Valley Christian Schools plan to hold open house

Roanoke Valley Christian Schools plan to hold an open house on April 10.

The event, from 9 a.m. to noon, is for anyone interested in enrollment in grades K3 through 12th for the 2008 and 2009 academic school year.

The open house will include a tour of the facilities, orientation to RVCS, observation of classes in session, a question and answer session with administrators and a free lunch.

RVCS is a private, co-educational Christian school founded in 1973. To register or for more information, visit RVCS.info or call 366-2432, ext. 120.

Roanoke Catholic pupil geography bee finalist

Roanoke Catholic School student Jeremy Stelmack placed as a regional finalist in the Virginia Geography Bee.

Lily Rhodes-Novicki, a teacher at the school, helped coach Jeremy during his competition.

Fairview fifth-grader accepted into program

Bradley Holland, a fifth-grader at Fairview Elementary School, was accepted into the People to People World Leadership Forum.

He will join other students in Washington, D.C., Sept. 8 to 14 to earn high school credit while studying leadership and touring monuments.

The group Bradley joins will learn about American leadership during times of national challenge and forum delegates of the group will participate in small-group discussions and exercises.

The forum aims to provide Bradley and other students with experience on how leaders develop strategies, make decisions and execute change with what they develop and learn.

Bradley was nominated and accepted for the forum based on his academics, extracurricular activities and leadership potential.

The program is coordinated by People to People Student Leader Programs, created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his presidency in 1956.

Cave Spring students win national tournament slots

Two Cave Spring High School students have qualified for the National Forensics League Tournament in Las Vegas.

The tournament will be held June 10-15 and students Heidi Fredstrom, a senior, came in second in the National Forensics Mid-Atlantic Qualifier at George Mason University in January.

Kathryn Lawryszek, a junior, at the school, placed fourth and will be the first alternate should one of the top three finalists of the tournament be unable to go.

Heidi also competed in the American Legion Oratorical contest where she won the District title and will advance to the Regional competition.

Kathryn was top scorer for the Cave Spring Academic Team that placed second at a state tournament held at William and Mary on March 1.

Franklin County sixth-grader wins spelling bee

Benjamin Franklin Middle School sixth-grader Nora Ferguson won the slot of division championship for Franklin County's spelling bee competition.

Nora won the championship after she correctly spelled the word fresco, a painting technique.