Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 7, 1995 TAG: 9503070072
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Monkeys dangle from trees and vines. Alligators linger in a pond of blue construction paper. Snakes made of stuffed neckties with beady eyes attached rest on trees and all parts of the forest floor. A large stuffed gorilla guards the entrance to the one-man hut containing books on the rain forest. Pupils rewarded for exemplary classroom citizenship get to take a break in the hut and leaf through the informational pages.
Class members created most of the decorations and brought some props and stuffed animals from home. To prepare themselves for life in the rain forests, the children made safari hats and binoculars.
They began the unit reading "The Great Kapok Tree," by Lynne Cherry, the story of a man who enters the rain forest to cut down trees but, after animals plead to him in his sleep, realizes the importance of keeping their homes intact.
The pupils will make individual miniature rain forests in glass jars this week out of charcoal, gravel, potting soil, plants and mosses.
With the help of the rest of the school, the class is adopting an acre of rain forest to help save the homes of the many endangered animals who live there.
Holbrook's class gave guided tours of the room to the other classes in the school.
The Shawsville High School FORENSICS TEAM competed Feb. 23 at the District Competition at Auburn High School. Six of the seven team members placed in the top three spots in their categories.
First-place winners were senior Ariel McCrumb for humorous dramatic interpretation and freshman Elijah Ramsey in the boys' poetry category.
Christina Dudley and Joyce Simmons took second for their combined effort in the dramatic duo interpretation.
Senior Tara Davidson and freshman Mary Cunney placed third in the serious dramatic interpretation and the girls' prose categories, respectively.
First- and second-place winners will advance to regional competition at Grayson County High School.
Fourteen CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH SCHOOL students have brought home trophies from the Distributive Educational Clubs of America's district competition.
First-place winners, who will move on to the state competition in Williamsburg, are Jill Dingus, food marketing, supervisor level; Davina Irvin, general merchandise, supervisor level; Farrah Royal, general marketing, supervisor level; Kristen Simmons, general marketing, master employee level; Ricky Burton, restaurant marketing quick service; and Carrie Webb, selling.
Jessica Tickle was second in the apparel and accessories category, supervisor level. Sabrina Price placed second in promotion, restaurant marketing full service. Samantha Ward and Amy Hicks took second in economics and job interview, respectively.
Julie Gunter was third in food marketing, master employee level. Tanya Snider was third in restaurant marketing, quick service. Ruby Compton placed third on the written test in automotive and petroleum.
Sarah Waters was elected District 4 vice president and will be a voting delegate at the state competition.
Christiansburg Primary School recently welcomed Bill Meck, meteorologist for WSLS TV, and Cindy Stone, a dental hygienist from the office of Dr. Pete McDonald in Christiansburg.
Meck enlisted help from the second-grade audience to demonstrate clouds enlarging and bursting and the way volcanos build up before they erupt. The class gave him a U.S. weather cake, which he showed to viewers of his 6 p.m. broadcast.
In a separate visit, Stone told first-graders about the importance of good dental hygiene and care and gave each of them a new toothbrush.
Maggie Roston, local director of EF Educational Homestay Programs, seeks HOST FAMILIES in the New River and Roanoke valleys willing to accommodate one of 33 French students visiting the region July 2-22.
Host families may select a student ranging in age from 13 to 20 who most closely matches their interests and hobbies. The students are fully insured and bring their own spending money.
For more information, call Roston, 552-5146.
The Montgomery County public schools' department of school nutrition programs again will offer its SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM for children ages 2-18 participating in approved summer programs.
For eligibility requirements and more information, call the nutrition office, 382-5156.
Blacksburg New School's annual CORPORATION MEETING will be held Wednesday night at 7 at the school. Each family must send at least one representative to the meeting. For more information, call 552-6693.
Christiansburg Elementary fifth-graders will demonstrate their food-serving abilities at the Christiansburg Primary School and Christiansburg Elementary School Parent Teacher Association's SPAGHETTI DINNER on Friday, March 17, 5-8 p.m., in the Christiansburg Elementary School cafeteria.
Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children ages 5-10 and free for children 4 and under.
Carryout will be available.
The safety patrol will hold a bake sale at the event.
The Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for its $2,500 TOUR DUPONT SCHOLARSHIP.
Applicants must be Blacksburg High School seniors who will attend Virginia Tech as full-time students in the fall semester. The Chamber Scholarship Committee will select the winner based on community service, work experience and need.
Applications are available at the chamber office on Jackson Street and must be returned by May 1.
For more information, call 552-4061.
The Radford Parent Resource Center will sponsor a PANEL DISCUSSION on preparing special-education students for the transition from high school to work or college, Monday, 6-8 p.m., in the Radford High School library.
Representatives from the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Department of the Visually Handicapped, the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other related organizations will participate in the discussion.
Dinner will be provided.
For more information, call the center, 731-3679.
The Shawsville Elementary School BOOK FAIR is in progress and runs through Friday.
Parent and community guest night is Thursday, 3:45-7:30 p.m.
For more information, call the school, 268-2208.
The GILBERT LINKOUS ELEMENTARY Parent Teacher Association will hold a general meeting Wednesday, 7 p.m., in the school multipurpose room.
Herman Bartlett, superintendent of Montgomery County public schools, will speak on the school budget and the six-year plan.
For more information, call the school, 951-5726.
by CNB