? inquiring reporter Evelyn Jacob 12 - Sunday, March 19, 1989 - North Shore News ABOUT 300,000 kilograms of Chilean fruit have been sitting in Vancouver warehouses since Tuesday after the federal government ordered a ban on ail imports of fruit from the Latin American nation. The embargo came after two cyanide-contaminated Chilean grapes were discovered in the United States last Sunday. Chile’s Do you agree with Chilean fruit ban? Sscha Spindler North Vancouver No. Because only two grapes in 200,000 boxes were found. I think the ban is a political ploy. North Vancouver Yes, because | wouldn't want to be one of the people to eat a poisoned grape, don’t If the scare is a fruit. terrorist scheme, it back- fired. Bob McCauley North Vancouver Yes, it suits its purpose. I believe anyone wants to eat Chilean fruit. Julia Arnold North Vancouver poisoned with the ban. billion doilar fruit-export industry, meanwhile, was para- lyzed, as growers and sellers halted all shipments in response to the cyanide scare. Inquiring Reporter asks people if they agree with the government’s ban on Yes. I think the cyanide could kill children. Until the government gets this thing sorted out, I agree Heeparanesi rece Bill Wilson North Vancouver No. The ban seems like an over-reaction. It will hurt the Chilean economy and encourage other people to attempt similar ploys. New school system raises concerns NORTH VANCOUVER School District administrators and board members are concerned about the prospect of im- plementing the innovative new ungraded primary system with dual entry next fall. “Personally 1 am = enthusiastic about the ungraded primary idea, but I am concerned about its ad- ministration,’’ assistant superin- tendent Dr. Robin Brayne told the school board Tuesday night. While reporting some new in- formation received about the ungraded system to the board, Brayne stressed that there will have to be significant changes to the curriculum for kindergarten to Grade Three (K-3). A single integrated curriculum By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer will have to replace the current separate curricula for math, science, reading, etc., for each grade. “There will be more of a focus on acquiring thinking, literacy and computation skills,’ Brayne said. Recent changes to the language arts, family life and safety pro- grams will have to be incorporated into this new structure, Bray7 said. Although the K-3 system will be ungraded, Brayne pointed out that some other way of identifying pupils, such as ‘‘first year’? or “sophomore’’ would have to be developed. “Most pupils will complete the K-3 program in four years, some in more time, and some in less. They will move along the curriculum in terms of their own pace,’ said Brayne. As pupils are only required to spend four months in kindergarten before moving up to full-time schooling, a first year student might be ready to go on to Grade One by this January, which would still be under the graded system. School trustee Roy Dungee said it would be better to get the new System reduces age spread IF THE NEW dual entry ungraded primary system gets under way this September, children aged five be- tween May and Oct. 31 of 1989 would be entering kindergarten, or the ‘first year’’ of the system in September of 1989. Those turning five from Nov. ! to April 30 of 1990 would enter a few months later in January 1990, rather than waiting until the fol- lowing September. For the first year there will be an exception, however, with children born in November and December still being permitted, as in the past, to enrol in September. The purpose of the dual entry is to reduce the spread of ages in first year classes, to make it easier to focus on individual readiness needs. The new system will grow year by year, until kindergarten to Grade Three is encompassed. As kindergarten is still optional, parents will be able to defer their children’s entry into the system for two entry dates. Most children will spend their first year of school in half-day Programs (as in kindergarten) though those in special needs, native or English as a Second Lan- guage programs may be supported by full-day programs. A pupil need only stay a mini- mum of four months in the half- day program before moving on through the system. Although the idea is not to push kids ahead, some students may end up taking less than the four years to be ready for re-entry into the graded system at Grade Four. The district will get provincial funding on the basis of an extra 0.25 teaching assistant for each First Year Primary class to facilitate the new system. The Ministry of Education will also provide assistance to teachers in the important area of assess- ment and evaluation. “This will be the whole key to the system," assistant school su- perintendent Dr. Robin Brayne told the News, The mechanics of teaching stu- dents of various ages at various stages along the single curriculum have yet to be worked out. The students may be divided in- to classrooms with individual teachers or three teachers may be assigned to 90 ungraded pupils, Brayne speculated. W. Van to study dual scheme WEST VANCOUVER parents will have to wait a little longer to find out about the new kindergarten system which begins in both September and January. Although the Ministry of Education is requesting ‘‘dual en- try’ kindergarten to start this year, West Vancouver School Board set up two ad hoc commit- tees at Monday’s meeting to study the new system. The committees’ recommenda- tions will be available at the end of Apnil. “Everyone agrees that the idea is By ANNA MARIE D'ANGELO ‘ontributing Writer good, but it may be implemented too fast,’' said William May, su- perintendent of schools. ‘‘...What happens in year two?"’ Dual-entry kindergarten is sup- posed to reduce age spread in a young class, which sometimes af- fects a pupil’s readiness to progress in school. In the new system, five year olds born between Nov. | and April 30 would enrol in school at the beginning of January, and ones born between May 1! and Oct. 31 would enter September kindergarten. Besides the two kindergarten starting times, the new provincial curriculum also requires the first four years of school to consist of an ungraded primary program. Concerns that the ungraded primary program should be in place before the dual-entry kindergarten begins were expressed at the school board meeting. curriculum in place before plung- ing in with the dual entry kindergarten set up this fall. Brayne agreed, and said that an adequate Icad period to get the necessary ‘‘infrastructure’’ in place would be preferable. Richard Walton was concerned that a bright pupil might be aca- demicaily ready to leave the primary program and begin Grade Four at, say, seven, but might not be socially and emotionally prepared. "We may need some type of enrichment facility at the top end of this program,’ said Walton. It will be up to the district whether to include the French Immersion program into the dual entry, ungraded system. Acting school superintendent Patrick Bell said the district would likely take the option of beginning the new primary program in September of 1990, rather than this fall. “Ac this time it seems inap- propriate to receive children into dual entry kindergarten, when there is no program in place. It would be a disservice to the youngsters,”’ he said. All schools in the province must be under the new = system by September of 1991. Enjoy our SOFT TACO, MEXI-FRIES™and a MEDIUM SOFT DRINK for only $2. 99 during our “It’s in the Bag” promotion. Offer expires April 9. @ 1811 Lonsdale Avenue SCOUTS CANADA INFORMATION HOT LINE 879-5721