Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 9, 1993 TAG: 9311090255
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Melissa DeVaughn
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``This is the first time this program has been used, but the theme was developed in Roanoke,'' said Meredith Bowman, co-chairwoman of the program. ``We hope this will get the students interested in music,'' and follow that interest through to fifth grade, she said. The ultimate goal of the program, she said, is that pupils ``will want to join the band when they get into middle school.''
The program is one of three sponsored by the New River Valley Friends of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. For this program, more than $6,000 will be spent to educate pupils in all areas of music, particularly the string instruments.
``This has been a New River Valley Friends dream all along - to get music into the school system,'' Bowman said. ``With [this] program we will be the most involved with schools as we ever have.''
Falling Branch Elementary principal J.C. Callahan said he ``was very surprised'' Falling Branch was awarded the artist-in-residence program, especially since eight other schools applied for the program.
``There was much competition for it,'' he said. ``I think we got it because the pupils were involved in the application process. Some of the students helped to give reasons why they would like [the artist-in-residence program] here and they were impressed by their input.''
The program will be led by the Laurel String Quartet, made up of Roanoke Symphony string members and New River Valley residents Judi and Dan Schneck, Jana Ruble and Theresa Conti. The quartet has been performing in New River Valley schools for many years.
``We've chosen the second-grade level because it is the point where most kids begin to start making choices and we wanted to make sure music is one of those choices they are exposed to,'' said Pat Avise, Roanoke Symphony education director. ``We wanted their exposure to music to be more than a short 45 minute presentation, too.''
There will be a meeting today of the design team to discuss the schedule of events. Those involved hope to include live music, hands-on activities with stringed instruments, studies of various components of music, and live performances by both pupils and the Laurel String Quartet.
``We are looking forward to it,'' Callahan said. ``It will be something totally different that the kids have never had before. This is totally brand new.''
\ Shawsville High School senior AMY HEATHER SIMPKINS will be among a select few to sing in the 1993 Virginia Music Educators Association Honors Choir. She is the only Soprano II from Regional District VI to be selected. She received the fourth highest score for Soprano IIs in the state. She was one of two females chosen from this region.
Amy will join the other honors choir members in Norfolk next week for a three-day schedule of many rehearsals. The honors choir`s public performance will be held Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.
Amy is 16 and the daughter of Nelson and Deborah Simpkins of Christiansburg. She sings with the school swing choir and is a member of the Student Government Association. She is in the college club, on the English and All-Around Mountain Academic Competition Conference teams, Future Business Leaders of America and the Beta club. She also is active in her church youth group.
\ Middle School - it's a tough time for most kids. They aren't yet old enough to be treated as an adult, yet too old to be coddled. This also is a tough time for parents of these kids.
To help parents better understand their children and help them survive the middle school years, a MIDDLE SCHOOL FORUM - ``The Middle Ages - Survival Tips for Parents,'' will be held at Shawsville High and Middle School on Nov. 16. The forum begins at 7 p.m. with speaker Diane Jones-Freeman, of Counseling Associates of Southwest Virginia. There also will be minisessions led by middle school counselors of Montgomery County Schools.
\ Christiansburg Primary and Elementary schools will hold a CRAFT FAIR Saturday Nov. 13 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Primary School. Money raised will be used to provide supplies and events for the schools. Call Kathy Cook at 382-7308.
The Christiansburg High School AFTER-PROM COMMITTEE will meet Monday Nov. 15 at 8:30 p.m., following the school`s OPEN HOUSE which begins at 7 p.m. Those interested in helping plan for the After-Prom Party are invited. Call 381-0059 or 382-3283.
\ The PARENT-RESOURCE CENTER OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY sponsors a support group for parents of children with special needs. This group meets the first Wednesday of each month at Christiansburg Elementary School. Free baby sitters and refreshments are provided and usually there is a guest speaker at the meetings.
This month, the meeting will be held Wednesday Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. For more information, call the center at 382-5194.
\ There will be an OPEN HOUSE at Harding Avenue Elementary School Monday Nov. 15 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. All the classrooms will be open and the pupil`s work will be displayed. The Open House is part of a celebration of National Education Week, which is next week.
\ UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL EDUCATION is the topic of a workshop to be held Monday Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 at Belle Heth School from 5:30-8:30 each night. The workshop is sponsored by the Radford Parent Resource Center, and is aimed at helping parents understand the special educational needs of their children. To register, call Sandra Senhort at 731-3652 or Debra Chase at 731-3679. Free dinner and baby-sitting will be provided each night.
\ ANDY KOPP won a design competition at the National Honor Society of Minority Engineers held last month at Virginia Tech. MICHAEL LEE won the essay competition and placed second in the design competition. Both students attend Christiansburg High School.
\ PEYTON GRUBBS of Christiansburg was elected vice president of the freshman class at St. Timothy's School in Stevenson, Md. St. Timothy's is a college-prep boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12.
\ Seven Blacksburg High School seniors were recently inducted in to the National Honor Society. They are KELLY ALDRIDGE, KIMBERLY BROWN, MILOS BOROJEVIC, SAMANTHA BURTON, MICHAEL DOWDY, LARISSA DUNCAN and CHARLES STORMONT. A reception for new members, their parents and present members was held after the ceremony.
\ Prices Fork Elementary School has established the first VOICE MAIL SYSTEM in any Montgomery County school. The system allows parents, pupils and other members of the community to receive constantly updated news about the school. By calling the school at 951-5736 any weekday 5-7 p.m., and throughout the weekend, listeners may obtain information on school announcements, cafeteria menus, news items written by kids at the school, homework by specific teachers and Parent-Teacher Association news. Also, the caller may leave messages for the principal, secretary or guidance counselor.
\ Applications for the 1994 VIRGINIA SUMMER RESIDENTIAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL PROGRAM are being accepted by the Virginia Department of Education. The program allows gifted high school sophomores and juniors to spend four weeks at a college in Virginia during the summer. The programs offered include intensive study, hands-on experience, field trips, research projects and discussions with noted scholars.
Students may be nominated by teachers, guidance counselors, peers or themselves. A school division selection committee will pick the nominees from each area, then the Department of Education selects the final 650 students. To receive information on the program, see your high school guidance counselor or call Janie Craig at 804-371-6880.
\ RINER ELEMENTARY is one of several county schools participating in ``Solve that Problem'' to help kids take steps toward improving relationships with peers in conflict. They learn to handle these encounters by creating hypothetical situations and following several conflict-resolution steps. These steps are called the 10-point Solve That Problem Behavior Rating Scale, and most teachers at the school .
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