THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503260154
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
``RT 90! RT 90!,'' shouted 11-year old Charles Wu, from a second-floor classroom at Huntington Middle School in Newport News.
``Now, FD 20!,'' he snapped. ``FD 20!''
These commands may sound like outer space jargon to a passer-by, but they don't to Charles.
Charles, a fifth-grader at Norfolk's Larchmont Elementary School, was using computer language, as one of more than 400 elementary school students from eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina competing in the 10th Annual ``Great Computer Challenge.'' Another competition, for sixth- through 12th-graders, is slated for April 29 at Old Dominion University.
This yearly contest gives students the opportunity to use their computer application and programming skills to compete with students from 18 school divisions and nine independent schools.
Sponsored by the Consortium for Interactive Instruction , WHRO and Old Dominion University, Saturday's competition required each three-member student team to bring equipment and software to compete in one five categories: graphic arts, primary publishing, desktop publishing, LOGO programming or telecomputing.
At 11 a.m., students were given their challenges. Since faculty sponsors were not allowed in the rooms, the children were forced to use more than their computer skills. Whether the goal was to design a cartoon character or create a newsletter, the kids had to do it together.
Upstairs, in Room 223, a team from Churchland Academy typed in commands to draw a picture of the computer they were working on - one of the four problems required for LOGO competition.
Fifth-grader Brian Smith, 11, used his camouflage-printed pencil to sketch it out on graph paper, while directing fourth-grader Greg Hicks, 9, on the keyboard.
One of Brian's last calls, a 90-degree right turn, didn't fly with the third team member, fourth-grader Joseph Hall, 10. ``What are you doing?'' he asked.
``Trust me,'' Brian said in a confident tone.
Minutes later, the picture was complete. ``Is that fine - do you like that?,'' Brian asked, only to find out that his teammates were thrilled.
``This is a student contest,'' said C.I.I. coordinator Linda H. Berry. ``It's about working together and growing together.''
Students had one hour to work, which was tough for many. As the seconds ticked away and the judges filtered in, the children tried to do all the last-minute touch-ups they could.
Others, such as the desktop publishing team from Virginia Beach's Cooke Elementary School, were prepared to battle the clock. Their sponsor, third-grade teacher De Garvey, was the reason.
Garvey had them stay after school almost every day last week and said she's glad she made this her fourth year as a sponsor.
``It's such a good experience for kids,'' she said. ``They can see what other children are doing and show off what they know. They also learn what teamwork is all about. I just think it's great.'' MEMO: Holly Wester is a sophomore at Virginia Wesleyan College. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
GRAPHIC ARTS:
Kindergarten through second grade:
Superior: R.O. Nelson, Newport News; Seaford, York County; Tabb,
York County. Excellent: Hardy, Isle of Wight County; Rappahannock
Central, Middlesex County; Saunders, Newport News. Good: Abingdon,
Gloucester County; Churchland Primary, Portsmouth; Lakeview,
Portsmouth; Port Norfolk, Portsmouth; Wilton, Middlesex County.
Third through fifth grade:
First: Thoroughgood, Virginia Beach. Second: Shelton Park,
Virginia Beach. Third: Grafton Bethel, York County.
PRIMARY PUBLISHING:
Kindergarten through second grade:
Superior: Churchland Academy, Portsmouth; Hidenwood, Newport
News; Larchmont, Norfolk. Excellent: Achilles, Gloucester County;
Carrsville, Isle of Wight County; Greenbrier Primary, Chesapeake;
Windsor, Isle of Wight County. Good: Churchland Primary, Portsmouth;
McIntosh, Newport News. Honorable mention: Cooper, Hampton; Hardy,
Isle of Wight County; Rappahannock Central, Middlesex County;
Wilton, Middlesex County.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING:
Third through fifth grades:
First: Thoroughgood, Virginia Beach. Second: (tie) -
Highland-Biltmore, Portsmouth; James River; Williamsburg-James City
County. Third: Trantwood, Virginia Beach. Honorable mention: Shelton
Park, Virginia Beach.
TELECOMPUTING:
Third through fifth grades:
First: (tie) - Windsor, Isle of White County; Wythe, Hampton.
Second: James River, Williamsburg-James City County. Third: (tie) -
Achilles, Gloucester County; Thoroughgood, Virginia Beach. Honorable
mention: McIntosh, Newport News; Olive Branch, Portsmouth; Shelton
Park, Virginia Beach.
LOGO PROGRAMMING:
Third through fifth grades:
First: Rappahannock Central, Middlesex County. Second: Grafton
Bethel, York County. Third: Birdneck, Virginia Beach. Honorable
mention: Trantwood, Virginia Beach.
by CNB