WRITER Herbert Kaufman once said
an education is “a chest of tools.”

That toolbox is far more valuable than any
piece of machinery or equipment our children
will ever come in contact with in their future
careers. But cnsuring they have the knowledge
and the skills to take on the world is no simple
task.

The teachers, administrators and even the
students of Schoo! District 44 have been rising
to the challenge, with admirable enthusiasm,
for decades.

‘That’s why, after the provincial Ministry of
Education proclaimed the second week in
March to be an annual celebration of education
in the province, a group of North Vancouver
district staff members decided to take it even
further.

“In the papers we ars always hearing about
the bad things happening in schools and about
kids ... but there are some really exciting things
happening in education in North Van,” said
Bill Reid, principal of Ross Road elementary
school.-“So this cross section of people who
work in the district got together and we talked
about what we could do to promote education.
How we could eet the good news across to

__Pecple.”
Next week’s programs, events, concerts and

.. THE right environment is an important ele-
ment for good learning... --
Drafty portables, crowded classrooms and
inadequate facilities make it harder for teachers
: to teach and for students to learn.
"That's why students at both Argyle and

. Handsworth secondary schools are Jooking .

forward to having a litde more breathing room

_ Once planned renovations are complete.

: “Argyle was built in 1960,” says principal

"Peter Ewens. “And for the age of the building,
: Yam really impressed by the excellent environ-
“ment it provides, But this construction really is
exciting :.. Can you imagine how much more
uplifting it’s going to be for people who spend
‘such a big part of their lives ere to be working
*- iin an upgraded facility?” .

including information about’ continaiag: edi

tion in the district, a demonstration by stu-
dents in the chef training and hairstyling pro-
grams at Carson Graham secondary school,
displays from Outdoor School and art classes
and displays by students.

As well, you'll find student artwork dis-
played at restaurants throughout the North
Shore during Education Week.

Park Royal will also be the site of the Music
in the Mall concert series, in which choirs and
bands from elementary and secondary schools
throughout School District 44 will perform
throughout the day on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday.

And starting tomorrow, check out the pro-
jects created by focal students for the annual
Science Fair at Lynn Valley Mall.

The feature event for the week takes place
Thursday, March 9 at the Leo Marshall

Curriculum Centre when Terry Small speaks

about “10 easy ways to make school diffi-
cult/one way to make it easy.”

For more information about Education
Week in North Vancouver — running March 6
to 11 —check out the rest of this special insert.

Last Dec. 29, the Ministry of Education
announced $2.08 million in funding for addi-
tions and renovations to the school, which is
the largest secondary school in the schoo! dis-
trict, with 1,430 students attending.

Construction, slated to begin in April, will
include the conversion of the old automotive
shop into much-needed practice space for the
school’s band students. Currently, space is so
tight, the Senior Concert Band must practice in
sections.

“That wili be wonderful, it will make such a

- difference when they’re actually practicing as

one group,” says Ewens.

Anew library is to be constructed where the
school’s courtyard currently sits, and the pre-
seat library will be converted into four class-

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rooms, Similarly, a new cafeteria is to be built
and the old one remade into teaching space.
“The idea is that the traditional classroom has-
g’t changed much in 40 years, but by building
a cafeteria and library new, we can take advan-
tage of state-of-the-art technology.”

The ministry announced funding for
Handsworth’s renovations in November of
1998. The government allotted $3.9 million to
add eight new classrooms.

Handsworth parent Sharon Cocomile says
the school is currently a consiruction zone.
Parking is limited and the: cafeteria haso’t
enough space for all the students who want to
cat in it, but when it’s all finished “it will have
great new facilities for the kids to work in. The
scheol was too small as it was.”

High School Renovations Add Space and Atmosphe fas:

The renovations, slated to be complete in
the fall, include a new two-level atrium where,
the school’s courtyard. used to- be’ and, will:
house a new main office, classrooms and study
space. A new drama room and library are tind :
construction and the cafeteria is being expand.

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