ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180066
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Attention parents: Christiansburg High School wants you.
Teachers and members of the PTSA have invited every Christiansburg High parent to a free meal and a way to prevent violence in their school.
Thursday, the school will hold the Parent Information and Exchange with School night and provide a buffet dinner and free child care. Parents can choose from 11 seminars to attend, on subjects ranging from helping students succeed in school and behavior in the classroom to crisis intervention and juvenile corrections.
Last year, several teachers attended a seminar on how to prevent violence in the schools before it starts. From that seminar, the teachers were able to apply for a $10,000 grant from the state. They got it, and are now planning educational programs for parents and teens.
To qualify, the teachers had to send records of any violent incidents in the school, like fights. Compared to other schools vying for the grant, said teacher Regina Smith, "ours was so low, we were afraid we wouldn't get it.
But the point is to stop a problem before it starts."
"The emphasis is prevention - how do we keep it [violence] low or even make it less," said Debbie Sherman-Lee, another teacher on the violence prevention team.
Aside from Thursday's meeting, the group wants to take two dozen teens on a retreat.
Sherman-Lee said the group could discuss the climate in their school, develop ideas to make it better, then ask for support from the administration and various student groups.
The program begins at 6:30 p.m. in the school commons area on Thursday. For more information, call the school at 382-5178.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB