Students view Tinkerbell's Castle, an overnight stay along the trail.

A pair of hikers from the Appalachian Trail teamed up to give a personal testimony of the power of the walk and describe some of their adventures along the trail. The two are Jeff Kuehne, a VMI graduate from Maryland, and Stephanie Bowen of Charlotte, N.C. They met a team of James River teachers this summer along thetTrail and were invited to speak at the high school. See our previous post. "The Trail to Every Classroom" project featured several James River teachers including Richard Furman, Lori Sibley and Judy Mundy. Their first block classes came to hear the hikers.

Life on the trail was described in terms that made the students chuckle at times; for instance, Tinkerbell's Castle is a home in Massachussetts that provides overnight stays and laundry facilities for hikers. "Tinkerbell" is the hiking moniker for the owner and also for Bowen. The slide scenery was spectacular and at times dangerous -- looking for the trail in the New England White Mountains is very rugged indeed! Mostly the talks centered around being in the outdoors, accepting the challenges of the trail and learning a great deal about one's self on the hike.

Kuehne has hiked the entire trail from Georgia to Maine, and that is approximately 2,178 miles long. Bowen is beginning the southbound leg from Virginia to Georgia after hiking the northbound this summer. Along the trail she met Kuehne and they have hit it off. Their love of cinnamon buns is known to hikers of the trail, and the James River cafeteria staff came in and made homemade buns for the students and the hikers. A cinnamon bun bonding followed the talk in the school cafeteria!

Colonial had a big day on October 2

The Student Council Association at Colonial Elementary held its annual Dunk-A-Thon on Friday, Oct.2. Students who brought in $5 or more in pledges had the opportunity to attempt to dunk Mrs. Gould, Assistant Principal, in the dunk tank. 27 students actually dunked her and will receive a t-shirt that says, "I dunked the Assistant Principal!" The SCA raised over $1,000 with the event and will now vote on how the money is used. In years past, the SCA has helped purchase the climbing wall in the gym and also purchased a new basketball goal for the blacktop area outside. Way to go SCA!

Red Ribbon Week coming Oct. 26-31

Red Ribbon Week is the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention program reaching millions of Americans during the last week of October every year.

By wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events, young people pledge to live a drug-free life and pay tribute to DEA Special Agent Enriqué "Kiki" Camarena. Special Agent Camarena was an 11-year veteran of the DEA assigned to the Guadalajara, Mexico, office where he was on the trail of the country's biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers.

On Feb. 7, 1985, he was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers. His tragic death opened the eyes of many Americans to the dangers of drugs and the international scope of the drug trade.

RAYSAC (Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition) and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare are excited to sponsor Red Ribbon Week in the Roanoke Valley as a way to demonstrate our commitment to a safe and drug free Roanoke Valley. All schools in our jurisdictions (Roanoke City, Salem City, Botetourt County, Craig County, Roanoke County, and all private schools in our area) are encouraged to participate in weeklong (Oct. 26-30th) drug and alcohol awareness events to promote a drug free lifestyle for our youth.

Elementary and middle schools participate in a poster contest. This year the theme is Drug-Free Is the Key! Entries are judged on artwork, originality of ideas, creativity and neatness. The winners receive monetary gift cards. All Elementary, Middle and High Schools participate in a School Competition. Prizes are given to the school that best illustrates the spirit of Red Ribbon Week. The week ends with a Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope on Sunday Nov. 1 at Hotel Roanoke.

Greenfield Science Fair will be held on Oct. 20

Greenfield Elementary is having its eighth annual science fair on Oct. 20, from 6 to p.m. in the gym. The Science Fair will have three different entry types: the traditional Scientific Method, Non-Fiction Science Report and Decorated book cover, and 2D Visual Representation or 3D Model of a Scientific Concept. Ribbons will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and judges will be Botetourt County science teachers and local high school students.

Mrs. Simmons is a science teacher for third grade and says: "It's an awesome hands-on experience for students to participate in the science fair. It generates curiosity and interest as children learn more about science." Mrs. Spangler is a fourth-grade science teacher. She hopes children will get involved with science and explore new ideas and she expects to see good investigations and observations.

Tessa Goad and Lauren Mayhew, fourth-grade students at Greenfield, say, "We think the science fair is interesting and fun. We are doing a science project about a Hershey bar and if it will melt in soda or water." Mrs. Gentry is a fifth-grade science teacher. She says, "I expect to have lots of participation and to have lots of exciting displays and I hope they will follow the scientific method." Madison McDaniel is a fifth-grade student at Greenfield. She thinks participating in the science fair will be challenging but interesting. Luke Harman, also a fifth-grade student, is doing a project on circuits and believes it will be lots of work but exciting. Missy Phillips, the school secretary, thinks there are "brilliant displays from our very intelligent students. Students learn how different things work to do with both myth and fact."

New staff at Greenfield Elementary

First Grade - Kylene Smith has many teaching experiences, yet this is her very first full-time position. She believes Greenfield is the best possible atmosphere to teach in, and says that she couldn't have hoped for more! She finds it neat that she is the youngest teacher at GES.

Young Scholars - This is Kristyne Bryant's third year as a gifted resource teacher for BCPS. Prior to this, she was an English teacher at Read Mountain.

Kristyne Bryant taught in Roanoke City. She has a master's degree from VCU, a BS in biology, BA in English, and a gifted endorsement from JMU. She says that she's always loved school.

She loves being challenged and "dabbling" into different interest. She enjoys being part of the Greenfield community because the staff is welcoming and friendly.

Custodian - Ronnie Niday. Ronnie says that he likes working at Greenfield because most everyone is friendly.

Day Treatment - Sarah Jennings

Nurse - Becky Lancenese is a previous high school English teacher. She is excited about her new position as nurse. She loves having one-on-one time with students as they come into the clinic so that she can get to know each of them. Becky also taught piano lessons for many years and plays the piano at church!

Cafeteria Manager-Jane Thomas has worked previously at Read Mountain Middle and Lord Botetourt High School. The part that she loves most about her job is meeting new people and cooking. She has a special passion for cooking in taking after her mother who was also a cafeteria lady. Jane says that God has truly blessed her with a wonderful family including husband, two daughters, and her dog.