Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9006010443
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOBBIE SLOUGH
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It just happened this year," said Dan Allen, the Senior Pickle, "I put a swimmer's cap over my hair for pep rallies and paint my whole head green."
Allen isn't sure exactly where the idea came from, but he does know it started at the Highlander pep rallies.
"[School spirit] started picking up our junior and senior years," said Allen, "and the end of this year it started getting really crazy."
Allen isn't alone in his enthusiasm for Glenvar. As one of the smallest high schools in the valley, Glenvar has shown over the years that bigger doesn't always mean better.
"I think we have a strong academic program," said senior class president Jamey Hutton. "The teachers are really great. They try to give you a clear picture of what it's going to be like out there."
Valedictorian Melony Martin agrees that the small school provides rare opportunities. "At Glenvar, you learn how to communicate - how to work with other people and get your ideas across" better than at larger schools, she said.
"I think we're a whole lot closer," agreed senior Cindy Stump. "We're like a family almost."
Still, some of the seniors are nervous about being sent out into the wide world.
For Allen and Martin, who started school together 13 years ago, the prospect of leaving all their friends behind is a sad one. "We've had an opportunity to develop close relationships with each other," said Martin.
"A small school is nice and I think it's prepared us for the world, but it's going to be such a big change," said Hutton. "We're not a number here, but once we leave, I guess we're going to be."
That fear of becoming a "just a number" has many Glenvar students concerned about the fate of their school if the Roanoke and Roanoke County governments consolidate.
"We have such a good thing here," said Martin, "I don't think they should change anything."
by CNB