Friday night, March 5, culminated three weeks of lessons on femininity for 11 young men who strutted their stuff in skirts before a large crowd of their classmates, family, and community members. The Glenvar High School tradition raises money for prom.

“Some people will be hating on you because you’re beautiful, but you gotta remember to keep it real,” said Miss Groovy Teens 2009, John “On a Mission” Gibson. He passed on his crown to the 2010 queen, “For a Good Time Call Miss [Matt] Rose n’ Dahl.” First runner-up was Brandon “Foxy Senorita” Fox, second runner up was “Complete Mess Wes” Wes Murphy, third runner up was “Work for the Bill” Will Meredith. “Two Scoops of Coop” Cooper Tyree was voted Miss Congeniality.

The contestants were judged equally in poise, their exercise routine, and their talent routine. Songs they lip synched to included some by Lady GaGa, Celine Dion and Shania Twain. The gentlemen danced, sang, and walked around in high heels, but the best part of the entertainment included the announcement of their fictitious parents. Most were fathered by Tiger Woods and a celebrity or GHS teacher. They also revealed their hobbies and what their dresses were made out of. Some of their dresses were made out of human eyelashes, steel wool, and other creative fabrications.

English teacher Chris Taibbi also swallowed fire during the event.

-- Miranda Adkins

Business Networking International donates $5,000 to Glenvar Middle

Business Networking International, an organization whose goal is to help businesses through networking, donated $5,000 to the Glenvar Middle School PTA. Jason Kroeger, proprietor of the Roanoke Carabbas, helped to raise some of the money when he organized a dinner for parent orientation to GMS on Jan. 25.

"We are extremely grateful for what they have been able to do for us," said Principal Juliet Myers.

Bill Figaro, a Glenvar parent who is also a partner at Anderson, Foltz & Figaro CPA firm, suggested the idea to Kroeger through BNI. Neil and Paula Frazier, the executive directors of the Southwest Virginia chapter of BNI, were on board soon after.

"Basically, Bill let me know there was a need, and I wanted to be there," said Kroeger. While the money was originally raised for a particular project, a new computer lab, the school's PTA will use it for the general fund and to maintain the Ryan Hutchison scholarship. The fund is used to help students who wouldn't otherwise afford to go on school trips or for school supplies.

"If people get anything out of the story, it's that the parents and business community need to step up and help the kids and the community," said Figaro. Two of his children are graduates of Glenvar High: Joey is a self-employed graphic designer, and his daughter Kristi is in her second year at Longwood University. He also has two daughters at GMS, Connie and Maria, and one at GHS, Jenna.

-- Miranda Adkins

Roanoke County celebrates Green Ribbon week

The Roanoke County Schools Student Advisory Council and Roanoke County R.C. Clear will be sponsoring Green Ribbon Week from March 15-19. The art departments at each high school have created sculptures from trash to be placed in a prominent location in the schools to promote recycling in our schools and neighboring communities.

Activities planned for the week are:

Monday: Science teachers will teach all classes the meaning of Carbon Footprint. Students will take a worksheet home to calculate their families' carbon footprint and return the form to school. The grade in each middle school and high school that completes the Carbon Footprint Worksheets will be rewarded with a trip to the ice cream truck on Friday, March 19.

Tuesday: School lights are dimmed and information is shared during all math classes about the Energy Management Program in RCPS. Students will be calculating the cost of the electricity used for lights for one day. Tips for saving energy will be shared with all students through math classes.

Wednesday: Just Wear Green Day

Thursday: Social Studies teachers will be sharing information about the value of carpooling. Students can strategize ways to get more students to ride the bus or carpool, thereby saving fuel and decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions.

Friday: all winners announced and the ice cream trucks will visit all middle and high schools

All students and staff are encouraged to recycle, turn off lights and make one small change at home to save energy.

For more information, contact Michele Dowdy, 562-3900 ext. 10234

Glenvar High to host variety sale March 20

Glenvar High will host a variety sale to benefit the school's after-prom party March 20, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The sale will include arts and crafts, new product vendors, flea market, yard sale and concessions (including food, drinks and baked goods).

Flea Market/Yard sale vendors: $10 per space

Arts, Crafts and New product vendors: $20 per space

Note: If you do not wish to participate, gently used items will gladly be accepted for sale at the After Prom table.

Any questions contact: Lisa at lyagle@hotmail.com

We would appreciate all reservations being made by Friday, March 12.

Set up for the event will begin at 7 a.m. and must be down by 3 p.m. All spaces will be inside.

We thank you for helping keep our kids safe!

Submitted by Lisa Yagle

National Foreign Language Week celebrated at Salem High

Salem High School World Language students celebrated National Foreign Language Week 2010 from March 15-19. To illustrate the week's theme, "Spread Your Wings! Learn a New Language," each World Language student decorated a butterfly illustrating one aspect of the language studied. The butterflies were hung in the hallways to advertise the week and theme and the study of world languages. The upstairs bulletin board also illustrated the four languages.

On Wednesday, teachers participated in an exchange, where they shared a brief lesson with a class of a different language.

Friday brought the student favorite International Food Day. Students shared recipes from their language's culture with students in other language classes: French -- bread and cheese, chocolate mousse; German-- open-face sandwiches, Black Forest cupcakes; Latin -- macedonia fruit salad, matasadas; and Spanish -- fresas con crema, chips and salsa. Many students wore T-shirts celebrating their respective languages.

Submitted by Susan Bowman, Latin teacher for Salem City Schools

County Science Fair winners advance to regional event

About 60 Roanoke County middle and high school students competed in the Roanoke County Science Fair Saturday, Feb. 27, at William Byrd Middle School. Projects ranged from determining which material best insulates sound to fixing the BCS (in college football) to experimental designs on bridges.

In the High School Division, all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finalists qualified for the regional competition. In the Middle School Division, only 1st place finalists advanced to the regional science fair. The Western Virginia Regional Science fair will be held at Roanoke College on March 20.

Glenvar students who placed (and their categories and projects) include:

High School Division

Computer Science, Mathematical Sciences:

2nd place: Mathematical Logic, Probability, and Blackjack, by Abby Caldwell (GHS/RVGS)

Microbiology:

3rd place: The Effect of Dog Saliva on Bacteria, by Sarah Thomsen (GHS)

Middle School Division

Energy & Transportation:

2nd place: Bridge Testing, by Ben Jenkins (GMS)

Medicine & Health, Animal Sciences, Biochemistry:

Hon. Mention: Bowl Color & Bird Feeding Habits, by Maria Figaro (GMS)

Chemistry I:

2nd place: Growing Crystals, by Andrew McClung (GMS)

Physics, Chemistry II:

3rd place: Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, by Hunter Wilson (GMS)

Courtesy of Chuck Lionberger