THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270537
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 77 lines
Middle-aged alumni will march alongside Norview High School students and neighborhood residents as part of a two-day homecoming tribute aimed at restoring school spirit and community pride.
Norview students will kick off festivities today at the school with a pep rally featuring Norview's marching band, a local DJ,cheerleaders and students and teachers shimmying and shaking to the Macarena.
On Saturday morning at 10, civic leaders of the Five Points Partnership, a group that promotes cooperation among five sectors of their community, and others, will gather on Sewells Point Road for a parade through the Norview community to the school on Middleton Place.
It's more than a high school homecoming though. Parade organizers say scores of residents plan to come out.
``It's been something like 40 years since Norview has had a parade outside the school property,'' said Bev Sell, the event organizer.
``We're putting pride back in our neighborhood and we want to get people involved and the best way to do it is to get them out.''
School tours and tailgate parties will follow Saturday's parade, a preamble to the 1 p.m. homecoming football game between Norview and Wilson High of Portsmouth.
Included among parade participants are the Norview Fire Department, former Norview High football players, the Norview Civic League and the Norview Presbyterian Methodist and Presbyterian Church. And, the Norview High marching band will toot its horns while marching to the beat.
Principal Marjorie Stealey will give the welcoming remarks, which will be followed by a speech by Bobby Hughes, the president of the Norfolk Civic League and a Five Point partner.
To demonstrate their school spirit, students decorated Norview High last week. They also sponsored a ``crazy hat'' day as part of the homecoming activities. Norview High was named to Redbook Magazine's annual Best in Nation list earlier this year for its innovations.
The Five Point Partners include the civic league, the Norview Business Association, churches, Norview High School and the Norfolk Police Department - five segments of the community working together to enhance it. Other partners include the local Exxon gas station, the Norview Civic League, Norview Methodist Church and the neighborhood police station in Norview, known as the ``Gold Sector.''
The coalition took its name from the ``Five Points'' intersection of Norview Avenue, Sewells Point Road and Chesapeake Boulevard.
In past years, according to recent reports, the Norview section of Norfolk has had major problems with drugs and crime. However, the police in the community have been effective in reducing crime by getting closer to residents through a citywide anti-crime Police Assisted Community Enforcement program. Community residents keep a close eye on crime and report suspicious activities to authorities.
Sell said that taking part in the parade will display the commitment and determination shared by residents who joined forces to strengthen the community.
``It's everybody doing what they do best,'' Sell said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
BETH BERGMAN/The Virginian-Pilot
Norview High School students DeBorah Hines, left, Bobby Williams and
Stephanie Blunt, share a laugh while decorating the halls of Norview
High School in preparation for its homecoming. On Saturday morning,
students, residents and civic leaders will march through the Norview
community. by CNB