Terrace Review. —~ Wednesday, October 30, 1991 Twenty return to school system | by Diana English Young Moms, a program that will help pregnant teenagers and those who already have babies to finish high school, officially start- ed in September. ‘The first meeting of prospec- tive students was held in early September. At that time 13 girls applied to the program, with one other unable to attend the meeting because she was in hospital in labour, The program now has 20 students, with a waiting list of six. In addition, it is believed there are at least three or four young moms attending school full time at Cale- donia. All of the students currently in the program are between the ages of 16 and 22, with abilities ranging from below Grade 8 to Grade 12 level. Some of the stu- dents applied on their own but many were referred by public health officials and the Building Healthier Babies program. Others were referred by the schools. Kim Scott, a former home eco- nomics teacher at Skeena Junior Secondary, was hired by the dis- trict to set up and teach the pro- gram. Scott spent part of October in the lower mainland checking out similar programs already in effect in Langley, Abbotsford, Surrey and-Victoria: All of the programs she observed were part of a senior secondary school and have been in operation anywhere from one to 10 years, All applicants for the Young Moms. program must go through a screening process. According to Scott, the only criteria are “whether or nat they want to learn” and “whether they are moti- vated to learn”. She says no scholastic requirements are in place. Scott takes the fact that stu- dents apply for the program as proof they are eager. The program is on a continuous intake basis and will allow a great deal of flexibili- ty to fit with the students and their At its monthly public meeting held in Terrace Oct. 8, the board of School District 88: elearned that teacher Cathy _Morgan of Terrace won first prize in the Ministry of Education 1991 Pacific Rim photo contest. The prize carried a cash award of $500. «presented certificates of _recognition to Caledonia graduates who scored over 90 percent in their provincial exam marks: Jessica Campbell, Nicole Coltison, Robert Cuddeford. Bao-Lanh Diep, Heather Dreger, ‘Chad Edmonds, Jason Krause, ‘Seott Loptson, Matthew “Phillips, David Shepherd and ‘David Wolfe. Caledonia principal Tom Hamakawa noted ihat the class of ‘91 racked up ‘the bést academic achievement SCHOOL BOARD BRIEFS baby’s schedules. Scott says she would like to help out the other young moms in the school system, even if they are not in the pro- gram. She can be reached at the Young Moms classroom at 638- 8367. The program is operating tem- porarily out of downtown office space located in the Enterprise Building at 4644 Lazelle Avenue. Most of the furniture and equip- ment has been received and what cannot be used at the current site is in storage. Because of the situa- tion the students are in the “class- room” only a few at a time, and Scott works with most of them on a homebound basis. The program will be able to provide an even greater service to more young mothers when the second stage of the program, a day care centre, is in operation. Alison Farkvam, formerly a teacher's aide in special education classes at Caledonia, has been hired by the school district to set up the day- care: Farkvam is a certified Early Childhood Education supervisor and has spent a lot of time work- ing with the older students at Cale- donia. Terrace and District Com- munity Services will be adminis- tering the daycare program once it is in operation. The original plan to house the Young Moms classroom and the daycare in portables at Caledonia has been scrapped due to the unex- pected success of the program. Once the daycare is in operation it will be able to accept 24 children, newborn to three years of age, instead of the 12 the project was originally designed for, The staff will be fully qualified and experi- enced Early Childhood Education workers. Scott says the daycare workers may have more of a chal- lenge in this daycare because they are dealing with very young babies, many of whom are not on a regular schedule yet. Also, they are also babies of very young mothers, which will make for a unique situation. record in the history of the school, with over $250,000 in awards and 12 Provincial Scholarships. edecided to strike a committee to find a name for the new Hazleton Secondary School. sapproved an optional ski program for students throughout the district, provided there is no expehse to the board, and decided to advise school principals of an offer from the Terrace Peaks Gymnastic Club of gymnastic instruction for interested students. eupproved in principle a request from Thornhill Elementary School for a group of students to travel this year to France, Holland and Germany. Scott says she is currently teaching only English, math, social studies and science, the core subjects, as there is not the room nor the time to do any additional courses. She has not started Life to have all of the moms together in oné place first. Scott says she is looking for alternative space, per- haps in a church or a hall, for the Life Skills aspect of the program. She says they are also trying to line up reliable babysitters for the young moms until the daycare can be started. Scott says she is enjoying ‘the Skills because she wants to be able challenge the program presents but Young moms program off to crowded start she sometimes feels she entered a whole new and different world since she accepted the position last June. According to Scott the public reaction she has received has been almost all positive. She says the program has also received excel- lent community support, with many people and organizations offering help. systems Telecommunication systems Alarm | systems f Proud! To Do Business In The Northwest Camera surveillance TOLSEC CANADA INC. TOLSEC CANADA INC. TOLSEC PRINCE TOLSEC CANADA INC. 3238 KALUM ST. 230-A 3rd AVENUE WEST GEORGE (1989) LTD. BOX 3315, TERRACE, B.C. V8G 2N4 PRINCE RUPERT, ’ 9658 OPIE CRES. SMITHERS, B.C. PHONE (604) 638-0241 B.C. V8J 1L1 | PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. you 2N0 FAX (604) 638-0603 PHONE (604) 627-1111 V2L 1C1 PHONE (604) 847-5555 FAX (604) 627-1184 PHONE (604) 569-0044 FAX (604) 847-4991 FAX (604) 563-3189 I would like to extend New .=- ae DeOmoctal == HELMUT GIESBRECHT, New Democrat MLA- Elect, Skeena Constituency | my warmest thanks to all the energetic volunteers and loyal supporters who made possible our victory on October 17. It was most certainly “a time for a change” in our government, and your active effort and support made that change happen! Once again, Thank You! peered at mae s aaiaemlail ie ee wee it Big th Ba