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12 - The Canadian Champion, Frlday, Novomber 5,1999 New computer pro gramn bonds police and learning disabled By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion -Bridging the chasm" for problem chuldren is important, says the founder of the pioneer Komputers for Kids prograni. Computer education can be a great help to chuldren who're learning disabled or economi- cally deprived, Bob Sharen told a Burlington frmWednesday. "If you reacli out to problem chuldren, they'll reacli back," lie said. "But it takes a little while." The speaker outlined bis group's experiences at two forums sponsored by the Community Partnership Prevention Network. The Halton group is lioping to organize ils own Komputers for Kids prograni. Mr. Sharen's group is based in Grand Bend (Lambton County) but lias heiped tamilirs lromn Toronto 10 Windsor to Walkerton. He said tbey've placed more thats 300 computers ejîher at youtb and adult centres or at homes. Besides donations of equipment, obtaining trainers for the programn is also important, lie noted. Mr. Sharen cited mentoring by off-duty police officers as a particularly successftil part of the program. "Usually these children only saw officers comn- ing over to say someone had died or 10 make an arrent, and the copis, had come to view the kids as punks," lie said. "But here, tbey could see them as ordinary kids with problema that can be helped." recrusted as trainers or other high school siudents can do instruction for their community service credit, Mr. Sharen suggested. Besides helping the learn * ng disabled, the computer programi aso helpa alleviate social problema, hie said. Mr. Sharen cited statistica that showed many youths in prison or reformn institutions, living in poverty or killed in car accidents, are leamning disabled. 'They look like anyone else but the ieamning disabled get ail sorts of labels, like stupid and ugly," lie said. 'It's very frustrating and debili- tating. Oflen, they know wbat to -do but caai't get it out." lar scisool can succeed with comsputers., where band-eye control is required, lie added. The Lambton program waa started with the belp of area citizens, sponsors and health organi- zations and la part of the local community polic- ing committee. Mr. Sharen cited a variety of potential sources for donations of money, equipment and exper- tise. His suggestions included service clubs, boa- pitals, bereaved families, police, funeral direc- tors, churches and even liquor and wine stores. Donors and sponsors are currently being sought for the Halton Komputers for Kids pro- grama. Anyone interested in helping out can caîl Deb Bechard at 632-653 1, ext. 30. HIGH SCHOOL REPORT moururl DISTICT aigu SCEO0OL jacquuelsO Maiam Chantsy Gradce "A" News By Jacqueline Bass und Manissa Cheskey Everyone certiaaiy had a surprise waking up to 550w on Wednesday mornsng. We're sure titat ail of the students were hoping for mach more snow than actualiy fr11, so relieve titem from another hectic schooi day. Let's look on te bright side, at ieast we used Monday aftemoon for homework and studying. It's nos like eititer of us started our Christmas shopping or asysting. Titis week wa a spirited one as M.D.H.S. Wr lsad our first *Tep Raily" and schooi Fashion Show of the year. Titis took place on Wednesday moming during te TAP period. Sports teams were recognized for teir achievements and the cheerleaders performed their routine and cheer for te school. A bigger fashion show will be taking place later on in the year in conjunctiosi with Boardtopia. student Council is working os picking oas te schooi clothes for itis yeur and wili keep ssudents posted as so when oreders can he made. Speaking of spirited sports seams, te Senior Boy's Football seasos itas adly corne tom a end. The boys were dedicated ansd pus forth titeir best effort to make te seam a success. We would aiso like to mention ste cnacites and appiaud themn for titeir hard worlc ansd entitusiasmn. Better iuck uext year! We would also like to wisit te Junior Boy's Football seam good luck as ste season continues for them. Lacs week some spooktacuiar events took place as M.D. in itonour of Hallowe'en. One of titese was te second acnuai Haunted house. It was reportedly very scary according to macy of ste students brave enougit to enter. On Wednesday moming each itomeroom selected a few class members to carve and decorate thesr ciass pumpkiu. Thte winning pumpkin. "Veggie Head," decorated witit varinus vegetabies. itence t e name, was submitted by Ms. Carney's itomeroom. Second place went to Ms. Graitam's homeroota for "Buddy." te costume contest was iteld on Friday acd ail students were welcome to dress up. te winners were as follows: Terry Bulien for mass original in itis "When Animais Attack" costumne. Je Aquinas for funniest in his "Girlie-Giri" costume and scariets went to Trevor Tobin. titacks to, everynne wito dressed up and also to StudentCoancil for itosting ail of ste above events. Lastly we woald like tu recognize Mrs. O'Reilly's Entrepreneutrial Studies class wito have bren quise basy gatering adls and sponsors for ste Millenium yearbook. Titanks to temn we wili now have a full colour yearbook. congratulations un Nancy Coffen and Jeac Kialtavisuck who macaged to collect ste mous ads oas of ste entire ciass. For titeir efforts tey will racit recieve a yearbook free of charge. Wr woald now like to remiùnd everyone shat Monday is not a nit day. You'll just have to tamn to Mother Nature acd nsk lier very nicely for more snow! 'I DATEL6E RR E.C. DRURY aigu SCEDOL A 11À ý - UE1= vÀI = DATEUNE DRURY By Candice Hugo, Krislyn Di Girolamo, Sorah Hamiton Hello again! Wr hope that rveryonr had a happy and safe Halloween. As everyone knows Ibis was the lant Halloween of the millennium and Drury's Pumpkin Patrol rndrd this century with a bang. On Monday moming Drury studentn gathrd and emptied car loads of non-perishahle food items that were genrrously donated by the communiîy for the food batik. On behaîf of E.C. Drury's Student Council and Student Athletic Society we wouid like to thank ail who conîributed and we would aino like 10 îhank A&P for allowing us to borro.w nhopping carIs for Ibis year's Pumpkin Patrol. Senior students who participatrd in Ibis event will lie able to add this act of community nervice to their student profile. Over the past few weeks graduatsng grade twelvr and grade thirteen students have hemn organizing and recording ail their accomplishmenîs Ilirougli higli school. TMis self profile aids teachers and studenîs when scholarship deadlines arrive. Don't forges 10 gel those student lirofiles n m student services as noon as possible! In order to prepare for pont secondary education seniors have aiso bren attending univrrsity and courege seminars. These seminars provide graduating students with useful information about pont secondary programns, residences, tuitios and extra curricular aclivites. Being able to talk wiîh specific college and univrrsity representataives allows students to select the schools that interent thero and provide the prograros they seek. To fusilier prepare for next yrar, graduating studenîs fromn Halton higli schoois attended a University Information Program, this past Tuesday. Students had the opportunity to select the tbree universities that most intrrested them and meet with representaîives one on one. It was the first time that details suri as specific programs and carrer planning could br discunned. lnformatiwae events suci as these make tir transition 10 Coilegr and University casier on students. Il was also enlightening when grads offered valuable first hand information on ail aspects of life after Drury for senior sîudents on Grad Day. Well, now that you have bren informed of aIl tie future carrer planning thal bas bren going on Ibis year, we look forward 10 seeing many of you at tonighî'n 1998-1999 commencement. Hope you ail have an enjoyahle weekend. Watci for us nexî week! Wh d Ste drii'n couse sa hr js Dk Youn Divers? Maybe it's because Young Drivers has thirty years of or instructors over the past 10 years. experience teaching collision avoidance. !jlb nd has achieved Registration to the coveted 150 And over haîf a million graduates, coast to coast. __ 15 900J Quality Assurance Management And more than a million dollars invested in Standard. dri fer training research, plus another million No matter what they say, no one else is anything invested in annual recertification programs for like Young Drivers! Nov. 6th Nov. 9, Tues & Thurs. 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