People oriented experience Keith Black head of Geography at the high school Is the man Involved with the operation of the student assistant Both teachers pupils enjoy young assistants Mr Black comments Principal Dave Kate la a strong believer In student involvement He called upon me and several other staff members to organize the Student Assistant Program and I must admit It has been a most pleasant and rewarding Cooperation key Cooperation Is the key to the success of the Student Involvement Program The principals of the three Acton schools their staffs and a hard working group of students see a need for peopleoriented experiences With a desire to help others a pilot group of grade 13 students Initiated the Student Assistant Program In the elementary schools of the Acton community After Christmas trade 11 and grade students will Join the grade ranks to make the program available to more people As a result a more meaningful contribution will be offered the Robert Little Bennett and Acton High Schools These involved students who made a personal sacrifice of their time to help other young people They are to be congratulated for their Interest and sincerity nod In ability In this and program The children it Robert perform Utile are delighted to have a elr duties well a grade three teacher rays The children are and Peefty Wheeler Only one fltudent from Acton new them to a High la Involved in the corner or small room by assistance program at Robert themselves and work with them very fond of the girl who cornea In little Jane Watson la working They learn to respect another with Mrs Black who teaches adult YOUNGSTERS HAVE been enjoying having teachers assistants from the high school helping them with their work The students love them one teacher enthused Debbie Bould reads to an appreciative group at the M Z Bennett that students become school Photo by Sean Aherne grade one jane does an excellent Job helping individual students end working with small groups Activities performed by her include testing and drilling word lists listening to oral reading helping- with projects ana assisting In physical education program Is a valuable experience for the teacher assistant and the children each learning to work together in harmony Mrs Black says she is thrilled to hove such a capable and most cooperative assistant come Into her classroom Mrs Black believes this room That girl la Shirley Mitchell who helps the children In M Bennett Public School Several students are participating In the student assistant program at M Bennett Public School They work with the pupils In small groups helping them and the teachers at the same time Mrs Smith the librarian at M Bennett has four students assisting her at present She prefers them to do the clerical work in the library this enables her to help students find research students are performing for her Apparently Julie Smith Diane Project pleases principals mow- By Mary Ann The high light of last week was a visit from the Theatre Hour Company Tuesday The company has visited our school before and everyone awaited their visit anxiously The members of the company are Gregson Don Angela Tina Boden Richard Parlngton Robert Haley and Tom Bentley Fisher Strictly Canadian Their program was strictly Canadian this year Their first act was called The Ecstasy of Rita Joe which proved to be a satire on the Canadian Indians Although some students found it very amusing others were moved by the performance During the introduction of their second set they compared Colors in the Dark to searching in box and pulling things out haphazardly songs Songs were frequently sung throughout the performance thrown the inspiration of Gordon and GUles Vlgneault Gregson imposed one of the numbers the only one the Company sang twice in the performance audience was Invited to ask questions of the actors These consisted mainly of the curiosity about training schooling and wages A work shop was held in the afternoon for the benefit of the Creative Drama class and anyone else who was interested Friday movie The movie Doctor Youve Got to Be Kidding was shown in the Friday evening It Is that more people will attend in the future The Student Council extends thanks to Mr and Mrs Black for chaperoning and to all of the students who helped in some way A special thanks to Ray Blythe for working the equipment Christmas spirit Our school la beginning to get Into the Christmas spirit Several grade students have undertaken the task of a full Christmas program including a choir contest a room decorating class and an assembly for the last day of school Dress up dance The Christmas dance this year will be held Monday Dec 21 This will be a dressup dance and music will be supplied by the Magic Circle THEATRE HOUR GROUP entertained Acton District High students at a special assembly Tuesday December The group receive a grant from the Ontario Department of Education to travel Yea here Is another pioneer from Acton High this year It also lnvolvesboth of Actona Public Schools Students from the high school are aiding public school teachers by helping pupils In the classroom Mr Keith Black head of the Geography Department at the high school has been directly Involved with organizing the program It a pilot project limited to grade thirteen students ho explains Now he sees the possibility of opening it grades eleven ana twelve Responsibility student assistants accept this responsibility for one term and If they like they can opt out at Christmas when the teachers and plan to evaluate the system Mr Black listed many ob jectives for the program and summed up by saying it Is a people oriented project rather than a work oriented one Mr Smith principal of M Bennett Public School finds the program quite successful His school is next door to the high school and there fore he has the greater number of student assistants About six teachers and twelve Hard workers in club By Shales Do you know what it Is like to crawl out of bed at 30 in the morning after climbing in bed at that night Well Tor me its awfully hard especially if Its a Saturday morning and youre going to school After groping my way throughout the house I Pulled myself together and was ready to leave Ten minutes later my girlfriend and I were at the school But there was no one there Just as we were about to leave after we had nearly broken the door down we were let In by Mrs Fleischer our Home Economics teacher When we walked Into the home room there were eight other eager and brighteyed girls Just willing to work the afternoon away So Tor that afternoon we worked constantly on our project and by the time that afternoon was over we all had our crafts clenched in hand ready to finish at home bo now I suppose that you are wondering why we were working at the school on a Saturday Well you see on Monday December 14 from 30 to at the Acton District High School the members of the Home Economics Club are having a tea and bazaar in which we will be selling the crafts that the girls so diligently worked on high school students are Involved In the student assistance program at M Bennett The students assisting during school hours are used In the classroom to help with reading groups and some individual reading problems Those who help outside hours work In the library They learn skills such as shelf reading Mr Smith feels that now some are quite enthused about library work although at first they might have been disappointed about not working in a classroom Last year M Bennett actually began this typo of a program Internally last year with pupils from grades seven and eight A few of them help this year and fill In the gaps not covered by high school students At the present tune only teachers of grades one to five ore getting this assistance The could be extended at a tcr date If more high school students were available No problems When asked about difficulties which might have arisen in the early stages of this project Mr Smith replied during noon hours In the library workshop She types and files cards and generally learns library skills Julie likes the system and after Christmas she would like to work a classroom small groups She assists them especially In preparing their school newspaper and does a good Job When some of the children In Mrs Vadeikas room were asked why they liked the student assistant the unanimous answer was Because she helps us with the newspaper Shes nice Mrs who teaches grade three has Debbie helping her with the children Debbie is wellliked by all grade three students and Mrs is very satisfied with the work she performs in the classroom When asked how the children responded to the program Mrs replied They get very excited when Debbie comes in but they settle down to work quickly One grade three pupil told us Debbie is nice and she gets us farther In our notebook A second one said She helps us a lot and I really appreciate her and I like her when she helps Other students assisting In the had the students working right In library are Fiona me primary classrooms assigned Heather Strongltharm and to a primary teacher Diane Workingwlth At present Robert has Mrs Usher grade one are one high school student working Jackie Lemon Karen with the program Jane Watson Bonnie Garvin Miss Blades grade twelve aids Mrs Black another grade one teacher has with her grade one class Mr Carol Masales and Mike Cooper McKenzie remarked We were assisting her Shirley Mitchell is sort of counting on a few more working with Mrs Vadeika a but I am iw our grade three teacher at the public own grade eight students and school Miss McKenzie who wo then take a look at parent teaches grade two has assistants lefebure helping her and Mrs Distance a grade three teacher has Mr McKenzie doesnt see any Debbie for her student real difficulties in the program Interested They then discussed areas of work for the students Survey results The principal said the results of the survey showed in the primary division particularly there Is a big need for this kind of Acton Free Press Wednesday December work Mr McKenzie that we success this program is The students are enjoying It and I am too Miss McKenzie teaching grade two Is assisted by Lorrle helps the chlldrer with their reading and spelling Miss McKenzie and the pupils are very plowed with the students are gaining confidence through this program and aha thinks this Is very valuable Miss Blades teaching grade one has two students helping her with the children They are Carol Masales and Mike Cooper Carol and Mike are working with small groups of children helping them especially with their reading The grade one pupils are delighted to receive individual attention Mitt Blades states This program is very helpful for the students coming in and the pupils in the classroom Miss Blades belle vcb that the student assistant program is very suc cessful Mrs Ushers assistants are Karen Ashley Bonnie Garvin and Jackie Lemon Mrs Usher who is also a grade one teacher is satisfied with the type of work the student assistants are performing Her comment on how the children responded was They think theyre great they love them B7 assistant rhe girls who go to M Bennett generally enjoy their work They work with the public school pupils In groups and would like to have a greater variety to help that our school Is a long way from the high school A half day suggested Mr McKenzie would enable the student assistant to arrive at the primary school with a greater balance of the school day to work In On the whole he is happy with the program at his school He feels there are benefits to both the school and the students participating It helps them feel Mr McKenzie principal of Robert little Public School when how he first heard of this school students are a great fflSJ a to site I think tothe teachers and school aSroarm I world today children and the work la down deep In their hearts benefit to high school students ft who t to help If ST SSS KSt whole program while the tfSZ find out any of his Warding esperlence assistants themselves develop interested In the leadership and responsibility program Mr How do the student assistants conducted a survey reel about the program 1 like throughout the school and found It says Julie Smith Julie works that his teachers were very PreChristmas Draw EACH WEEK FOR THE NEXT WEEKS With the Purchase of any Item or more at either Jewellery or Photo Departments You Become Eligible for a Chance on our Weekly Draw Winners announced Each Week Drop in Now and Our fine Soaction of Clocks Watches Jewellery and LAST WEEKS WINNER Mrs Theresa Lockerbie Acton Films Flashbulbs Value Do Your Christmas Shopping Early Use Our Free LayAway Plan SKI DOO for 1971 a name to rely on 0LYMPIQUE oilers jL At economy price SEE OUR STOCK Mechanics or Top Notch Service a Allisons Sales PA No between Acf on Phone DAVIS JEWELLERS Eight St SIMPSONS SEARS AGENCY 56 Mill St E ACTON 8531310 SINCERE THANKS I will Continue to Give My Best Both at the Local and County Level HOLIDAY STORE HOURS Monday December 14 Closed Tuesday to Saturday Open 530 Monday Dec 21 to Thurs Dec Open CLOSED CHRISTMAS and BOXING DAY Monday Dec to Thursday Dec 31st Open 9 to 530 pm Cosed Friday and Saturday Jan 1st 2nd xwtm Need Help to Spread the Joy this Christmas Wo think of m of our to sprout Christmas Colsfcwrtwg tm 41 Christmas in wo dot wo are uniquely qualified to Oof patrons huh VWt everyone of our four for wa every of oat family enjoy the friendly How ILVERS M Mill ST