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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993                   TAG: 9305270530
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LYNN A. COYLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NO STRANGERS AT NORTH CROSS

"I have been in the same class with these people since I was 4 years old. Some people wet their pants and cried all the time. You get to know people really well," Erin Waldvogel, graduating senior at North Cross School, said of her classmates.

Of the 37 students graduating from North Cross this year, 13 have been at the school since kindergarten or first grade, which makes it a very close-knit group, said Patrick France, assistant headmaster.

Class President John Logan said he likes the closeness that comes from being together so long. Not only do you get close to friends, "you get really close with the faculty," he said.

Half of the soccer team Logan plays on has been together since kindergarten. "It builds good teamwork."

"I think we're close 'cause we're the class that got gypped," said Nikki Hale. Like missing out on the usual fifth-grade trip to Baltimore.

And, not getting to raise chickens.

All of the lower-grade kids get to come and look at the chickens, Hale explained, "and you think: `When I get to fifth grade, I get to be in charge of the chickens,' but we didn't."

Middle school passed - still no chickens. Finally they got to upper school and were told, "Oh, we don't do chickens," Hale said.

The class provided important support three years ago when Hale had back surgery in Baltimore. She got letters, cards and balloons - and having her autographed yearbook with her "made me feel really good," said Hale, who will attend Roanoke College.

The group's kinship helped in the eighth grade when a teacher died, Waldvogel said. Nancy Young "was really a wonderful lady, and everybody was really upset and we sort of bonded together for a couple days. The whole school really came together."

There hasn't been much dating within the class since sixth or seventh grade, Waldvogel said. "It would be like dating your brother or sister. We're just good friends."

Waldvogel said she feels fortunate that she attended North Cross, where she got a lot of individual attention.

"It's hard. Really hard. But I know everybody that comes back from college says it really helps."

George Vogel, who is headed for Washington and Lee University in the fall, said he liked having small classes and being able to talk to the teachers. "That's part of the reason I chose a small college, because I got used to having the attention and help when I needed it."

So what will these young people do when they're off at college and get lonely for North Cross and their friends?

Logan, who will be at the University of Virginia, said he is optimistic that he will hit it off with his new college friends. "If not, road trips," he figures.

"I don't know. I haven't even thought about that. I'm trying not to think about it," said Waldvogel, who will attend the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

"It's going to be hard to keep in touch, but hopefully we will," she said, later adding, "It's going to be weird being without these people. I have been with them all my life. They're like brothers and sisters."

by CNB