Burnaby’s first and favourite information source
Delivery 604-942-3081 • Friday, January 10, 2014
Helping young women thrive at Byrne Creek Secondary
Guarding the gateway to Burnaby’s history
PAGE 11
PAGE 13
Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com EDUCATION
Gifted kids get special ‘cluster class’
For the full report scan with Layar
Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
The Burnaby school district is offering a new class for gifted learners next fall. Come September, students considered “high ability learners” can attend a multiage cluster class program at Capitol Hill Elementary. The idea is to provide a more intellectually stimulating environment for students whose intellectual, personal and social skills may be developing at varying rates. “I think it’s fantastic that the district is doing this. This is something parents in Burnaby have been advocating for, for a number of years now,” said Burnaby resident Peter Cech, father of two children both considered gifted. Cech is part of a group of local parents who have been calling on the district to provide more options for gifted learners. “This is yet another positive step forward, so we’re grateful,” he added. According to Cech, kids that are gifted sometimes come with unique challenges including over-sensitivities. “A kid that’s gifted needs to be shown something once, and then they need to apply it, while the typical teaching model involves a lot of repetition,” Cech said. “In a perfect world every student should be taught to where they’re at.” The multi-age cluster class program will include a grade 4/5 and a grade 6/7 class. There are also plans for a second program is the South Burnaby area for September 2015. The school district is hosting an information session about the program on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at Burnaby Central Secondary, 6011 Deer Lake Parkway.
TV’s, Computers , Electronics & Small Appliances 604-299-3121 604 299 3121
2961 Norland Avenue, Burnaby
Jason Lang/burnaby now
‘Left hanging’: Matthew Senf is a Brentlawn Drive resident who wants to see more traffic calming measures implemented on his street to avert property damage incidents that happen all too often.
Slow down – ‘we live here’ Stefania Seccia staff reporter
The bus needs to go or speed bumps need to go in – either way, Brentlawn Drive residents in North Burnaby want the city to make a decision. But since making a presentation to the traffic and safety committee in November, resident Matthew Senf has yet to hear anything from the city. Senf lives on Brentlawn Drive and presented to the committee to make them aware of the issues faced by the residents in regards to vehicle traffic, resulting in all-too-often property damage to the cars parked along the narrow street. According to ICBC data, from 2004 to
A headstart for your child. French Immersion French Immersion 4 Locations 4 Convenient Convenient Locations No RegistrationFee* Fee* No Registration
*for online *for online registrations. registrations. See See our our website website for for details. details.
2011 there have been 45 incidents where property was damaged on Brentlawn Drive between Willingdon and Delta Avenue. “Something can be done, it’s just the agenda and I get it, they have quite a bit on their plates,” Senf told the Burnaby NOW. “But we live here, too.” Senf said all he and his neighbours want are significant traffic-calming measures on Brentlawn Drive to curb property damage and safety issues. The issue led to many of the neighbours compiling a report and presenting it to the committee in November. “The residents of Brentlawn Drive have a long history of petitioning city council and the traffic safety commit-
tee, TransLink, Coast Mountain Bus Company and others for improvements in the safety and liveability of their street and neighbourhood,” he said. Since the presentation about two months ago, Senf said no one has contacted him about the issue, despite asking the committee for action on it. “In short, absolutely yes, we’ve been left hanging,” he told the NOW. “Nobody has written us. At the end of the day, I don’t care what the rules are, I pay taxes, I live on the street and our property has been damaged.” At the last meeting, the committee told Senf a recent project in the Capitol Hill and Heights area lowered speed limits
Traffic Page 8
BRIAN VIDAS .com
l us EdithsMontessori.com Cadl ay! to
604-522-1586
604.671.5259 BRIAN VIDAS PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
CENTRE REALTY