Grade 12 students set school record for passing rate ONLY 3.5 per cent of stu- denis at Caledonia Sr. Secondary failed Grade 12 courses in which they wrote provincial exams last year — the best average since records started in 1984, Those numbers make Harold Cox proud. He’s the director of instruction (K- 12) for the Coast Mountain school district. District-wide the failure rate for 1996/97 provincial- ly examinable courses was six per cent, while the provincial average was 4.9 per cent. At Mount Elizabeth in Kitimat, 8.5 per cent of students failed those courses, while in Hazelton the average was ten per (Provincially exams are written for courses in key subjects, like French, geograhpy or physics.) “We know that econom- ics and rural areas have an effect on our achievement levels, as does the education level of parents,’’ explained Cox. ‘Taking all that into account we did extremely well. Overall, on provincial ex- ams Caledonia students scored close to the average provincial marks. However, the same wasn’t true for the smailer areas in the district, like Stewart and Hazelton. In those towns marks (ended to be sig- nificantly below the provin- cial average. But Cox cau- tions against drawing any hasty conclusions. For example, only two students in Stewart wrote the Math 12 exam. And, Cox points out, they might have been enrolled in cor- New Tanning Booth at Richards Laundromat & Cleaners on Emerson 48 Lamps, 19 fans, One Great Tan! : 635-5119 #1 In Town Vv CORRECTION NOTICE We wish to draw your attention to the following in our “WINTER SUPER SALE' FLYER. Page 4. Item 3, 13” COLOUR TV, 4521344, Copy should read; MONO TV, NOT siereo TY. Page 7. tem 3. Hammer drill, 54 2748-2, does NOT come with a case, The copy is incdtrect. WE SINCERELY REGRET ANY INCON-VENIENCE WE MAY HAVE CAUSED YOU, cnote52-97 zones: ALL Country Folk Art Painting Courses w Drop-In Sessions ~ Mother/Daughter | Session ge Parks & Rec Friday, Jan. 16th 6:00-9:00pm ¢ 4946 Cooper Dr. § Brenda Rintisch ail Harold Cox respondence courses, and not regular students. Even if a class of ten stu- dents writes an exam, and two fail, the average will be significantly skewed. But it’s the overall mark, not just the provincial exam mark which counts in the -end. If Caledonia teachers marked too easily, then their students would have artifi- cially inflated marks. ‘'We marked fairly close to the provincial average,”’ he said. For example, biology teachers at Caledonia marked .1 per cent harder than the rest than the provincial average, Chemistry teachers marked easier, but their students were above the provincial average in the exams. Overall, Cox says, be has a good impression with everything taken into con- sideration. The results are some of the best we've had in several years,’’ he says. He attributes that success to the maturing of local communities — teachers are more dedicated and experi- enced, he says, and are more aware of their subject material. And parents and Students are more aware of the importance of education, particularly now that tradi- .tional resource-based jobs such as logging are more UILsUre, The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 14, 1998 - AQ New smelter under study U.S.-BASED Alumax Inc, will study the possibilty of building ai aluminum smelter in B.C. Prince Rupert and Kitimat are among coastal B.C. sites contemplated. Alumax president Michael Baltzell said the study is to be complete by Dec. 31 and could lead — if all goes well — to construction over a three-year period. Baltzell, at a press conference called Thursday by premier Glen Clark, said B.C. is now Alumax’s leading choice as the place to build its next plant. Clark last year courted Alumax at its Atlanta, Georgia headquarters, offering cheap electricity the province now has in surplus through the Columbia River Treaty downstream benefils. “Premier Clark made a very strong case for develop- ment,’” Baltzell said. He said the billion-dollar plant would produce 250,000 metric tonnes of aluminum a year and would lead 10 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. He also said the company would try to use B.C, con- tractors and suppliers as much as possible. ‘‘We sce that as being just good business,” he said. He said the decision to go ahead will depend on ne- gotiating a power sales agreement wilb the province, approval by provincial agencies, and the company con- tinuing to choose B.C, over competing options else- where in the world. Although aluminum prices are weak, Baltzell says it’s the right time to build a plant so the company has sufficient production capacity when prices go back up. “Some analysts are projecting severe shortfalls in aluminum supply just five years ahead,’” he said. Clark said selecting a site won't be a political deci- sion. ‘‘It will be a decision made solely by the compa- ny on the basis of economics,” he said. cou ABIN] Fresh Halibut ~ & Chips! . Available every day of the week. 4702 Lakelse Ave., Terrace Ph, 635-6302 © Fax 635-6381 Formerly Terrace Slumber Lodge Looking For Something A Little Different For Your Children's Birthday Party eludes: a% hours ain battina b tour in date sled MULLIGAN'S HOMERUN 4618 Hwy. 16, Terrace Ae (Behind Homa Hardware} 635-1180 () SA Meals begin with Safeway Meat Ways GAGVA foes ow oF FeSh Chicken Breasts Boneless, Skinless. . Fillet Removed. 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