Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 28, 1993 TAG: 9309280017
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Joanne Anderson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
(What's the name of the song and the group that performed it? Answer at end of column.)
In conjunction with lessons in science, art and transportation at BETHEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Dee Danner of Christiansburg brought his hot-air balloon to the school last Friday morning.
After talking to the students about the history of balloons and how they are used today, Danner started shooting propane-heated air into the 77,000-cubic-foot space.
The multicolored balloon began to take shape and its ripstop polyester sides lifted off the ground.
Principal Luther Kirk said he and the teachers believe that learning occurs in many places outside the classroom.
The balloon event, he said, "was a big hit. And often children never get to see a hot-air balloon being filled and deflated."
When the balloon's hot air lifted it from the school grounds, pupils returned to their classrooms to draw, discuss, and write about what they saw and learned.
Meetings coming up include tonight's "BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT" at Radford High School from 7 to 8 p.m.
Parents will follow their son's or daughter's class schedule and meet the teachers.
Also tonight, the Parent Teacher Student Association of Blacksburg High School is sponsoring an OPEN HOUSE.
Herman Bartlett, the new superintendent of Montgomery County's public schools; Alfred Smith, the new principal at BHS; Dave Peterson, a new assistant principal at the school; and assistant principal Wanda Price will meet parents at 6:45 p.m. in the auditorium.
A short program will start at 7 p.m., followed by classroom and teacher visits.
Refreshments will be served in the cafeteria.
The first of monthly PRINCIPAL'S CHATS at Christiansburg Middle School will be held in the library at the school on Wednesday between 9 and 10:30 a.m.
\ CATHERINE NEY, the Margaret Beeks Elementary School teacher who attended a workshop at NASA's Langley Research Center, was awarded a Public Education Network grant for early education.
Only three of the 1,200 teachers who applied were awarded the grant.
Ney's program is "Structures: Science and Technology for Young Children."
\ A-T-T-T-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N ! High school seniors, take note:
The Air Force ROTC is accepting applications for three- and four-year scholarships.
The awards cover full or partial tuition, incidental and lab fees, a textbook allowance and $100 monthly allowance.
Students with a 2.5 grade-point average, in the top 25 percent of their class, and who meet minimum Scholastic Assessment Test scores are eligible.
The application deadline is Dec. 1.
For more information, contact a high school counselor, an Air Force recruiter or call Capt. Michael Warlick at 231-6404.
\ ANNIE LAURIE JAMES, teacher at Riverlawn Elementary School in Pulaski County, received a $500 grant from the Association of International Educators to continue an international program started last fall.
The hall leading to the school library and some space in the library are dedicated to global awareness.
A giant world map, covered with plexiglass that can be written on, is mounted on a library wall.
Radford University students from other countries are invited to share their cultures with Riverlawn pupils.
\ PAT BROWN, journalism teacher at Blacksburg High School, renewed her relationship with the newspaper industry for six weeks over the summer.
She was awarded a Virginia Press Association summer internship at the Roanoke Times & World-News. Originally a journalist, that career was replaced by full-time motherhood, then teaching.
"It is important to make sure that I am up to date enough to warrant confidence from my students," Brown said.
What she found was the same and different. The same because the people "still work wacky hours and ask long strings of questions." Different because the typewriters and grease pencils are gone.
Brown's goals this year including publishing six issues of the student newspaper and involving second-year journalism students in more advanced projects such as magazine writing and television writing and perhaps creating a broadcast piece that can be shared with the school and community.
\ Answer: "Up, Up & Away" by The Fifth Dimension.
Joanne Anderson is filling in for Melissa DeVaughn, who has been hiking the Appalachian Trail. 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, Va. 24073.
by CNB