THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410200153
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Ya got spirit? Let's hear it.
If you were anywhere near Tallwood High last Friday morning, you could definitely hear it. A packed gym filled with the entire student body, the band, the athletes and teachers rocked the house.
And the Lions had plenty to cheer about. Tallwood was presented that morning with the Virginia High School League's first Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by USAir, it was one of only two presented to Virginia schools. Robinson in Northern Virginia got the other.
In these troubling days of youth gangs and violence, there sometimes appears to be little interest in school activities. A look in the stands at Friday night football games gives hint that kids just aren't interested anymore.
But at Tallwood - and I'm sure at other schools - school spirit is witnessing a turnaround.
``There's lots of school spirit here,'' said second-year cheerleader Peter Doyle. ``People say hi to each other in the halls and they don't trash the place or anything. It's kind of like a family here.
``People are proud of Tallwood.''
The school is only in its third year, but academic success was immediate and athletic success has been as good as anyone could have hoped for. The boys volleyball team brought home the school's first regular season and district tournament banners last season.
This year's football team - long any school's barometer for success - enters tonight's Kempsville game tied for first in the district with a 6-0 record.
``A winning program pretty much brings in that good spirit,'' student activities coordinator Bruce Phelps said.
The school's main spirit director has been principal Bernard Morgan, who is always visible at school functions. He believes students and faculty have to work harder at school spirit than in the good ol' days, but that such pride can still be achieved.
``It's harder, but not impossible,'' he said, saying goodbye to nearly every student heading back to class after the two-bell pep rally - showing a keen knack for remembering students' names.
``We're on the way here at Tallwood, as you can clearly see today.''
To achieve the VHSL's new Sportsmanship Award, schools definitely have to work. There are eight criteria to meet and an application to fill out, said VHSL programs supervisor Larry Johnson, who was on hand to present the plaque and banner.
The majority of the state's schools, he said, don't even bother entering, because they can't come close to meeting the standards.
``To even be able to send in an application, shows a fantastic effort on the school's part,'' Johnson said. ``They have to show that there were no major sportsmanship problems and they have to show a real effort toward good sportsmanship.
``They have to be able to document all of these things, and it all just takes a really big effort on the entire school's population.''
At Tallwood, people are going out of their way to make such efforts - and not just to win an award.
````This school started off with a bunch of teachers and students from other schools and there was no real identity with the new school,'' Morgan said. ``I think we are fast coming together and other people are starting to recognize that.''
Much of the credit for the school's spiritual success can be credited to the SCA. Phelps empowered the group with developing sportsmanship guidelines. The result was a well-organized program with self-check procedures.
``We have a sportsmanship code all over the school and we keep up with it,'' Phelps said. ``When I first heard about the (VHSL) award, I went to the SCA president and charged his group with keeping up with the eight criteria.''
The sportsmanship code was adopted with a slogan for each letter in the word Tallwood.
``Take pride in your team, school and yourself;
``Aim for your highest scholastic and athletic goals;
``Learn to overcome your weaknesses;
``Lead with power and dignity, but listen to what others have to say;
``Welcome other people onto school grounds with open arms;
``Open your doors to new experiences;
``Offer your services to anyone who needs them;
``Dedicate your effort and time to Tallwood High School.
``TALLWOOD - words to live by.''
SCA secretary Cheryl Araos and treasurer Romeo Villanueva made the final draft of the application.
``We mailed it this summer and hoped for the best,'' Phelps said.
The best came Friday morning in front of a packed house, as Johnson and a USAir representative handed over the plaque and banner.
As the band cranked up ``In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle, the Lion Sleeps Tonight,'' the crowd did a little roaring of its own. by CNB