ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 17, 1996 TAG: 9612170036
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Class Notes
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
A group of third-graders at Critzer Elementary School in Pulaski County is learning about writing, American geography and history a little differently than most students. The 18 children in Debbie Smith's class are participating in a program sponsored by Trucker Buddy International.
The 3-year-old organization matches classrooms with truckers around the country. Smith's class is matched with Ray and Linda Bell of Ralin Enterprises Inc. of Roanoke. The Bells are among the nearly 5,000 other truck drivers across the country who participate in the program. Approximately 150,000 school children correspond with the drivers.
Each of the children in Smith's class writes a letter to the Bells, who then respond to each child individually. The Bell's also send weekly postcards to the class. They often include a brief history about the state or area they send the postcard from. While they were Texas, the Bells sent the class a large cutout photo of the area along with an outline explaining the events that took place at the Alamo in the 1800s. Smith said she plans to put a map in the classroom and have the children track the places the Bells cover on their cross-country road trips.
The Bells have been in the trucking business for 12 years. They travel between the Maryland-Pennsylvania area and California weekly delivering goods. They got involved with Trucker Buddy International last year and Critzer Elementary is their first match.
Ray Bell said the program has two purposes. First, it broadens the horizons of the children and second it lets them write and improve their communication skills. He said some of the children are now writing two-page letters. The letters usually include stories about their home life or their pets. The children also ask questions which the Bells try to answer in their letters.
Earlier this month, the Bells visited the Smith's classroom with their truck. The children were able to get behind the wheel and see the cab. The Bells also gave a presentation about their travels and the trucking industry and how it affects our life.
The Bells have planned to visit the Smith's class again in January. Next time they will talk about a day in the life of a driver.
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Cyberspace has a new resident. While not cruising on his sleigh, Santa can be found on the Internet. Recently, children at Riner Elementary School searched for the man in red and found three interesting sites. The sites let users print out coloring pages or send e-mail to Santa. The third site lets users send on-line holiday cards - even ones that sing. The sites are:
* http://www.claus.com
* http://www.northpole.com
* http://www.bluemountain.com
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The Montgomery County Public Schools is seeking members to serve on the Montgomery County Advisory Committee for Gifted Education. Parents, school personnel and other community members can serve on the board. The Gifted Advisory Committee advises the local School Board through the division superintendent of the educational needs of all gifted students and conducts and annual review of the local plan for gifted services.
For an application or more information, call Nancy L. Ballinger at 382-5190. Application deadline is Jan. 10.
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