VALLEY SCHOOL, EX-STUDENT ARE IN LIMELIGHT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 13, 1993                   TAG: 9304130039
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Joanne Anderson
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long
VALLEY SCHOOL, EX-STUDENT ARE IN LIMELIGHT
From the pages of Redbook and Time magazines to the dance stage at Busch Gardens and a national anthology of poetry, schools and pupils in the New River Valley are garnering recognition in a big way.
The America's Best Schools Project sponsored by Redbook has named\ GILBERT LINKOUS ELEMENTARY in Blacksburg one of 177 outstanding public elementary schools in the country and one of the top 10 for special-needs programs.
Judging criteria included classroom innovation, parent and community involvement, extracurricular activities, special-needs programs, significant improvement and overall excellence.
The winners are listed in a feature article in the April issue. Gilbert Linkous is mentioned on page 64.
Recognition in Time was given to Auburn High School graduate\ LORA GORDON. One of her photographs, an aerial shot of snarled traffic, was published in the March 29 issue, accompanying an article about the blizzard of '93.
Thirteen-year old CARRIE MASON of Blacksburg Middle School has had her poem "The Flag" published in "Where Dreams Begin," a treasury of poetry compiled by The National Library of Poetry:\ "THE FLAG"
Waving the streets
Came the red, white and blue.
Proud and bold, leading gallant soldiers
To their battle.
Whistling came the bitter wind of war,
Cold and deadly.
Death carried on its muscular back,
The gallant soldiers
Left upon a bloody ground of hatred.
Blowing swiftly down the muddy lane
Fled a blue canvas patch with
One glowing star,
Stained with tears.

The ARCHAEOLOGY-ECOLOGY CLUB at Auburn Middle School has exhibited a dedicated conservation and information effort in recognition of Energy AwarenessMonth.
A contest for place-mat design was held for Auburn Middle and High schools. Each place mat had to present an energy-conservation message.
Winners from Auburn High were Rhonda Lytton and Wilma Peterman. The Middle School winner was Renee Laffoon. The winning place mats are being used by Charlie's Chinese restaurant in Christiansburg throughout April.
Club members also wove baskets from newspapers to give to English Meadow Retirement Center and composed public service announcements for WJJJ radio. They will participate in the annual Bloomin' and Broomin' event, and they teach elementary school students on energy issues.
Teacher Kathryn Brennan is the leader of the club.
"Mountain Echoes" is the presentation of stories and songs by the\ APPALKIDS of Pulaski County High School on Friday at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater behind the Free Memorial Library on Giles Avenue in Dublin.
Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. The Kindred Spirits will be musical guests. Seating is available, but you can bring lawn chairs or blankets.
In case of inclement weather, the production will be held in Richardson Auditorium in Rooker Hall at New River Community College.
A few\ MUSICAL NOTES:
The Radford High School symphonic band won a superior rating at the District VI Band Festival in March.
The Dalton Intermediate School band of 53 members earned an excellent rating at the middle school band festival.
The Christiansburg High School Symphonic Band won a superior rating for the fourth consecutive year.
Three\ SHAWSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL students participated in state forensics competition in Charlottesville on March 27. Jaime Davidson placed second in boy's extemporaneous speaking. Laura Neily and Jeni Kirk placed first in duo interpretation in the district forensics meet. It was the first time Shawsville High had three representatives in state competition.
Another trio from Shawsville High - Kevin Hall, Kimela Martin and Scott Bandy - attended the Future Business Leaders of America regional conference on March 20.
The\ MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM has received recognition from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for having all eligible elementary, middle and secondary schools accredited by the association.
Anyone with old photos, stories or memorabilia from\ PRICES FORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is invited to share them at the upcoming 40th anniversary celebration. For more information, call Mrs. Gray at 552-3920 or Chris Wakley at 639-2562.
Each year, the Virginia Bankers Association sponsors a\ BANK DAY to show students how a bank operates. This year's bankers from the Future Business Leaders of Christiansburg High School were Christie Gerald, Kelly Edmonson, Geneva Cox and Brian Lemon.
\ AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL students Phil Renfroe, Sharon Cox, Andy Johnson, Joey Lyons, Chris Evans, Rhonda Lytton, Melissa Moore, Kim Teel, Tammy Duncan and Pam Sutphin recently participated in a national current-events competition called Global Challenge. Their team placed 33rd among more than 250 schools.
\ KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION is next week, April 19-23. Virginia law says each incoming pupil must be 5 years old by Sept. 30. The child's Social Security card and birth certificate are needed at registration.
At Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School, registration will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each weekday, and Monday night, 5-7.
Falling Branch Elementary in Christiansburg will hold registration each day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Orientation for parents will be April 29 at 7 p.m.
Each of the 11 Montgomery County elementary schools will be open for registration Monday-Friday next week, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
\ SHELLEY BLUMENTHAL, guidance counselor at Blacksburg High School, gave a presentation titled "A View from Both Sides of the Desk" at the Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. The talk dealt with perceptions as a counselor and an admissions officer.
\ BERNADETTE BURROUGHS, mathematics teacher at Auburn High School, won a University of Virginia Division of Continuing Education Teacher/Scholar Fellowship for the summer. She will receive financial support for a month of study on mathematics, statistics, modeling and matrices.
Blacksburg High School senior\ MICHAEL SHRADER used innovation and creativity along with 20 2-foot sticks of balsa wood, a tube of glue and a long list of building restrictions, to capture fourth place in the model bridge-building contest conducted by the department of civil engineering at the University of Virginia.
The object was to design and build a bridge with high efficiency; that is, the greatest strength-to-weight ratio.
The Christiansburg High School drama department will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical version of "\ CINDERELLA" Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
More than 30 students will perform under the direction of Charlena LaLuz and Charlotte Smith. The principals from the high school and middle school in Christiansburg will take the stage in bit parts.
Admission is $3 at the door.
District\ REFLECTIONS winners, those who won at the county level and proceeded into district competition, are now in state competition.
Reflections Recognition Day at Falling Branch Elementary School on May 16 is for Montgomery County winners. A District Reflections Recognition Day for the entire New River District encompassing the counties of Montgomery, Floyd, Giles, Carroll and Pulaski and the city of Radford will be at Bethel Elementary on May 23, 2-4 p.m.\ GRADES K-3
\ Visual Arts: First, Cheryl Heatwole, Christiansburg Primary; second, Cara Williams, Indian Valley.
\ Music: first, Michael Scales, Christiansburg Primary; second, Victoria McAlexander, Floyd.
\ Photography: first, Luke Branden Marshall, Christiansburg Primary; second, Ethan Mannon, Willis.
\ Literature: first, Mary Beth Starkey, Willis; second, Roderick DeHart, Prices Fork.\ GRADES 4-6
\ Visual Arts: first, Tina Kirk, Blacksburg Middle; second, Laura Bond, Indian Valley; third, Tina Renea Nunn, Critzer; fourth, Erin Edwards, Critzer.
\ Music: first, Ashley Damron, Critzer; second, Ann Gardner, Margaret Beeks; third, Dustin Thomas, Critzer; fourth, Aaron Kaluszka, Floyd; honorable mention, Sharon Leigh Agree, Willis.
\ Photography: first, Angela Muscatello, Harding Avenue; second, Sharon Leigh Agee, Willis.
\ Literature: first, Meagan Klagge, Gilbert Linkous; second, Charlotte Perry Eure, Critzer; third, Charlie M. Carr, Critzer; fourth, Laura Kolb, Floyd.\ GRADES 7-9
\ Visual: first, Lana Beex, Blacksburg Middle; second, Emily Williamson, Floyd.
\ Music: first, Timothy Nelson, Christiansburg Middle; second, Lara Profitt, Floyd.
\ Photography: first, David Phillips, Indian Valley; second, Timothy Nelson, Christiansburg Middle.
\ Literature: first, Lara Profitt, Floyd; second, Peyton Grubbs, Blacksburg Middle.\ GRADES 10-12
\ Visual: first, Justin Limages, Blacksburg.
\ Music: first, Ian Howell, Blacksburg.
\ Photography: first, Jonathan Kingston, Blacksburg; second, Regina Cox, Floyd.
\ Literature: first, Eric Brown, Blacksburg.

Joanne Anderson is filling in for Melissa DeVaughn, who is hiking the Appalachian Trail for the next six months. If you have an interesting news item from your school, write to the New River Current in care of the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley Bureau, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg 24073.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB