Toy soldiers come to life
These little toy soldiers are none other
than ballet dancers of the Calgary Imperial School of Ballet in Okotoks. The ballet
troupe will be performing a variety of past performances held during the 1990s, such
as The Nutcracker, at their upcoming 'Tribute to the New Millennium' performance
at the DeWinton Community Hall on Dec. 12.
photo by Gillian Beckett
Student health partnership now in progress
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
A new partnership is in the works between the Foothills School Division (FSD) and health organizations within the Headwaters region which will better support students with special health needs.
Entitled the Headwaters Student Health Partnership, the goals of the joint venture will be to provide access to coordinated health and other related support services to meet the needs of school-aged children with special health needs; to maintain coordination and support at all levels for such services; and to ensure that children with special health needs are able to fully participate in school to gain their full potential.
In order to provide such services, the partnership has hired a full-time occupational therapist, speech/language pathologists and a physiotherapist to facilitate regional needs.
However, to meet locally identified priorities for special health students, a plan is under way for the FSD to hire family school liaison counsellors, youth development workers, educational assistants, a psychologist and a mental health consultant.
'So far, Headwaters has hired some personnel such as a full-time equivalent occupational therapist and speech therapist,' explained learning coordinator Jim Graham during the FSD board's regular meeting on Dec. 1. 'Alberta Mental Health had some additional funds allocated to them for children's mental health services, the latest we're working on will be hiring two child and adolescent therapists to work in our region.'
FSD associate superintendent Jim Brandon said that funding for locally hired personnel will come from funding through Windsong Child and Family Services, FCSS and the FSD.
'We're one of the first partnerships to address students' special health needs,' said Brandon. 'This will mean better services for kids as well as parents of kids with special health needs.'
'Having these services in the school is less threatening for special health students in a familiar environment,' said division trustee Kimberly Epp. 'This will be less clinical and less frightening for them.'
Headwaters announces tobacco reduction plan
Headwaters Health Authority (HHA) is aiming to protect children and youth from
the effects of tobacco in all its forms.
In a bold and comprehensive tobacco reduction strategy, Headwaters plans to use available
community resources within the region to reduce the uptake of smoking and chewing
of tobacco by youth, help people quit the health impairing addiction, and limit child
and youth exposure to tobacco smoke.
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'Showing kids tar-stained black lungs has a very limited impact. We need to address tobacco issues in the communities of Headwaters.' -- Dr. David Swann |
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Approximately 30 per cent of people in the Headwaters region smoke or use spit
tobacco.
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In addition, children don't often have a choice when it comes to putting up with cigarette smoke in a car or restaurant.
Dr. David Swann, medical officer of health for the HHA, notes that the plan is ambitious, however education about the negative impact of tobacco alone is not enough to stop youth from becoming addicted.
'Showing kids tar-stained black lungs has a very limited impact,' said Swann. 'We need to address tobacco issues in the communities of Headwaters.'
Activities cited in the plan range from supporting residents in communities who wish to eliminate smoking in restaurants, advocating for licensing of tobacco retailers, developing skills in youth to reduce tobacco use in their communities, and change attitudes to promote tobacco-free generations for the future.
Brett Hodson, regional health promotion coordinator for HHA, explained that the activities coincide with the Alberta Tobacco Reduction Alliance's (ATRA) Truth About Tobacco campaign.
'We are trying to maximize the effect of our efforts by coordinating our strategy with ATRA's,' he said.
ATRA is a coalition of over 65 members, including the HHA, which is determined to limit the impact of tobacco on today's youth.
The Truth About Tobacco campaign is aimed at demystifying or disclosing some of the realities about the tobacco giant and is hoping to generate public support for legislation that limits youth access to tobacco, supports people who want to quit and limits exposure of children and youth to tobacco smoke.
For more information contact Brett Hodson at (403) 601-1760.
High River RCMP are investigating the theft of five compact tractors from Farmway Machinery in High River.
The theft occurred between Dec. 2 and Dec. 6. The theft of these tractors would have required the use of a large trailer or deck truck. The tractors stolen were four Massey Ferguson, one with a frontend loader. The other tractor was a Kubota.
Anyone with information on this theft or any other crime is asked to call the High River RCMP at 652-2356 or Crime Stoppers.
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Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for this or any other crime. Crime Stoppers also pays cash rewards for information on any unsolved crimes.
Phone Crime Stoppers now at 1-800-242-TIPS (8477).
