Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9501190016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LAURA ZIVKOVICH
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The students write personal letters to each other and the faculty and staff as well as letters for school projects. Lynn Thye, the school librarian, who is looking for pupils to work in the library, will only accept applications through the mail.
The program helps the children with reading and writing requiring them to address different audiences using different letter forms.
"I got eight letters already," said Principal Janice Roback, excited about the program's strong start.
The staff established a post office in the school's book room, where postal workers sort and organize the letters. The carriers take the letters to classrooms with addresses created around the school's theme of "We are a rainbow watch us shine." Each grade level is a city; each classroom has a street name; and each pupil has a street number. A typical address reads: 12 Fruit Loop Lane, Prismburg, Va. 24073. An incorrectly addressed or unstamped envelope is returned to the sender. Only 17 of the first day's 189 letters met this fate.
The Christiansburg Post Office gave the children a helping hand by giving them a tour of their building describing the different jobs necessary to complete the operation. Student Council Association members staff the service with jobs ranging from clerk to postmaster.
The Christiansburg Post Office also provided a bit of authenticity to the program lending two mailboxes to the school, one antique and one traditional blue with the rounded top.
The Montgomery County School Board recently recognized the efforts of Crystal Linkous of Blacksburg High School and Jessica Ratliff of Christiansburg High School.
The two seniors have served over half of their terms as state officers in the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. Crystal is the state president; Jessica the state secretary.
As officers, they help to run the organization at the state level, promoting the club at schools across the state. Even with the extra workload, the girls must maintain high academic averages as a requirement of office.
The art work of six Blacksburg High School students with disabilities will be featured in the "Art Together" exhibit at Gillie's in Blacksburg through Dec. 31.
Wayne Zellers' special education class and Linda Hinson's advanced painting class got together to produce the works. The Emporium of Blacksburg mounted and shrink wrapped the paintings for display.
Students Timmy Clemmens, Georgia Gibbs, Eric Greenberg, Katie Putnam, Peggy Stover and Sean Wilburn created the works on display.
A new 4-H club is growing quickly at Harding Avenue Elementary, with membership numbers nearly doubling each week.
The club emphasizes education, citizenship and leadership. William Powell of Blacksburg, the club leader and coordinator, hopes to teach the group about archery, herbal gardening and canoeing.
So far, the group worked on a lesson teaching cat care. As part of the lesson, Powell invited Pulaski storyteller Chris White to entertain the club last week with cat tales and Appalachian folk tales and music.
For more information about the club, call William Powell at 951-5315.
The Virginia High School League recognized 28 Shawsville High School students with its statewide Academic Excellence Award. The winners are varsity letter-winners in the league's programs and activities who maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the grading period when they compete.
FOOTBALL: Mark Akers, Donnie Wallace, Freerman Nester
GIRLS BASKETBALL:Brandy Alexander, Sandy Burdette, Robin Burdette, Beth Burdette, Niki Creed, Shannon Radford, Mandi Forster, Sara Trump
CHEERLEADING: Leigh Anne Hubbard, Dawn Loving, Kim Maxwell, Paige Bower, Candice Dow, Karen Ratcliff
GOLF: Andy Smith, Keith Armour, Larry Smith, Chance Hall, Barnett Carr, Arlis Conner
CROSS COUNTRY: Kristi Henson, Joe Wilcher, Jeremy Flight, Keith Armour, Marlynna Christian
Holiday Happenings
At Christiansburg Primary School the kindergarten classes of Barbara Middleton and Teresa Varney gathered and wrapped gifts for two patients at Southwestern Virginia Hospital. With tips from lists provided by the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley, the pupils and faculty were able to select gifts sure to bring some holiday cheer.
Third-graders at Christiansburg Elementary created "Christmas Around the World" in the classroom last week with international music, art and food and speakers on the customs of other countries. The six classes rotated through classrooms watching presentations on Hanukkah, Kwaanza, Chinese New Year and Latin American and South American holiday customs.
Belview Elementary fourth-graders made ornaments for home and school Christmas trees and made wrapping paper by dipping tissue paper in food coloring.
The Elliston-Lafayette Elementary Chorus traveled to Meadowbrook Nursing Home and Tanglewood Mall to share their holiday songs.
Falling Branch Elementary fourth-graders designed and created completely edible gingerbread houses.
by CNB