THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994 TAG: 9406160175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY EILEEN MALEC, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940617 LENGTH: Medium
Three years ago Irina spoke no English.
{REST} Originally from Romania, Irina and her parents came to Virginia Beach in September 1991 so that her father, Mihai Bocarnea, could pursue a master's degree in communication studies/media management from Regent University.
Both Mihai Bocarnea and his wife, Monica, were computer engineers in Bucharest. Mihai Bocarnea is now working on his doctorate in social science and media effects and teaching statistics and computer applications at Regent while Monica Bocarnea is working in admissions for the School of Business.
Upon arriving in Virginia Beach, the Bocarneas placed Irina, then 6, in kindergarten at Greenbrier Christian Academy. Mihai Bocarnea recounted that when they first took Irina to school his wife was crying. Monica Bocarnea explained. ``Because I just left her there without (her) being able to express if she needed water or the bathroom.''
Yet Irina displayed no fear and passed the acceptance test given to her by the school. After the first day, her mother asked her if she wanted to go back. With a big smile on her face, Irina answered ``Yes.''
According to teacher Jill Adams Gray, at the beginning Irina did not speak frequently, but carefully observed her surroundings. ``She was very excited about learning and grasped everything,'' said Gray.
At the end of that school year Irina was given the Spirit Award for her positive attitude and good outlook toward learning. She ended first grade by receiving the Achievement Award for the highest grade point average. This year she was placed on the President's Honor Roll for attaining all A grades for the entire school year, received the Teacher's Award for best overall student from all first- and second-grade classes and earned individual awards for her academic achievements in math, reading, phonics, language and writing.
Irina's excellence in academics and her drive to succeed have led school administrators to place her in the fourth grade next fall instead of third.
Sandra Hedrick, Irina's second-grade teacher, said the idea to advance Irina was unanimous seeing how her grades stayed at 99 to 100 percent throughout the school year and she demonstrated a lot of maturity. ``She's quite a little girl,'' said Hedrick. ``She kind of sits there with her big brown eyes open and says `teach me.' ''
In order to prepare Irina for the fourth grade, Hedrick will tutor her in language, while her parents will assist her in math, reading and science at home. ``I am excited about skipping,'' said Irina, ``but I will miss my friends in the class.''
Irina's involvement with the spelling bee began last December when she and five other students from Greenbrier's three second-grade classes were selected to represent the school in the Association of Christian Schools' Southeast Regional District Spelling Bee contest.
Mary Jane Turner, who supervised and coached the students, met with them at the beginning of February to begin the 1 1/2-hour practice sessions each week to improve their skills. Parents also were encouraged to work their child at home. Turner said during the mock spelling bee contests, Irina ``seemed to be the one who really worked the hardest.''
The contest was held at Denbigh Baptist Christian School in Newport News where Irina faced 27 other contestants.
Her father said he knew she had won when she came running to the car with a big smile on her face and ``doing the American thing with her two thumbs up. We called our parents in Romania right away and told them.''
Both Mihai and Monica Bocarnea are proud of their daughter and credit God, the school and Irina herself for her success. She spends 1 1/2 hours a day completing homework and boasts that math is her favorite subject much to the delight of her math-minded parents.
And though the Bocarneas still speak Romanian at home, a slight Southern accent can be detected from Irina when she speaks English. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Irina answered with a big smile, ``a teacher.''
by CNB