Squamish.

After nearly 18 months of studies,
all but one of these 17 graduates
of Capilano College’s Special
Education Assistant program in
Squamish are working for either
the Howe Sound or North
Vancouver School Districts.

It’s smiles all around for the 17 graduates of the Special Education Assistant program in

Grads gain immediate employment

Seventy-two guests, including
family members, community
members, teachers, principals and
friends, helped celebrate the
students’ achievements at their
December 12 graduation ceremony
at Don Ross Secondary School in

Little Voices grabs accolades

Actor, playwright and College
disability services advisor, Lucas
Foss, is bringing his award-
winning play, Little Voices, to
North Vancouver's Presentation
House from March 28 to March 31.
The 80-minute production explores
the inner dialogue of a 40-to 50-
something man struggling between
his voice of comfort and his voice
of truth on a plodding and
humourous journey toward
self-discovery.

Lucas Foss on the set of his play Little
Voices.

Since winning the Special Merit
Award for Little Voices in the
1999 Theatre B.C/s Canadian
National Playwriting competition,
Lucas has performed the play in
numerous West Coast venues. In
2003, Lucas was selected as one
of five finalists for his second
play, The Wall, in the CNP
competition.

Critics for The Georgia Straight
and The Vancouver Sun
newspapers have called Little
Voices “funny, touching and
fresh” and “A well-written and
well-delivered monologue — sharp
and a genuinely funny piece of
writing.”

Performances start at 8 p.m. and
tickets cost $16 per person or
$12 for students. A preview on
Tuesday, March 27 is $10. For
more information, call the box
office at 604.990.3474.

Brackendaie. Most of the
students are from the Squamish,
Pemberton and Whistler areas.

A Special Education Assistant,
also known as a SEA or EA, is a
para-professional who works in
the school system (can be public
or private) with children or
adolescents who have special
needs. SEAs support students in
a variety of settings (classrooms,
resource rooms, self-contained
classrooms) and are under the
direct supervision of either a
teacher, resource teacher, or
administrator.

“We are looking at a possible
next intake in Squamish
commencing in July 2007,” says
program instructor, Diane Koch,
“as the demand for qualified
SEAs continues to increase.”

Students from Capilano College's

partner institution, Tianjin Polytechnic

University in China, met November 30
at the North Vancouver campus with

visiting Chinese delegates that included

Mr. Jiang, Xiu-Ming, vice-president,
Tianjin Polytechnic University;
Ms. Wei, Ya-Ping, dean, Commercial

School; Ms. Wu, Yan-Hua, vice-dean of
the Foreign Language School; and, Mr.

Liu, Shi-Ying, director, Recruitment
Office. Studying Business

Administration, some of these students
have been at the College for two years.

By Dr Robert Campbell

At its February meeting
Education Council gave final
approval to three new associate |
of arts concentrations: English,
Creative Writing, and British
Columbia Studies. We also

gave approval in principle

to the Community Capacity
Building certificate. As part _

of the Faculty of Community
Development and Outreach,

this innovative program will
harness the talent, experience
and commitment of community
volunteers and teach them
skills for entry-level jobs in
their communities. Approval _

in principle was also granted

to the advanced certificate

in Outdoor Recreation. This
certificate will add five courses
to the Tourism Management
program, and help the College
retain its position as a leader in
outdoor recreation management.

Stephen Williams gave a report
on behalf of the Accreditation
mittee. The committee is
engaged in focus-group
erviews, and it intends

to have the next draft of

the accreditation self-study
completed by the end of March

Marion Haythorne reported
that the Budget committee
has begun its analysis of the
proposed budget for next year.
Finally, the Planning committee
continues its deliberations on
developing naming principles

to guide the College board as.
re-examines its policy on na
tangible and intangible asse

appear online.