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Show THE PARK RECORD Education. www.park record.com SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, DECEMBER 3-6, 2005 A-9 EDUCATION EDITOR: Jared Whitley 649-9014 ext.118 educatibn@parkrecord.com Recognizing Christm--, er, the holidays Board meeting The Park City Board of Education is meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 2700 Kearns Blvd. at 5 p.m. Items on the agenda include reports on the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test and the Park City High School reconstruction, a decision on increasing prices at the Park City Aquatic Center at Ecker Hill International Middle School, and a public comment section. IB parent orientation Treasure Mountain International School will host a Parent Orientation Event on Wednesday, Dec, 7 at 6 pm. The event will provide information regarding the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program that has been implemented this year at Treasure Mountain. Information will also be shared about the Advanced Placement geography/ world history class, honors English and honors biology course offerings for ninth-grade students. There will also be a question and answer session immediately following the presentation. Academic accolades Jeremy Ranch resident Dr. Pamela J. Gardner, assistant vice president and dean of the School of Continuing Education at Utah Valley State College, has been awarded the 2005 Professional Leadership Award from the Utah Association for Adult, Community, and Continuing Education (UAACCE.) The award is given annually to a professional educator who has provided exemplary leadership for adult, community or continuing education in his/her agency or organization. UAACCE has over 200 professional members from throughout the state of Utah. Educators trying to be respectful of a variety of religious traditions in Dec. By JARED WHITLEY Of the Record staff Christmas is a time for trees decorations, carols, and other celebrations. But sometimes that can get you into trouble in a public school. Last year, Parley's Park second-grade teacher Randee Kadziel wanted a Christmas tree in her room. So to avoid any cries of religious impropriety, she used it as a book drive for her students. Kids could donate books all December, which were placed under the tree, then Kadziel donated the books and tree to the Children's Justice Center in Heber. "That's how I got around that," she said. "You just have to be careful in the schools." The Park City School District doesn't have a list of do's or don'ts for recognizing December holidays, and any controversy is handled at the school level, said School Board President David Chaplin. "Sometimes people are concerned since there is a religious context to the holiday, but I haven't hea.rd of any in Park City," Chaplin said. He noted, "If there arc issues that can't be resolved, we may get involved in them." In his 12 years on the board, Chaplin said no such issues have come to the board. He said, "It's always exciting to go to the schools to see what's going on this time of year." In recognizing December holidays, Ecker Hill Vice Principal Sherrie Peterson said, "It's OK to show it, but you can't focus on one." This month, Ecker Hill is having a Nutcracker performance from Park City Dance on Dec. 9, and Peterson said the school might do a Sub-for-Santa. But generally holiday celebrations are more for elementary school students. By the time students get to middle school, "You don't have the whole party-ish kind of stuff." Teachers can present holiday icons of other cultures around the Earth, said Trailside Principal Martha Crook. "We really try to be respectful of a variety of religious traditions and cultural experiences." "We generalize doing a holiday theme," Crook said. "Do we see reindeer and Santa HIGH-SPEED INTERNET o <u o - P- Ifsls UJ OJ fl) C vO (D O C O = S = |.ii if ill DIGITAL TV GRAYSON WESTIPARK RECORD Last year, Parley's Park Elementary School second-grade teacher Randee Kadziel held a book drive, where kids put books under a classroom tree, which was then donated to the Children's Justice Center, along with the books. become," according to Park City Academy headmaster John Gutman. "If they think it's a reli- If it's a problem well talk to parents and try to be respectful of all beliefs." f'0"5 s ^ b ° ' and f look H a ' s ' r ' that way, he continued. If they're either agnostic or don't have any kind of religious affilmaybe they think it's an - Martha Crook iation, attempt by teachers to cross Trailside principal that line of religion and public schools." school's to Claus? Yes. Do we see menoralis? Yes." that kind of issue A depends on sensitivity its make-up, One reason parents might take Gutman said. umbrage at a Christmas tree display, is if "It seems like it depends on the school. they see it as a religious symbol rather than I know a lot of public schools do allow a secular symbol, "which it's kind of those things," he said. WIRELESS LONG DISTANCE LOCAL Park City Academy is a private, Christian school, when it comes to recognizing Christmas, "We embrace it," Gutman said. Holiday-related objections have never been an issue at Trailside, but Crook said she's talked to other administrators where it has been. At Trailside there's a "sense of tolerance for diversity of religions...if we don't just negate any one," she said. "If its a problem we'll talk to parents and try to be respectful of all beliefs," Crook continued. She noted that part of being a principal is addressing parent concerns across a variety of issues. "Sometimes the reading program causes some issues," she said. 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