Re ve

News

New independent school in the works -

by Glenn Werkman
The Review

David Hoskins wants to open an
independent school on the Saanich
Peninsula by September. What he
needs is enrollment numbers,
money and an answer on a bid for
a school building.

The Victoria school teacher and
a group of four backers made an
offer on a 7,200-square-foot build-
ing on three-and-a-half acres off
Mt. Newton Crossroad in Saani-
chton, behind the Mt. View seni-
ors’ home.

“T think this can be something
very special,” Hoskins said.

A proposal that outlines the
school’s basic philosophy, an
admissions policy, financial pro-
jections and background about the
founder has been completed.

“We want a realistic communi-
ty-based independent school for
the Peninsula that deals with the
concems parents have about edu-
cation,” Hoskins said.

He says there will be nothing
exceptional about the school,
which will focus on a small school
setting in a rural area.

Hoskins plans on small class
sizes with the option of independ-
ent teaching, but will follow Min-
istry of Education guidelines.

“The public school is missing a
goal-setting curriculum,” he said.
“The topic is unimportant. We

ieee 3 tne is i RARE eo.
DIGGING IN DIRT to clear out the weeds and bring in the

want to give them a framework for
learning.

“A lot of kids wander through
school not knowing how it’s con-
nected. We make that connection
for them,’ Hoskins said.

The school will operate as a
non-profit organization with an
elected board of governors, Hos-
kins said. Initial board members
formed to start the school will step
down after the first two years of
operation to allow the school and
local community to elect mem-
bers.

“Independent schools are also
required to follow the Year 2000
curriculum but we want more
accountability. We want to know
the child’s potential and challenge
them to reach that potential,”
Hoskins said.

“We recognize there are win-
dows of opportunity for learning
and it’s important to grasp those
learning situations when they are
presented.”

He proposes to have parents
involved in the school with per-
sonal interviews required before
acceptance.

“Tf we feel we can’t deal with a
child’s education needs we won’t
take them,” he said.

A contract busing service is
proposed for student transporta-
tion.

“T need two things from the
community — enrollment num-

Spring flowers is Denise Hamilton of Sidney. Fine weather has
brought a flower-decked spring to the Peninsula.

Dogs put down affer atfack

A Downey Road resident is
worried for the safety of sheep in
the North Saanich area after six of
her geese were killed, one died
later and two others had to be
destroyed following a recent attack
by dogs.

Iona Sparling said dogs appar-
ently got onto her West Saanich
property through an open gate and
killed the geese — four yearlings
and five breeders — in a fenced
area at the rear of the yard.

“J want to notify other people to
keep an eye on chickens and geese
so the same thing doesn’t hap-
pen,” Sparling said. “I’m a little
worried about sheep down the
road but I don’t know what to do
about it.”

Both the SPCA and the RCMP
have been involved since the
attack early on the morning of

March 9.

Four dogs were involved in the
attack, according to next-door
neighbor Marjorie Dowd who
handed over photographs of the
dogs to an SPCA inspector.

The RCMP were called to the
scene by Dowd shortly after 8 a.m.
on March 9. An officer followed
the dogs as they ran away, after
which the police referred the mat-
ter to the SPCA.

Two dogs were later signed over
by their owners on the Tseycum
Indian reserve and put down,
according to Lynn West, SPCA
executive director. -

She added that it is not unusual
for dogs to go after birds, it is
instinctive and “just a game to
them ... but not a habit that’s
easily broken.”

bers and money,” he said.

Hoskins anticipates an expendi-
ture of about $212,400 in the first
year, providing the offer to pur-
chase the building for $385,000 is
accepted. Anticipated revenue is
set at $205,000 in the first year,
with enrollment of 50 students at
an annual tuition of $4,000, plus a
$100 registration fee.

DAVID HOSKINS

Independent school funding
from the Ministry of Education
does not become available until
the second year of operation, Hos-
kins said.

“Tnitial projections for Year One
of operation are 50 children, kin-
dergarten to Grade 2 (boys and
girls). Each subsequent year we
would expand a further grade until
we reach Grade 6 and a maximum
of 120 students,” Hoskins said in
written draft proposal.

““At the present time this is a
serious proposal, presented by an
educator with over 20 years expe-
rience,” Hoskins said.

He and his wife, Josephine Hos-
kins, have taught primarily at the
elementary school level in Eng-
land, Ontario and British Colum-
bia.

The school proposes to hire one
principal and two teachers in the
first year.

There will not be examinations
but, instead, there will be an
emphasis on developing students’
desire to read and write for pleas-
ure.

“There are certain times when
kids are ready for certain concepts
and you have to plug them in at the
right time,” he said.

Hoskins said he cannot take
money from people interested in
sending their children to the inde-
pendent school until the building
is purchased.

He has offered to make a presen-
tation to groups of people with
interest in an effort to get enroll-
ment numbers.

Those wishing further informa-
tion can call 727-9102.

Get plate numbers
police ask residents

Damage to lawns in several
areas of Brentwood Bay is a cause
for concern to Central Saanich
police.

Deputy police Chief George
Lawson says police would love to
make arrests in connection to sev-
eral reports of vehicle being driven
across residential lawns on Waver-
ley Terrace, Verdier Avenue and
Early Place.

The latest incident occurred
overnight March 17-18 but there
have been other reports previously,

“The nuisance is what we're
concemed about,” Lawson said.
“Tf residents see something, get a
plate number and let us know.”

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MINORITY LANGUAGE
EDUCATION REPORT

RELEASED FOR PUBLIC INPUT

The B.C. Minority Language Education Task
Force report has been released for public input.

The task force, established in May of 1990, was
struck to propose methods of providing French
education principles consistent with section 23 of
the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The deadline for responses to the report is June
30, 1992.

For more information or for a copy of the report
please contact:

The Ministry of Education and Ministry Respon-
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Branch, 356-2527