THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411110303
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Eric Feber
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Joanne Sawyer knows that when a principal makes a promise, she had better be prepared to back it up.
So when Sawyer pledged to skate through the halls, if the school achieved 100 percent membership in the Parent-Teacher Association, she strapped on her roller-blades and took off.
Switching from a smart, professional pants-suit into sweat pants and a Chittum School T-shirt, Sawyer put on her skates, a helmet and knee, elbow and wrist guards.
``I put on the full safety attire,'' Sawyer said. ``I did that expressly as an example of safety for the children. I wanted them to be aware of wearing safety gear while skating.''
Properly clothed, protected and helmeted, Sawyer cruised through the school's halls on skates on the afternoon of Nov. 4.
``It was very exciting and a nice morale booster for the school,'' said Janice Torian, an assistant principal at the school. ``Every student was there.''
Sawyer said the school's 775 students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, sat cross-legged along the route.
``They lined both sides of the hall,'' Sawyer said. ``As my balance got better, I began to stoop while skating so I could slap hands with the students. They really liked that. It involved them, too.''
As she sped through the school, the fourth-graders joined their voices in a cheer: ``Go faster, Miss Sawyer, go faster!''
``They all loved seeing me skate through the halls,'' she said. ``They don't see adults do this kind of thing too often, so they were all thrilled.''
So how did this whole thing get started anyway?
``Someone on the PTA board came up with the idea,'' she said. ``They saw a profile of me in The Clipper, highlighting new principals in Chesapeake, and it said I liked to roller blade. The PTA picked up on that fact, so at a board meeting they finally asked me if the school gets 100 percent membership would I be willing to skate through the halls? Naturally I said yes.''
Sawyer said she's only a casual skater. ``I just started this past summer,'' she said. ``I do it as a fun activity to get some exercise.''
What about next year?
``I don't know,'' Sawyer said laughing. ``I haven't been approached yet and I haven't volunteered.'' Engagement announced
A item Wednesday in ``The Reliable Source,'' a column in the Washington Post, stated that Patricia Southall of Western Branch will marry comedian, television and film star Martin Lawrence in January at a ceremony slated to take place at Virginia Beach.
Remember Pat Southall?
She's the Chesapeake woman who was runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant this year. She was Miss Western Branch High School and Miss Teen Virginia in 1988 and went on to win the Miss Virginia/USA title in October 1993.
Let's all wish Pat all the happiness in the world with the star of Fox's situation comedy ``Martin.'' He'll keep her laughing. by CNB