Best Wishes For A Safe Summer

As schools across the province close their doors for the summer, Education and Culture Minister Robbie Harrison said planning is well underway for an exciting new year. School boards across the province are receiving $82 million in additional funding and approximately $12 million in information technology equipment and services, with the benefits already being felt in Nova Scotia's classrooms.

"This past school year has been a testament to the dedication of teachers, school boards and communities in developing quality education for their students," said the minister. "Now with the additional funding, school boards across the province will meet the needs of their students through a number of unique programs."

The Cape Breton-Victoria School Board is reinstating primary full time. As well, in co-operation with Elder Link, the board has developed a program which allows students to become more sensitive to the needs of seniors. The program is being integrated into language arts, health and social studies.

The Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial(CSAP)is proud to have one of their teachers become the first Francophone in the world to train as a teacher/trainer in the Reading Recovery Program. Reading Recovery is a program designed to boost the reading skills of elementary students and school boards across the province are now involved in the program. Over 560 CSAP students participated in Les Jeux de l'Acadie in Richmond, a major sporting and cultural event for the Acadian community.

The Chignecto-Central Regional School Board is pleased to have new schools in Bible Hill/Valley and Hants East, and others are being planned. The board is expanding its technology network, and is negotiating a number of School Advisory Council Agreements, so that more communities are directly involved in the education of their children.

The Southwest Regional School Board is currently working on supporting budding entrepreneurs by offering entrepreneurship education through new Venture Centres. In the centres, grade 11 and 12 students can earn credits, by developing their own business under their teachers' supervision. The board, along with its partners is also working on a program for junior high students called Bright Futures. Through the program students are working in the community to make a difference, everything from recording oral histories of seniors to peer tutoring.

The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board is focusing on early literacy as a board-wide priority. The Reading Recovery program will be piloted in a number of schools. In addition, a 20-member Early Literacy Leadership Team has been formed to support literacy in all elementary schools.
The Halifax Regional School Board is developing a program that enables parents to become actively involved in their children's school. The program, Positive Parental Involvement trains parents to aid the school's peer helping and peer mediation programs. Other schools in the board have teamed up grade 11 and 12 students with grade 6 students as part of the Adventure Based Experiential Learning Program. Through the program, older students help younger students deal with issues such as conflict resolution, problem solving and developing respect for others.

The Strait Regional School Board is launching their web-based distance education program. Students in remote rural communities can take part in courses not offered in their school, through the Internet. Four courses will be offered in September with an additional four courses offered in February, 1999.

Education and Culture Minister Robbie Harrison said initiatives like these ensure the needs of individual students are being met.

"We're working in partnership to develop the best educational opportunities for all Nova Scotian children, today and in the future." said Mr. Harrison. "I wish all our students a safe and happy summer, as we all look forward to an exciting new school year."