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Kaufman, McLaughlin retire, new principal at KDSS By Liz Dadson |
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Kincardine District Secondary School will not be the same without drama teacher Bill McLaughlin. That was the basis of the farewell speech given in June when drama teacher McLaughlin and principal Deb Kaufman retired. When students return to KDSS this week, they will meet the new principal, Randall DeKraker. A physics teacher at Walkerton District Secondary School, DeKraker was vice-principal at John Diefenbaker Secondary School and then vice-principal at Grey Highlands Secondary School before coming to KDSS. He lives near Hanover. In a letter to the community and the students of KDSS, he welcomed the incoming Grade 9 students as well as new students in other grades. "I hope that you find KDSS to be a friendly place where you are comfortable learning and getting involved in the many activities we have. I also want to welcome our returning students. You are the ones who have made this a great school and I am sure you will continue to make it a school that we can be proud to call ours." He reminded all KDSS students of the Welcome Back barbecue slated for Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. on the west side of the school. The event will be held in the cafeteria if it rains. The Grade 9 students have a special welcome and orientation tomorrow (Sept. 6) when they join the Link Crew for a day of activities and learning about their school, meeting their teachers and making new friends. The rest of the students return to school Wednesday (Sept. 7). "As the new principal of KDSS, I want to mention how pleased I am to become a member of the KDSS community," said DeKraker. "I have found that the staff here at the school and the members of the community have been very friendly and have set my mind at ease about the transition to a new school and a new role. I look forward to a productive year and getting to know many new people. Meanwhile, Kaufman is looking forward to retirement after 32 years in education. "It's time to let somebody else take over," she said. "I have many interests and hobbies I'd like to try." She and her husband live between Port Elgin and Southampton and are avid boaters. They plan to travel to Hawaii this fall, on their first trip without their children along. Kaufman has already volunteered for several organizations. McLaughlin has been at KDSS since 1986 and has worked in the education system for 31 years. "I was an English teacher for years and then added drama just before I came here in 1985," he said. This summer he was running the lighting for Bluewater Summer Playhouse productions. Once retired, he plans to travel. He may even do some supply-teaching in September.
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 Bill McLaughlin (L), drama teacher, and principal Deb Kaufman retired in June KDSS has also lost several of its newer teachers and staff, as dictated by the Bluewater District School Board, due to decreasing enrollment. Gone are Dan Weigand, Erin Armstrong, Roselyn Hurst, Christine Newton, Rob Kobielski and Mrs. Varga. Students and staff were disappointed at the loss of all of these teachers who had become a major part of the KDSS community. Of particular note is Kobielski who was a significant boost to the mentorship team that took the Kinetic Knights to the world robotics championships in St. Louis, Missouri, where they placed second. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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