THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070304
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
WHEN IT COMES to school mottos, Bayside High School boasts one that definitely fits.
Since nine seniors have parents on staff this year, there is no getting away from the catchy ``We Are Family'' theme. It has become a way of life.
While some say having mom or dad at school makes things more difficult, most of these students agree they use it to their advantage.
``It's rough,'' said Todd King, whose father, Bill King, is a health and physical education teacher. ``Everybody knows you, and you can't get away with anything. If you do anything wrong, the teacher automatically tells the parent.''
Although Todd doesn't have his father for a teacher, he's with him everyday after school. Todd's on the football team and his dad is head coach.
``I enjoy it,'' Bill King said. ``I keep an eye on him here.''
Even though he's coaching his son, King doesn't give Todd any breaks. ``He knows he has to hustle every minute,'' he added.
Andre Turner, another senior football player, is in the same boat as his teammate. Andre's dad, Lewis Turner, is not only a health and physical education teacher, he is an assistant coach.
But having dad around on the field is just like old times for Andre, since his father has been involved in coaching all his life. ``Ever since I started playing sports he's been a coach,'' Andre said. ``I'm used to it.''
Andre looks at his pop's presence in school as an advantage. ``If you're having a problem with a teacher, your father's right here at school,'' he said. ``As long as you stay out of trouble, you won't have any problems.''
Lauren Williams, whose mom is English teacher Brenda Williams, said even though having a parent in the system means ``lots of connections,'' it can sometimes be embarrassing. She really blushes when Mom calls her by the nickname ``Goo Goo'' at school.
``She likes to share personal stories with students about me,'' Lauren said. ``Then my friends say, `Guess what your mom said about you!' ''
According to the sons and daughters of staff members, this response is typical. Other students always have something to say about their parents, whether it's minor or major.
``People just come up out of nowhere and say, `I have your mom,' '' said Lori Hendricks, whose mom, Judy, is a health and human services teacher.
``Richard tells them, `It sounds like a personal problem to me,' '' laughed English teacher Julia Wilson, mom of senior Richard Wilson.
Not only does Richard hear about his mother from friends, but his father, Tom Wilson, is the in-school suspension coordinator. ``Someone will talk about ISS, and I'll just sit there, kind of quiet . . . ,'' Richard said.
This family-filled school is nothing new to the Wilsons. Both parents have taught at Bayside for 27 years, and Richard is the fourth and final child to graduate from the school. Their daughter-in-law teaches there, as well, and their son-in-law taught there last year.
``It's just wonderful,'' Tom Wilson said.
Crystal Black, a school custodian, couldn't be happier about having her two children in school with her. ``If they need anything, they can come to me,'' she said of her senior daughter, Crystal, and her junior son, Joe. ``I love having my children here.''
Convenience is one of the chief advantages of these relations. Whether it's riding to and from school, lunch money or parent-teacher conferences, being at the same school seems to be easier for both parent and child.
While most of the families choose to carpool, some say their schedules are too different. ``We try not to argue about assignments on the way to school,'' said social studies teacher Deni Trombino of her son, Alex Trombino. ``We usually listen to peaceful music.''
``We all three come in three different vehicles . . . from two blocks away,'' Julia Wilson said.
Retrieving or delivering ``forgotten'' lunch money is something else these teachers and students do with ease. ``If he forgets his lunch money, I don't have to get in the car and bring it to him,'' Bill King said. ``I just go down the hall.''
``And if Lauren can't find her mom, she stops in my room for lunch money,'' laughed Deni Trombino.
Parent-teacher conferences are not scheduled with these families. ``We have conferences in the hallway whenever,'' Trombino added.
Although most parents say having their kids around is a breeze, others admit that it's tough at times. ``It's good and it's bad,'' Brenda Williams said. ``I always know where my baby is and that's good.
``It's trying sometimes though,'' she said. ``We're together so much. Sometimes we need a break.
``I will miss her,'' she continued. ``But she will go away to college.''
Although this is a unique year, marked by a large group of seniors with parents on staff, the school is referring to the whole student body when it comes to the ``We Are Family'' motto.
``It's a family atmosphere,'' said assistant principal Gene F. Soltner. ``The kids at our school are our kids, whether they're blood or not.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Bayside High School seniors and their parents are: (top row from
left) Bill King, Todd King, Andre Turner and Earl Brown; (middle
row) Lori Hendricks, Sara Mizenko, Crystal Black, Alex Trombino,
Lauren Williams and Richard Wilson; (bottom row) Judy Hendricks,
George Mizenko, Crystal Black, Deni Trombino, Brenda Williams, Tom
Wilson and Julia Wilson. Missing from the picture are Shera Bullock
and Lewis Turner.
by CNB