THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502100181
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Eric Feber
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
A tree ``grows'' at Georgetown Primary School, and its fruit is love.
Thanks to an innovative idea by parent-volunteer Angela Myers, whose three children attend the school, love for the students is there for everyone to see.
Last Monday a large cardboard tree was attached to an expanse of wall near the school's main office, where it's sure to get maximum exposure from passing-by students, teachers, staff members and visitors.
The tree's leaves are construction paper hearts of various colors - each of the school's kindergarten through third grades received its own color - with a special message of love and esteem written by each student's mother, father, grandparent or guardian. The bottom of the tree is ringed by cut-out Cupids with the names of all of the school's faculty and staff.
Called the ``Loving Tree,'' the project is meant to instill self-esteem in students and promote positive attitudes at the school, Myers said.
``We are a Positive Action school,'' Myers said. ``It's a program that helps us teach and promote positive behavior to our children. We get faculty, staff and parents involved in projects, skits and other activities to promote ideas of friendship, cooperation, being helpful, good behavior and many other qualities like that.''
Last month she came up with a ``Helping Hands Tree.'' If a student helped with some activity at the school, his or her name was written on a paper hand and placed on the tree.
``It was a lot of fun,'' she said. ``The kids were proud to see their name on the tree.''
For the ``Loving Tree,'' Myers said she hit upon the idea of displaying the love of parents and teachers for their children.
``For children at this age the most important people to them are their teachers and parents,'' she said. ``With the `Loving Tree' we are bringing the two together.''
Myers explained that many Georgetown Primary parents have very busy schedules so many can't make it to the school's various meetings and events. She said the idea for the tree was meant to bring home and school together in one place.
``This way, even those parents who can't physically come to school are in school,'' she explained.
On Monday Myers sent a ``Loving Tree'' packet home with each child containing a colored paper heart and a note saying, ``February is traditionally the month of love, show how much you care by sending a note to school to put on the tree.''
Myers said she requested that parents write a note of love and esteem for each child.
``We got notes like, `You are our princess,' or `We're so proud of you' or `God blessed us with a child like you,' '' Myers said. ``All of the notes were quite effective and very touching. All of the children and teachers loved it and thought it was a cute idea.''
What made it even better, Myers said, was that just about all of the school's 750 students have already returned the love notes and attached them to the tree.
``With more than 700 notes of love on the tree. . . well, that's pretty special,'' she said. ``That's saying a lot, and it says parents do care.'' Hearty dance for seniors
When it comes to a St. Valentine's celebration, it's the city's seniors who seem to have the most fun.
And for that you can thank the Luncheon Pilot Club of Chesapeake.
Each year this volunteer service organization for executive, business and professional leaders holds a grand St. Valentine's Day dance in conjunction with the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department.
The annual event is greatly anticipated by the city's seniors, said club president Joyce Wrestler. This year a little under 300 people attended.
``They look forward to it as much as we do,'' she said.
The 18th annual dance was held last Tuesday at the Indian River Community Center, which was decorated for the occasion with floral and balloon arrangements courtesy of Southside Florist. The Al Dehanis Orchestra enlivened the dance with familiar songs of the '30s, '40s and '50s.
``Some of the people came to just socialize but most came to dance,'' Wrestler said. ``Everybody looked so pretty in their Valentine outfits.''
This annual free dance is just one of the many community activities performed by the Luncheon Pilot Club, which is part of the Pilot International organization.
Wrestler said the club also donates time and money to the Chesapeake Free Clinic, supports the Lifeline program, gives an annual Halloween party to young and adult handicapped citizens, offers scholarships and provides adaptive playground equipment to various Chesapeake facilities including the Great Bridge Locks Park and the South Norfolk Boat Ramp Park.
``But our favorite is the annual Valentine dance,'' she said. ``It's the most fun.'' by CNB