THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504140155
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
SPENDING A WHOLE SATURDAY in school wasn't so bad for a batch of students from Thoroughgood Elementary School. In fact, it was pretty rewarding.
Nine fifth-graders placed in last month's ``Great Computer Challenge,'' held March 25 at Huntington Middle School in Newport News. This regional contest gave elementary school students the opportunity to use their computer application and programming skills to compete with more than 400 of their peers from eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
In teams of three, the Thoroughgood competitors captured two first places in the Division II (grades 3 through 5) categories of Graphic Arts and Desktop Publishing, and one third place in Telecomputing. The school was the only one to take home two first places.
``It was a very good day,'' said fifth-grade teacher Dottie Holtz, who sponsored the three winning teams.
While many sponsors hold school contests to pick teams each year, Holtz, who has been involved with the ``Challenge'' since 1992, chooses students from her classes.
Without them knowing, she begins monitoring students' conduct and computer skills at the beginning of the year. When the contest rolls around, she has a pretty good idea of who is good both in the classroom and on the computer.
This year, since students have been spending at least one day per week in the computer lab, as well as having free-time on the classroom computer, Holtz was familiar with their skills.
``These kids were the best of the class,'' said Holtz, referring to all four teams she took.
Their computer experience was an advantage, but it didn't assure them of anything. Although they knew the basics, they had to spend time rehearsing the application of their knowledge.
``We spent hours in the computer room practicing,'' said 11-year-old Jaclyn Noftsinger, a member of the Desktop Publishing team.
To help them along, Holtz gave them problems that had been given in past competitions. She also timed them, to prepare them for the time limit at the ``Challenge.''
The coaching advice was simple and to the point.
``Don't worry about winning,'' remembered Desktop Publishing team member Joy Price, 11.
On the day of competition, Holtz, her four sets of fifth-graders, one team of second-graders with their sponsor, Joan Seery, and a handful of parents, piled into a school bus and headed to Newport News.
Since teams were required to bring their own equipment, the Thoroughgood group was accompanied by five complete computer set-ups, an extra hard drive, two printers and enough extension cord to connect them to China.
The students were surprised by the crowds of people there. ``I had my doubts of winning then,'' said Telecomputing team member Derek Gray, 11. ``The chance of that was pretty slim.''
But others don't remember being intimidated. ``(Holtz) told us not to get too overconfident,'' remembered Derek's teammate, 11-year-old Jared Mosley, ``but I thought we had it wired.''
While Holtz and Seery registered their teams, parents Lawanda Noftsinger and Scott Gray, and teaching assistant Kelly Brewer, set up all the computers in the assigned classrooms.
``Their support made the difference in the day running smoothly and the kids starting on time,'' Holtz said.
The students met their challenges - whether it was creating a poster for a new business or drawing their dream school - and then gathered in the auditorium to find out who won. They couldn't believe Thoroughgood captured so many awards.
``I kept on pinching myself to see if I was dreaming,'' said 10-year-old Vicki Jacobs, who competed on the Desktop Publishing team.
Holtz is more proud than anything, and said she believes the students got their share of memories from the ``Challenge.''
``These kids will never forget that experience,'' she said.
But Holtz can't help but wonder if rising fifth-graders will expect to win at next year's competition.
``I'm already thinking of the pressure to win,'' she said.
``Obviously, I'm doing something right, so I'm going to continue and hope for the best.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HOLLY WESTER
Nine fifth-graders from Thoroughgood Elementary placed in last
month's ``Great Computer Challenge,'' held March 25 at Huntington
Middle School in Newport News. They were, seated from left: Vicki
Jacobs, Jaclyn Noftsinger, Joy Price; standing from left: Beth
Mundy, Jordan Bruner, Derek Gray, Jared Mosley, Kenny Wilson;
sponsor Dottie Holtz; and, not pictured, Dana Coleman. ``It was a
very good day,'' said Holtz. ``These kids will never forget that
experience.''
by CNB