Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994 TAG: 9402220239
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Melissa Devaughn
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"We just want to make [the children] aware that there are many, many jobs out there which they may want to apply for, and that those jobs may be similar to the interests they have now," she said. "It's not that they have to make a decision about it now, it's just a way to let them know what's out there."
Career month includes introducing the pupils to a variety of careers, and showing them how their classroom subjects will help them in the future. Last week, pupils celebrated Career Dress-up Day by dressing in uniforms representing their favorite occupations. The month will end with a Career Fair, to be held Thursday from 8:55 a.m.-3 p.m. About 50 representatives from area businesses will be on hand to discuss their careers.
So, what are some of the favored jobs by youngsters? Here are just a few:
"I want to be a forester," said Amanda Howard, 9. "I don't know why, it just sounds fun. I guess I would like going out to see the pretty woods and stuff."
Kelly Jordan, 10, wants to be a race car driver and said she doesn't think it matters at all that she is female; she'll still be the fastest driver.
"I love the sport, and Jeff Gordon is my favorite driver of all," she said.
"The only thing I'm really good at is science - that's why I want to be a mechanic," said 11-year old James McDaniel. For the record, James' favorite car is a Lamborghini.
"I want to be in the army because my dad was in it," said 9-year old Michael Charlton. "I'd get to train people, and maybe even be a sergeant."
Kate Hrezo, 10, wants to be a dressage rider who would put her horse through carefully controlled steps and gaits. She doesn't mind the fact that she probably won't make much money.
Jessica Castleberry, 11, wants to be a detective. "It would be neat solving mysteries and stuff," she said.
The MONTGOMERY COUNCIL OF PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Christiansburg High School. The guest speaker will be Paula Wilder, president of the local American Association of University Women. Wilder will discuss information on gender equity in the schools, and what can be done about it on the local level.
For further information, call Nanci Purcell at 382-0670.
The GILES HIGH SCHOOL Parent Advisory Organization will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria to discuss "Planning for the Future for Giles High School Students."
Representatives from all school departments will be available to discuss courses available to students.
It's all so confusing - When do we go to school? When do we stay home? Is it going to snow? Ice? Sleet?
Montgomery County has announced it's SNOW MAKEUP DAYS for the rest of the year:
March 18 will be added as a makeup day.
All remaining early-release days (March 31, May 5 and June 15) are canceled.
If school is canceled one more time, April 4 will be the makeup day. If schools close a second time, add June 16; a third time, add June 17. Students will not be in school any later than June 17.
An emergency information line has been set up so callers can see if Montgomery County Schools are closed. This line is updated before radio and television stations are notified. The number is 382-5102.
The New River Reading Council sponsors a program called BOOKS FOR BABIES, in which new mothers in the New River Valley are given a package of books and brochures to encourage reading to their children. It includes a Mother Goose book, a letter from Erma Bombeck on how to get kids interested in reading, a poem called "The Reading Mother" and other tips on how to help your child become a successful reader.
Between Montgomery Regional Hospital and Pulaski Community Hospital, approximately 50 babies are born each month. The New River Reading Council needs help to ensure each mother is supplied with these reading materials. In fact, Gilbert Linkous Elementary School recently donated $120 to the project, as part of its February Reading Month fund-raiser.
Packages cost $3 and donations may be sent to Rochelle Ireland, 709 Kerry, Dublin, Va., 24084. All donations are tax deductible.
Despite the bad weather, most ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS are managing to stay busy. Here's what's been happening at your school:
BELVIEW ELEMENTARY: The fifth-graders now operate the school store, where school supplies are sold. Two fifth-graders per week are selected for the job. In May, the fifth-graders will celebrate May Day with a May Pole dance and the crowning of a king and queen. Also, John Duke, an engineering professor from Virginia Tech, visited the fifth-graders to show them how ultrasonic sound works.
The second-graders are studying author Beverly Cleary, Colonial times and quilting, and the theme of portable housing such as tents, teepees and African huts.
MARGARET BEEKS: The Virginia Commission of the Arts has awarded the second-graders a Teacher Incentive Grant to promote science and technology literacy in young children.
RINER ELEMENTARY: The first-graders recently went to the Science Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke to see an exhibit that traces the history of garbage through the 1900s, focusing on the increase in volume, the dangers of pollution and what we can do with our trash today. The pupils also visited the "Magic Sky" planetarium.
FALLING BRANCH: The fifth-graders are participants in "kindergarten buddies," a program in which each fifth-grader has a kindergartner to look after, read to, play games with, or whatever else is necessary to make school fun for the younger children.
CHRISTIANSBURG ELEMENTARY: In recognition of Reading Month, Wednesday is "Read My Shirt Day" at the school. The pupils will wear T-shirts or sweatshirts decorated with appropriate phrases or words.
BETHEL ELEMENTARY: "Disney Day" was celebrated last week, and pupils wore shirts printed with all the Walt Disney characters. The principal read ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' on the school's closed circuit television and the pupils watched "Aladdin" in the afternoon.
HARDING AVENUE: About 30 pupils and their parents are participating in "Make-it, Take-it," a series of workshops that teach children how to make tools to assist them in math. The teachers leading the workshops hope the art projects will make math more fun and easy for their pupils.
If you have an interesting school-related item for the paper, send it to Melissa DeVaughn at the Roanoke Times & World News, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va., 24073-0540.
by CNB