THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140282
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Chris Frazier ran his hand over the top of schoolmate Brock Hatcher's head, combing an imaginary mane.
``Lion,'' mouthed Frazier, 11, to the 9-year-old deaf boy, and ran his hand over his head. In sign talk, that means lion.
Both boys were entranced by the striped creature staring back just a few feet away.
OK, so it was really a Siberian tiger. Such allowances in accuracy were permitted for two exceptional groups of Currituck County children from Central Elementary School in Maple.
On Monday, Frazier and his classmates in a gifted program treated their developmentally disabled schoolmates to a trip to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, and pizza afterward.
``I'm glad that we could take them here because they never really get to go anywhere,'' said 9-year-old mentor Chris Saunders, having just given a piggyback ride to Justin Pavich, 13.
The elephants, emus, deer, monkeys and barnyard animals easily entertained both parties.
``It stinks,'' Justin told his schoolmates, looking at llamas. They agreed and moved on to other exhibits.
Monday's outing had its origins last fall, when students in the school's Triad Enrichment Program, for the academically gifted, wanted to take a trip.
Chris Frazier's mother, teacher Carol Frazier, told them the competition - and funds - for school field trips would be tight this year.
``So we started brainstorming,'' Johnathan Justice, 11, explained. ``We thought to make it even more significant, we'd take the handicapped kids with us.''
The two groups have worked together for a number of years as part of Central Elementary's peer-buddy program. TEP students help the disabled children with physical education and cultural arts programs, forging special friendships along the way.
The TEP kids' field-trip strategy worked; the class won approval for an out-of-town adventure. But there was still the matter of money.
Frazier's students decided to make ``friendly plastic'' and beaded jewelry that was sold at a fall festival, Christmas bazaar and mornings at the school's cafeteria.
The profits - $87.32 to be exact - were enough to pay for zoo admission, transportation and lunch at a Billy Bob's restaurant, formerly called Chuck E. Cheese.
The group of 16 students and four teachers and aides devoured 38 of 40 slices of pizza.
Such a mentorship program exposes children to different walks of life, their teachers said.
``They can see there are a lot of different people in the world,'' teacher Frazier said. ``I think that will be helpful later on.''
``It'll help us with our own children,'' Johnathan Justice said, `` 'cause some of them are stubborn and don't want to listen. It'll get you prepared for when you're older.''
Shaina Wirth and Danielle Hartman, both 11, could relate to that statement, having tried to keep up with 6-year-old Kasey Fairley.
``He just wants to see everything,'' Shaina said.
``He's usually not this excited,'' Danielle added. They were both taking a breather in a barn.
Other TEP students who helped make Monday's trip possible included Samuel Russell, Stephanie Hannay, Kellen Godfrey, Alana Bigford and Rachel Atkinson.
Besides Brock, Kasey and Justin, students from the developmental class were Ashley Banks, Ashley Pierce, Rosie Berry and William Harper.
They were assisted throughout the day by teachers' aides Annette Hartman and Emmie Stegner.
The benefits of such peer programs, for the children with disabilities, includes the opportunity to interact with students around their age.
``It also helps them become more independent,'' said teacher Katie Hyer, who teaches her students basic living and education skills, including number and letter recognition.
``Sometimes they learn things that they shouldn't, but . . . '' she added, letting out a little laugh.
``They have friends now outside the classroom,'' she added. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA, The Virginian-Pilot
Spotting elephants, emus, Siberian tigers and other creatures,
students from Central Elementary School in Maple visit Norfolk.
by CNB