INSIDE: Teen praises highway-side hero who pushed her to safety Pg. 3 T U E S D A Y
February 8, 2011
17 N E W S ,
SPORTS,
WEATHER
District blasts Fraser findings
&
Dastardly battles for wrestling glory
E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
CHEER FEST FLYER SHOOTING STARS
Calls Institute study ‘a gross oversimplification’
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
formance year to year. And if their child’s school is not improving, or has declined, the report card gives parents bbotsford School District educa- the information they can use to ask tors are unanimously criticizing questions of school administrators and the Fraser Institeachers,” Peter Cowley, tute’s school report card, Fraser Institute director saying it’s a poor measure “It doesn’t take into of school performance of student learning and account the students studies, said in a press work done by teachers. statement. The conservative think who come to school H o w e v e r, d i s t r i c t tank released its annual superintendent Julie without any breakfast.” MacRae said the report report card Monday that, according to the insticard school rankings are tute, shows which B.C. – Jeff Dunton ADTA not a good reflection of elementary schools are the state of a school. improving in academic “I think the report card performance over time. and the emphasis on the ranking is a “Parents can easily identify schools see STUDY, page A19 that show improved academic per-
A
Whitewater rescue
Chopper pulls trio to safety after overnight stay ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
emergency, and knew that their safest bet was to camp for the night and wait for daylight,” she said. hree whitewater kayakers were heliMission Search and Rescue were able coptered safe and sound out of the to see flashlights and a campfire from bush near Mission Monday after getting the west side of the creek Sunday night, caught on Norrish creek overnight. but couldn’t make verbal contact due Mission RCMP Sgt. Miriam Dickson to noise from the creek and lack of cell said police got a call around 10 p.m. phone reception in the area. Sunday after three men from Kamloops The helicopter rescue could not be got trapped beneath a organized until daylight, steep cliff on the east side First reported @ and there were no indicaof creek. abbotsfordtimes.com tions the men, reportedly Conditions along the experienced outdoorsmen, waterway had changed, and the trio were at risk, said Dickson. couldn’t safely negotiate the creek secThe helicopter arrived on scene, and tion in that area, said Dickson. search and rescue members were lowThe men had to shore up on the east ered down to the men, who were all side of the creek, which is very difficult rescued by about 10 a.m. to reach and has no clear access route, “They are all fine with no injuries, and she said. search and rescue removed them and “They were in fact prepared for an their kayaks via helicopter,” she said.
T
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Valley Stars’ Chelsea Penner, 9, flies high in the basket toss in the Youth 2 division during the annual Cheer Fest competition Saturday at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. Approximately 1,550 athletes competed in front of 3,000 spectators. For more on the Cheer Fest, check our online web gallery Friday at www.abbotsfordtimes.com.
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