Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 12, 1994 TAG: 9404120117
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Melissa DeVaugh
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But when the second-graders at Prices Fork Elementary School met Virginia Tech basketball players Delwyn Dillard and Shawn Smith last Thursday, their eyes, at least, were as big as the basketballs the Hokies stars slam and jam during games.
Tabitha Wall, 8, said she was so excited at seeing the college players, "I just screamed when we went outside to shoot baskets."
Classmates Thomas Stevens and Matt Hixon, both 7, had a chance to play a little basketball with the Hokie players and they agreed watching Dillard and Smith "slam-dunk" the basketball was the best part of the day.
"You know, they have VERY big feet," Tabitha said. "They both wear a size 15!"
The players were swarmed by the frantic second-graders, who scrambled to get autographs. Some pupils had the players sign their jackets and shoes. Judy Moore, 7, got them to sign her notebook and then she even had them sign her hand.
"I didn't want to wash it off my hands, but I had to," Judy said.
Perhaps the most important part of the players' visit though, said second- grade teacher Peggy Gray, was what Dillard and Smith, both forwards for the Virginia Tech Hokies, had to say about good sportsmanship.
"It was really neat when they said if you ever lose a game, don't sit down and sob about it - just look forward to the next game and hope you win the next time," said 7-year-old Adam Hamilton. "And you have to get good grades, too, or you'll be thrown off the team."
"Good sportsmanship was emphasized and I was so glad when they said 'listen to your teachers and try to make good grades,'" Gray said, laughing. "The children just had so many questions - 'Have you ever been thrown out of a game?' 'How tall are you?' 'What is your shoe size?' 'What is your favorite pro team?' ... It's good that these players could be here to serve as role models for the children."
Find out more about FOCUS 2006 at a special meeting tonight at 7 at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School. There will be an audience survey of parents' priorities. For further information, call 951-8168.
PARENTS ADVOCATING GIFTED CHILDREN will meet tonight at 7 at the community room of the Christiansburg library. Heidi Bernard of Montgomery County Public Schools will talk on "Should Your Child Take Algebra in Middle School?"
For further information, call 552-7226.
The PARENT RESOURCE CENTER for Montgomery County is offering a free workshop for parents of children in special education. The program, "Estate Planning, SSI and the Letter of Intent," will be held tonight at 6:30 at Christiansburg High School. A local lawyer will discuss ways parents can ensure that their child will receive an adequate education by incorporating that information into theirs will.
For further information, call the center at 382-5194.
Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School will hold a SPAGHETTI DINNER AND TALENT SHOW Friday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $2 per person, and dinner includes spaghetti, salad, bread and a drink. The PTA is sponsoring the event to raise money for school equipment.
Artist Megan Marlatt will lead an ARTIST WORKSHOP Friday at Blacksburg High School. She is one of 10 artists who presents workshops throughout Virginia schools. The workshop is entitled, "The Fine (and not lost) Art of Fresco," and will cover styles used by Italian Renaissance painters. Art students at Blacksburg will have a chance to try their hand at similar styles of painting.
The Christiansburg High School AFTER PROM COMMITTEE will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the girls health room. Those planning to chaperone at the party should plan to attend.
Check Elementary School will hold its third annual CRAFT FAIR AND FLEA MARKET April 23 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Those who would like to participate in the event may rent a space for $10 (bring your own table and chairs), and the event will be moved inside if it rains.
For further information, call 651-6336, 929-4691 or 929-4221.
The Blacksburg High School Football team will hold its yearly GIGANTIC YARD SALE Saturday at the school from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Those who would like to donate items, should call 951-8683 or 951-5706.
Pupils at RINER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL will participate in "Friday Night Prime Time," a big sleep-over at the school which involves lots of reading and lots of fun-time activities. After a big pizza party, an aerobics session, a video and 30-minute intervals of silent-time reading, the parents and teachers sponsoring the event will feel lucky if the excited kids sleep at all!
It's that time of year again - KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION. If your little one is about to enter the world of education, read on to see when and where you need to be the week of April 18-22:
Riner Elementary: Monday through April 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Also, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday.
Elliston-Lafayette: Monday through April 22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Also, 6-8 p.m. Monday.
Harding Avenue: Monday through April 22, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Also, registration will extend until 6:30 p.m. April 20 for parents who can't make it during business hours.
Falling Branch: Monday through April 22 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. Also, 5:30-7 p.m. Monday.
Although other schools didn't send in their particulars, all Montgomery County Public Schools should be accepting registration next week. Call the school your child will attend for further information, and make sure to bring an original birth certificate and Social Security card to the registration. Or call Doris McElfresh, director of elementary education, at 382-5120.
UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL EDUCATION, the course that explains the rules and regulations of special education, will be presented by the Pulaski County Parent Resource Center today and Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. The course is free. For further information or to register, call 674-2534.
The PTAs from the four elementary schools in Blacksburg will soon elect its executive boards and committee members, and are seeking new members. Also a NEW PTA will be organized for the new still-unnamed Blacksburg Elementary School. Anyone interested in becoming part of his or her school's PTA, should contact one of the following persons by Wednesday:
Gilbert Linkous: Suzanne Blankenship, 552-6810; or Theresa Darvalics, 951-3359.
Harding Avenue: Martha Olson, 552-7161.
Prices Fork: Chris Wakley, 639-2562; Marianna Fillmore, 639-9548; or Suzanne Albert, 552-1794.
Margaret Beeks: Jeri Reinholtz, 953-1770.
The New Elementary School: Laura Wedin, 951-8168; or Susan DiSalvo, 951-3121.
The New River District Parent-Teacher Association recently announced its winners of the NATIONAL PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM. Students from Radford and the counties of Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski competed at this level. The theme of this year's Reflections program was "If I Could Give the World a Gift ... ." The winners from that competition advanced to the state level. Those placing at the state competition were:
Floyd County: Rachael Kohl Pierson, Check Elementary, honorable mention, photography; Mary Beth Starkey, Willis Elementary, honorable mention, literature.
Montgomery County: Janna Jennison-Obenshain, Christiansburg Elementary, third place, music; Charlie Chalmers, Prices Fork Elementary, honorable mention, photography; Joel Nilsen, Blacksburg Middle, first place, visual arts; Timothy Nelson, Christiansburg Middle, second place, music; Phyllis Chen, Blacksburg High, third place, music.
A special congratulations goes to Joel Nilsen of Blacksburg Middle School, whose first place entry will now advance to the national competition.
Students at AUBURN HIGH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL have been busy this spring. Here's what's happening there:
Senior government classes are working on an economic development project that will help answer questions many Riner residents may have about their community. Government teacher John Beach is helping his students survey Riner residents to find out what kinds of concerns they have about topics like increased housing and businesses, and less farming or other traditional occupations.
In May, the students will sponsor a conference for all residents, in which they will have the answers to these questions. Developers, planners and other government officials will be present to speak with community members.
The boosters club is sponsoring a night of Pro-Wrestling at the high school Saturday at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $6 if purchased in advance from the Western Store on U.S. 460; at the door, they will cost $8. Children may attend for $6.
The sophomore class is sponsoring a raffle; winners will be announced April 30, and prizes include a Sony Radio and a compact-disc player. Tickets are $1 or $5 for a book of six. See Cecil Snead, class sponsor, or ask any sophomore for more information.
The school's first after-prom party will be held May 14 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. The budget for the event is $3,700 to include prizes, food, a karaoki machine, decorations and other activities. The school is seeking any donations to help put on this drug- and alcohol-free evening for high school students. Call booster club president Regina Bonds at 639-6325 for more information.
Is your school ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY? Are you working on a specific project that will help the environment? If so, please fax (381-1656) or mail a description of your school's project to us for an article on things kids can do to save the environment.
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