Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 21, 1995 TAG: 9502210047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LAURA ZIVKOVICH
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
To keep students motivated in this slushy, dreary month, Kipps and Riner elementary schools are highlighting the positive aspects of February.
Both schools are celebrating NATIONAL READING MONTH.
At Riner Elementary, teachers traded rooms and read to classes other than their own. Each Wednesday a guest was invited to read a book over the televised morning announcements. Pupils spent a day curled up with a book and a favorite pillow or stuffed animal. The school also sponsored a book mark design contest and a book fair.
At Kipps, the school-wide goal is for the pupils to collectively read a total of 2,000 hours by March 1. Each Wednesday, the school staff updates the number of hours read on a big clock in the lobby. Special storytellers and parents are reading stories to classes.
Also at Kipps Elementary, staff and pupils are celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Teachers are emphasizing readings, art and music by and about black Americans and working from teaching packets on black history including biographical articles, games, quizzes and worksheets. The school has invited Blacksburg's Ujima Dance Company, directed by Carol Crawford Smith of Virginia Tech's Black Cultural Center, to perform a recreation of a story by a local author in dance.
Newbern Elementary School pupils in Anne Holbrook's kindergarten class and Mary Hughes' third-grade class made three-cornered George Washington hats and "Cherries for George" treats yesterday in honor of our founding father's birthday.
The older pupils helped the kindergartners in producing the decorations and treats.
The Harding Avenue Elementary Parent Teacher Association recently announced its school-level winners in the 1994-95 Dare to Discover REFLECTIONS Program.
Reflections is a cultural arts program sponsored by the National Parent Teacher Association that encourages creative expression in kindergarten through 12th -grade students in the categories of visual arts, literature, music and photography.
Visual Arts: Primary - Kirsti Moose, first place; Seth Wright, second place; Michelle Sirgy, third place. Elementary - Clay Wright, first place; Tamara Johns, second place; Lauren Fortune, third place; Jessie Southard and Danielle Sirgy, honorable mention.
Literature: Jessie Southard, first place; Rachel Roberts, second place; Rachel Sanders, third place; Nicole Horton, Jenny Law, Mark Badger, Aislinn Lowry, Sarah Douglas and Jessie Southard, honorable mention.
Music: Adam Slawny, first place.
Photography:Jenna Liskey, first place.
Twenty-three members of the RADFORD HIGH SCHOOL CHORUSES recently participated in the Virginia Choral Directors Association District VI 1995 All District Weekend at Bassett High School.
Representatives from the mixed chorus were Robyn Carroll, Brian Ducker, Whit Ellerman, Melissa Garnett, Evan Gregory, Kira Jelincic, Michelle Lookadoo, Scott Rupe, Charlee Taylor, Stephanie Turpin, Kelly Underwood, Bonnie Vaughn, Stephanie Watts and Amanda White. Sarah Argabrite, Mary Katherine Arthur, Carol Bowlby, Meghan Cropper, Mary Gilmore, Jennifer Hatfield, Melissa Hicks, Erin O'Connell and Melissa Viers represented the Women's Chorus.
Robyn Carroll and Bonnie Vaughn will attend All State Chorus in Alexandria in the spring.
Six Blacksburg High School science students joined their peers from 16 Virginia high schools at the U.S. Department of Energy 1995 REGIONAL SCIENCE BOWL at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Feb. 11.
Teachers Grayson Wilkins and Mark Freeman led the team of Eric Chen, Evan Greenberg, Ahmad Ragab, Charlie Liu, Robin Guynn and Stephanie Kraige through four of the eight rounds of competition.
They answered questions on astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, general science, physics and mathematics.
The Ezra Keats Foundation has awarded its EZRA JACK KEATS MINIGRANT to Christiansburg Primary School. Keats, an artist, writer and book illustrator from Brooklyn, N.Y., won book awards for his works "The Snowy Day" and "Goggles."
The school will use the grant to promote Keats' work through art and story writing. His works are displayed throughout the school and will be used in the classrooms.
Seniors-of-the-Month
nAUTUMN DICKMAN of Auburn High School is vice president of the Beta Club and secretary of the National Honor Society. She received commendation for her performance in the National Merit Scholarship competition. Autumn is the daughter of Richard Dickman and Joan Healy of Riner.
nPHYLLIS CHEN of Blacksburg High School is a two-year member of the Student Council Association and a three-year member of the Peer Council. Her musical talents have led her to win first place in the Bartok Kabelersky International Piano Competition and to reach the final rounds of the Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition. Phyllis is the daughter of Dan and Jenny Chen of Blacksburg.
JASON ELMORE of Christiansburg High School is president of the Youth America Club and a member of the Beta Club, Young Life and the varsity soccer team. He plans to begin studying biology at Virginia Tech in the fall. Jason is the son of John and Arneda Elmore of Christiansburg.
JOYCE SIMMONS of Shawsville High School is president of the Spanish Club, a representative for the College Club and treasurer of the Drama Club. She is a four-year letter winner for the varsity tennis team. Joyce is the daughter of Chauncey and Joyce Simmons of Elliston.
Rescheduled Events
Christiansburg High School parent-teacher conferences originally scheduled in February will be held Thursday, March 9, 5-8:30 p.m.
Parents may call the school, 382-5178, to make appointments.
The Parent Resource Centers of Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and the City of Radford have rescheduled their free workshop on understanding and using private medical insurance for Thursday, Feb. 23, 7-8 p.m., in the community room of the New River Valley Mall.
For more information, call (800) 650-5324. If Montgomery County Public Schools are closed on this day, the meeting will be cancelled.
The Christiansburg High School AFTER-PROM PARTY COMMITTEE will meet tonight, 7 p.m. in the girls' health room. This meeting, originally scheduled for Feb. 15, was cancelled due to bad weather.
Call 382-3283 or 381-0059, for further information.
Meetings & More
The Gilbert Linkous Elementary Parent Teacher Association will hold its annual Virginia Tech Night, Thursday, 6-7:30 p.m., in the school's multi-purpose room.
Virginia Tech coaches, cheerleaders and athletes will attend. The PTA will raffle off autographed athletic equipment and sell pizza and drinks.
The Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations will meet Thursday, 7:30 p.m., in the Christiansburg High School library.
Larry Arrington, supervisor of technology for Montgomery County Public Schools will discuss the use of interactive video in the schools.
For more information, call Nanci Purcell, 382-0670
The Pulaski County High School Parent Teacher Association will sponsor a panel discussion on school prayer, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., in the school's Little Theatre following parent teacher conferences.
The New River Community College Financial Aid Office's final financial aid workshop will be held Thursday, 11 a.m., in Richardson Auditorium, Rooker Hall, Dublin campus. The staff will explain financial aid programs and criteria for the 1995-96 academic year to parents and students.
For more information, call Joe Sheffey, 674-3615.
The New River Valley Reading Council and the Virginia Tech Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa will hold a Reading Share Fair, Thursday, 4-5:30 p.m. at the Blacksburg Marriott.
Educators will share techniques and ideas for reading education.
Admission is free for members, $2 for non-members.
For more information, call Belva Collins, 951-5732 or Beth Boyle, 951-5760.
If you have an interesting school-related item for the paper, send it to Laura Zivkovich at the Roanoke Times & World News, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va., 24073.
by CNB