Proven Leadership for a Strong Canada Vote Kenny Chiu
Sales • Lease • Management Your Richmond Specialist www.interlinkrealty.ca email: info@interlinkrealty.ca 604.271.3888
October 19
W E D N E S D AY , O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 5
! Little Sohia chooses the perfect pumpkin at Richmond Country Farms over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Photo by Gord Goble/ Special to the News
Authorized by the Official Agent for Kenny Chiu
What’s inside:
! See more pictures on The Pulse, page 20.
NEWS: Protected trees chopped due to ‘poor condition’ 5
Curriculum as good as its funding Parents, teachers cautiously optimistic about move towards personalized teaching ALANCAMPBELL
Staff Reporter
ACAMPBELLRICHMONDNEWS.COM
A
lthough two of the groups at the cutting edge of the new school curriculum are looking ahead with cautious optimism, both admit there are many big questions still to be answered. To get their collective heads around the new K-Grade 9 curriculum, the Richmond District Parents Association (RDPA) hosted a “Changing World, Changing Curriculum” meeting with the Richmond Teachers’ Association (RTA) and the school district. Both the RDPA and the RTA acknowledged that many teachers are already immersed in the style of instruction — which includes personalized learning and
critical thinking — that is being trialed this school year before becoming mandatory in 2016/17. However, both are hanging fire with their final assessments until they see the colour of the B.C. government’s money, which is needed when it comes to backing the new curriculum. “Do we need more space? Do we need more resources? How is it going to affect my child’s assessment?” said Anne Chen, a former PAC chair at Jessie Wowk elementary and now president of the RDPA. “It’s all still a bit vague and we will likely revisit this in the spring.” Meanwhile, RTA president Al Klassen said it was a “a bit too early to know exactly what is needed. “But, so far, the Ministry has stepped up to the plate with the extra pro-D days,
which provides an opportunity to really get our heads around it. The current pro-D days are all taken up by other things. “Teachers shouldn’t be doing this on the fly, they need to properly plan and that needs support.” Klassen added that he feels it may only take a couple of months of the trial period before it becomes clear exactly what level of resources is required. Teachers across the province have expressed concerns about a lack of training and resources to carry out the changes and some parents are concerned that the new curriculum doesn’t put enough emphasis on the basics, particularly in math. The shift will also bring in new methods of assessment that could see traditional report cards and letter grades disappear. See Employers page 4
FALL FEATURES
FILET MIGNON & LOBSTER
3195
$
6oz. AAA 28 day aged Filet cut steak, 6oz. lobster, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables
VILLAGE LAMB STEW
1795
$
Tender boneless pieces of lamb sautéed in red wine with savory spices, served with rice, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables
MUSSEL & PRAWN LINGUINE
1995
$
Half pound of mussels, tiger prawns, sautéed in a creamy white wine ouzo sauce tossed in linguine noodles
WILD PACIFIC SALMON
2195
$
Baked wild pacific salmon, topped with a creamy white wine shrimp sauce, served with rice, seasonal vegetables
COMMUNITY: RAPS raises funds to mend Chestnut’s broken leg 14
SPORTS: Thanksgiving tourney serves up a feast of soccer 23 Please reserve NOW for Belly Dancing October 17th
SEAFOOD PLATTER FOR 2
1795
$
per person Greek salad, hamous, salziki, pita bread, ice shrimp cocktail, stuffed tiger prawns,kalamaria, sauteed seafood (prawns, halibut, salmon, scallops), mussels, roast potatoes, rice and seasonal vegetables. Offer valid 7 days a week with this coupon Expires October 21st 2015
Open for Lunch Monday-Saturday Dinner Everyday from 4:30pm