Danica Riley Contributing Writer

ENGLISH teacher Joe Paynter spent three years col- lecting old computers he rebtcit for a new Argyle sec- ondary school computer lab.

The new computers are a welcome “addition to the school’s old Mac lab, Most of those computers were bought in L988. Paynter ‘has collected between 60) , and 70 computers from corporations and government agencies such as the Computers for Schools Program.

The North Vancouver District 44 schoo! board then gave him the finds to install computer “desks and wire his classroom.

Paynter recruited students to help him take. the computers’ apart and rebuild them. Computers now sit at each of the 30 desks.in his English | class, Almost every computer is a 486. rc. * Whilé most-teachers’ desk drawers ‘are, full of pens and pencils, Paynter_ “keeps his full of computer compo- nents. The ‘cupboards in his newly

t

_ NEWS photo Srad Lodwidge

on his computer. It had all these gouty sounds and made it way more interest: ing,” said Fladmark.

Paynter said the benetits of teach- ing ina wired classroom are ener- mous. One of his students was having sume trouble understanding Julius Caesar so the student made a cheat sheet on Power Point.

The result, Paynter said, was amaz- ing. He now uses the student's pre- sentation ia teach his own Shakespeare classes. He also. had a student with grammar difficulties, but a sharp com- maid of HTML, the language used by

Veb site designers, :

Paynter gave him: some grammar reference sheets and the student designed a comprehensive Web page about grammar his students refer to often.

But even Paynter is surprised by the interest of students, One day he was writing on the board and he heard a lor of typing at the computers.

“T thought they: were ‘all playing games instead of listening to my les- son. T walked around as 7 talked and saw they were frantically typing notes into the computer, It was beautiful,” said Paynter.

Fladmark said he doesn't think

built computer classroom are also full “of computer’ parts he will use for furure projects,

. Although Paynter has collected the computer = equipment himself and - coordinated the’ effort, he: said he! ~-couldn't have done it without the stu- “dents.

“ACM: blow: you, away what these :

ANDREW Fladmark, a Grade 12 Argyle secondary school student, studies English in the comput- erized class: voom he helped his teacher develop.

all, 1. rel them what I knovw in about 30 seconds and then they go to it,” said Paynter.

Grade . 12 _ student Andrew Fladmark helped set up. the, network fast year, He. knows it so. well that

a technician couldn’: figure out a glitch inthe system. Fladmark fixed it in halfan hour.

“T liked working on the network because you’re making something for yourself. and. your fellow students,” said Fladmark.

i Fladmiark also likes how his teacher integrates English classes with com- purer technology. “He had to teach us about the

‘kings and queens of England and nor-

mally that’s a really boring subject, but he did it with an animated slide show

many other people would spend three years developing a coniputer lab for” students in their spare time: . “Tm really glad he’s doing » ‘this because some pecple don’t ever’ know how to use a word progessor and if'at, the very least they learn that ... It’s learning English in the: real world, ” said Fladmark, ot

'

» kids are ca able of doing. gr. They doi it Paynter called on him last Week when Pp ig.

Seymour Local Plan Update. a Community Vision Statement

Members of the Sey’ mouir Local Plan Co-ordinating Committee have been,

Weeldy Waterfront -

- Council Meeting Agenda’ “Park it” on the Web!

-: February |--.7:00:p.m. hh, Rogers Cable 4, Sat. 9:00 a.m.

. Delegation’ ; *,Ms Dalia Gotilieb-Tanaka - traffic calming sohitions

: Council Matters oe o 1.1999 Park Acquisition Bylaw - ; Northlands Golf Course 2 Public Benefits Strategy | lo. ‘ : Implement Lynn Valley ocr. . 3. Rezoning Bylaw - 1100 Block Lymn ‘ Valley, Road - . _ 4 Withholding of Building Permit’ ne “Application for. Proposed Cemetery i and Ancillary. Mausoleum - 1388 i: -. Monashee Drive ; ‘5. Local Cotirt‘of Revision Bylaw 6. North Vancouver Museum and) : Archives Commission. Agreement” Amending Bylaw cope “, oT. Corporate Policy = Secretarial ‘Services to. Council: ue , : 8. Change | of Terms of Reference of the © ‘Het lage Fund to accomriodate the. “District Heritage Program’ 9: Request for Reconsideration “| a‘ » Council Commitree Reports - : 0. Public Referendtim - ‘Responsibility for School District 44 Playing ye Fields, and Other School District A ‘Facilities | a ;

“ Looking for the most romantic setting to

propose? The hottest spot to skate- board? The best place to teach your. “children about nature?

* Surf over to ‘the District and City of

that’s sight for you.

eT fe

we soos on‘ every. oh aad

vw davorgiparks or. “WWW. cnv.orgiparks

and experience your } North Nancouver._ “parks from a new perspective

Volunteers Warited!

Community, Services Advisory Committee . _ Three District residents are needled to sit ‘on the Community Services Advisory ‘Committee. The CSAC advises Council on social and cultural concerns, make

“recommendations regarding social pro-.’ |

grams to meet community needs, and

makes recommendations concerning the

Fallocation of Municipal grants to. com-

L munity groups and d organizations,

Form more ‘information, please contact . ~ Robyn Newton at 990-2274.

imp emented?

- of time to implement - 50 years or so." “This time-frame is a reflection of the lim- oF

Question | Waterfront Task Force Update

What is the averall cost. of the pro- posed Waterfront Plan, if fully :

i,

It's expected ihat the Waterfront * lan will take a considerable period

ited amount of public i inoney that may ‘be available. ‘It's anticipated that, if the Plan i

is approved, money will be set aside on

an annual basis for land acquisition, " sureet-end improvements, trail construc- tion etc. with the amount to be deter-

: mined by future Councils. a

This makes i it difficult to estimate the long-term public costs of the Plan. The Task Force i is, however, suggesting a vari- |

‘ety of other ways in which money can be

obtained, for example, voluntary dona- tions of land, to reduce the overall public Cost. ‘s

Task Force Factoid: |. The Task Force was initially set up by

Council i in 1994 and produced a report it in. : 1995 (the Phase Report, currently avail:. ‘able from the Community Planning .. Department, $5. 70).. This 1 Teport contains 39 policies, which are the basis of the, ae Waterfront Plan.

: Fort more. information éal thie Chair, a neh ae Waterfront Task Force, at 985- 7272.

meeting to draft the Community

. Vision Statement » a document that

- will guide planning options | for thé ; Seymour 4 area.’ _— } .

;

Meetings are open to the publi, and “ are held every Tuesday, 7:15 pm. at Windsor School, Room HL, pe