South Shore School Board Beliefs

The South Shore Regional School Board has adopted a "Belief Statement". Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says it will frame the work of the Board in the region. As part of a multi-year strategic plan the Board has already
approved its Mission Statement. It has three goal areas which are Student Achievement, Efficiency and Effective Operations and Board Governance.
There are seven beliefs in the statement and are as follows:
WE BELIEVE:
1/ Student learning is our primary responsibility.
2/ All students have the ability to learn
3/ Students learn at their own pace and in different ways.
4/ Learning is a partnership among home, school and community.
5/ Schools must be safe, supportive and socially just where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
6/ In the development of the whole person (cognitive, social, emotional physical and artistic)
7/ Learning is a lifelong process

Student Ambassador

A Bridgewater student has been chosen to be an ambassador of bilingualism. Madison Acker will represent Nova Scotia at French for the Future’s National Ambassador Youth Forum in Halifax from February 13th to 16th. During the four-day forum in Halifax, ambassadors will explore topics related to Canada’s Francophone cultures and the advantages and challenges of bilingualism. The Forum brings together 30 high school students from across Canada and is held in a different Canadian city each year.
Madison is a grade 12 student at Bridgewater High School. She is enrolled in the French Immersion program and is the secretary of the student council.

Retirement Allowance on the Table

There's still more bargaining ahead for the South Shore Regional School Board. NSGEU President Joan Jessome was at the Board's meeting Wednesday night to pitch a plea on behalf of the local union . She says one of the issues on the table is the retirement allowance. which comes in many different formulas such as a week of salary for every year of service . Jessome says the proposal they put forward is very very moderate compared to what many public sector employees already enjoy. Jessome admitted it's very irregular for any union to make a pitch at a school board on a labour relations issue that's at the bargaining table.In fact, she says she has never done it before.

School Board Workers Ratify Deal

CUPE school board workers with the South Shore Regional School Board have overwhelmingly ratified their new contract. CUPE National Representative Carl Crouse says the members of Local 46-82 have voted 97% in favour of the five-year deal which sees a 2.9 percent increase retroactive for the years 2007,
08 and 09.. There is also a one percent wage increase for the years 2010 and 2011. The contract contains wage hikes totalling more than 10 percent over the life of the deal. As well the South Shore Board has also agreed to adjust the Head Mechanic rate to $22.46 effective April 1, 2009.

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