOTSFORD NEWS
Consolidating Mission’s three high schools into one and leaving the other two buildings as middle schools was the preferred option for a number of speakers at Thursday night’s public information forum. About 200 people packed into the cafetorium at Heritage Park school to voice their opinions on whether Mission Public Schools should explore reconfiguring. Speakers were asked whether they wanted to maintain the status quo (three schools housing Grades 7-12) or separate the younger grades from the more senior students. Currently, the district’s school-withina-school model for Grades 7, 8 and 9, has proven unpopular with a number of parents since its inception in 2010. Several Mission teachers took the microphone at Thursday’s meeting — all with a similar message. “We do not have enough courses now,� said Al Lafontaine, a teacher at Heritage Park. “We are leading to an education death in our community.� A fellow Heritage Park teacher, Sandy Chambers, said she’s “totally in favour of looking at a different model.� She said there are no higher level courses (advanced placement and honours) offered because there are not enough students. As well, athletically, if there were one high school, it would be much easier to field teams and find coaches. Scott Young, the district parent advisory council vice-chair, said he thinks more research needs to be done first. CONTINUED ON 03
KEVIN BOGETTI-SMITH PHOTO
Mission lights fire for Winter Games A torch lighting Saturday will mark 100 days until the start of the B.C. Winter Games, which are coming to Mission from Feb. 20-23. Residents are invited for a sneak-peek of the games to watch the Mission Skating Club perform a choreographed routine at the Leisure Centre north arena on Nov. 16.
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Former Olympic speed skater and Mission resident Eden Donatelli-Green will do the honours of bringing the flame onto the ice to light the six-foot-high torch. A 12-foot LED torch – currently in the Leisure Centre lobby – will also be lit on Nov. 16. Both will remain glowing until the games. Prior to the official hour-long program at
2:30 p.m., there will be free hot dogs and drinks, along with introductory remarks starting at 1 p.m. Participants from across the province will compete in 18 sports. Events will be mainly in Mission, but also in Hemlock, Whistler, the Township of Langley, and Abbotsford.
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