Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 17, 1995 TAG: 9510170042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The 45 students in Jeanie Anderson's and Patsy Caldwell's classes spent Friday and Monday learning about the different features on the newspapers and how information can be found in newspapers. The students also received guidance from Anne Marie Dolan and Colleen Murphy, block aide teachers from Radford University.
"I learned a lot more stuff about the newspaper than I knew," said Patricia Davenport, a fifth-grader. "I learned where to look for everything."
Nikki Campbell, a fourth-grader, described the newspaper day as "fun."
"I had fun searching for the stuff with all activities we did. I learned that if you looked really hard you can find what you're looking for in the newspaper," Nikki said.
Students also participated in activities that involved math, social studies, language arts, math and writing. For example, in math the students graphed the temperatures of five different cities by using the information on the weather page of The Roanoke Times. For social studies, students had to find three people in that day's paper who fit in either the Hall of Shame or Hall of Fame category. One student chose O.J. Simpson to fit into both categories, said Dolan. In art, students created bumper stickers using letters cut out of the newspaper; however, Dolan said many students just cut out entire headlines as their slogan.
The Roanoke Times is one of 500 newspapers across the country participating in Newspapers in Education, which was started in the 1950s and became widespread in the 1970s and 1980s. Each year, about 90,000 teachers, 3 million students and more than 16,000 schools participate in the United States.
Several other schools in the New River Valley have participated in the program in the past, including schools in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford.
Three of the programs goals include building future readership, promoting literacy and supporting quality education.
PLAY IT AGAIN
Bats, mitts, gloves, soccer balls, tennis rackets and footballs.
Montgomery County Public Schools has teamed up with Play It Again Sports to raise money for the Home-School Communication System that was put in the Christiansburg strand last year.
To raise money to get the system up and running in the Riner, Blacksburg and Shawsville area schools, each county school is accepting donations of used sports gear and equipment through Oct. 27. Play It Again Sports will collect items from the schools and assess a trade-in value on each item. The trade in value will then be converted into cash and given to Montgomery County Public Schools. Items also can be taken to Play It Again Sports.
The Blacksburg High School marching band, participated in its second band competition Oct. 7. The Warrior Marching Band received a superior rating and placed third in its class at the George Wythe Festival of Bands in Wytheville. The band is directed by Diane Love. Drum majors are Nicole Fitzwater, a junior, and Amanda Neill, a sophomore.
The band will participate at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director Association's Marching Festival in Pulaski County Saturday. Marching bands from Christiansburg High and Pulaski County High also will participate. The festival is expected to showcase some of the best marching bands from across the state.
It's not too soon to be planning for the Bethel Elementary School PTA craft fair. The event will be Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school. Artisans who are interested in reserving space should contact the school at 633-3215. Space is limited. Proceeds from the fair will be used to purchase supplies and equipment for classrooms and the library.
HALLOWEEN
Belview Elementary School PTA sponsors its second Octoberfest Oct. 28, from noon to 4 p.m. at the school in Christiansburg.
Children of all ages from the New River Valley are invited to wear their favorite costume. Games, food and a pumpkin walk will be featured. Costumes should not be scary or feature weapons, blood or gore.
Herman Bartlett, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, will judge the costume contest at 2 p.m.
For more information, call Judy Thurman at 382-0497 or Marycarol Mandzak at 381-0680.
GRANTS
The New River Valley Master Gardener Association is sponsoring a grant program open to teachers in all private and public schools in the local Virginia Cooperative Extension area, including Montgomery, Pulaski, Giles and Floyd counties. Program applications are due by Dec. 1.
The School-Based Gardening Program provides financial support for projects that encourage students in grades K-12 to actively learn through gardening. Projects may focus on a single grade or a selected student population across grades. Innovative uses of gardening as a learning vehicle are encouraged.
Funds for proposed projects will start in the spring. The association has allocated $400 from its current budget to fund this program. The number and amount of grant(s) will be determined based on the number and quality of applications received.
For more information, application and rules, call Sheila Winett at 951-3237 or the Cooperative Extension Office at 382-5790.
by CNB