Wednesday, March 8, 1989
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B Community News/8-B
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EDUCATOR PROFILE |
Mrs. Allen's Been Teaching 37 Years
Elizabeth Allen says she can usually recognize stu-
"dents from the past by looking at their eyes. Perhaps
that feat wouldn't be so unusual if she had taught only
a handful of students. But Elizabeth Allen has a lot of
folks to remember. She has been teaching for 37
years! ;
Allen, who teaches fourth grade at Grover
Elementary School, just doesn't feel like quitting the
profession she has enjoyed for so long.
"It's kind of energizing," she said.
that if I quit, I'll get old."
But if teaching active youngsters day in and day out
doesn't make her feel old, nothing will. Allen has
taught different ages of children throughout her career,
but she enjoys teaching fourth graders the most.
"I enjoy teaching this age child," said Allen. "They
have a little individuality and still have a curiousity
about them."
Allen started her career as a student teacher at the
age of nineteen. She fell in love with the job and de-
cided it was for her. She also decided that Grover
Elementary would be her teaching home. She has
taught all but two of her 37 years there.
I guess I think
but Allen says that it is the staff there that keeps her
going. "I love working with the people here," Allen
said. "I have never regretted staying."
The schoolhouse is not the only thing that has
changed at Grover School. Allen has taught two gen-
erations of families at the school. Children she now
teaches in her class are often the children of parents
Allen taught years ago. She notes that she usually
won't get back-talk from those students because their
parents have already told them how to behave with
their former teacher.
Allen has fond memories of many of those former
students and she enjoys seeing what their children are
like as pupils.
"It's kind of nice to see the generations go on,"
said.
she
There have been other changes for Allen since she
started teaching. She says that because of the break-
down of the family unit today, she sees more of its ef-
fects in the classroom. Allen notes that children's at-
tention spans are shorter because of the lack of
positive family influence and the prominant role of TV
Teaching Helps You From Getting Old
But Allen sticks with the work - and the children
she loves. The job, she admits, is stressful and can be
tiring, but she is in it for the rewards.
"My daughter has always told me I have a hangup
about education,” she said. "But I do think it can have
an influence on the world. Sometimes you don't know
what influence you will have, but I've been in the busi-
ness long enough to see the influences and rewards. I
know that something took."
So Allen will continue the work she has done so
successfully for all these years. She doesn't plan to put
away her teaching materials until "it no longer has the
thrill about it or the challenge," she said. In fact,
knowing that she can retire at any time puts things in a
different light for her. "After 30 years, when you
know you can retire, it puts things in a different di-
mension."
With 37 years of her life devoted to teaching, Allen
says she has only one regret. "I wish I had kept a di-
ary. That's the one thing I regret is that I didn't keep a
diary of all the funny things the kids say."
But Allen has her memories, and so do her former -
and present students at Grover Elementary.
ELIZABETH ALLEN
"I started out in a mobile unit, called the hut - like a
one-room school house," she said.
A lot has changed at the school since those times,
in their lives.
"In the old days, children were motivated,"
Allen. "That's not as easy to do now."
said
area for 37 years.
Elizabeth Allen taught elementary school in this
Career Club Regionals
Central Students
In Competition
By CINDY HOVIS, Business Lab, Central School
On Thursday, March 2, 11 students represented Central in the District
Six Regional Career Exploration Club of North Carolina Regional
Competitions. These Students were accompanied by CECNC sponsors,
Betty Davenport, Personal Services teacher, and Cindy Hovis, Business
Lab teacher.
Nine of the students participated in "Career Cluster” competition. These
were Stephanie Phillips - Public Service, Heather Perry - Personal
Services, Molly Subler - Marketing and Distribution, Crucetta Jefferies -
Business and Office, Cindy Robbs - Fine Arts, Teresa Lyman - Hospitality
and Recreation, Stacy Reynolds - Heal Occupations, Teresa Hinson -
Consumer and Homemaking, and Jayda Biddix - Communications and
Media. In this event, students were given a job simulation in their particu-
lar career area and required to research career information concerning this
job. Central is very proud to report that Molly Subler won third place in
"her regional event!
competed in the CECNC Creed Event, reciting the Career Club's creed in
dramatic presentation. Jada Brown competed in the Performing Arts Event,
singing her version of "Love in Any Language."
Central's CECNC sponsors also had learning experiences at the Regional
Competition. Betty Davenport judged the Creed Competition while Cindy
Hovis judged the Career Skit Competition. Both sponsors agreed while all
Central students obviously had a wonderful time at the Competition, the
Event also gave the students a chance to develop self-confidence and to
{© learn about a variety of careers.
| CECNC member Teresa Lyman related to her sponsors on the bus trip
LB back to Central, "I've never done anything like this before and I had a real-
“1 ly good time. But next year, 'they' better watch out - I'll be ready for them!"
aii
1 : SPEAKS TO CLASS - David Brinkley, local insuranceman, spoke to
Mrs. Bridges' class at North School about saving money last week.
North second graders have been learning the American economic sys-
HEE fem
North School News
Policemen Speak
On Drunk Driving
By CINDY CRAWFORD
Kings Mountain Chief of Police, Warren Goforth, and Captain Bob
* Hayes did a very nice thing for North School. They came to the school to
“teach us the wrongs of drinking and driving.
Mrs. Connie Bell's fifth graders have been studying the effects of drugs
and alcohol on a young person's body. Mrs. Bell asked the police to tell
their role in drinking and driving. We found out that if you drink and get
caught you take a breathalizer test. If your score is .10 or over, you will
have to go to the police station. Mr. Goforth said it may take $830 to get
you out of jail.
/ The class also found out about the new D.W.L. car for Kings Mountain.
This car serves a very good purpose for our health and others. This car gets
drunk drivers off our streets. We went out to take a look at the car. It was
very interesting.
We also got to see some weapons and protection the policemen use. One
of the weapons was handcuffs. The captain showed us how they work by
putting them on Steven Bell, a classmate.
If you are think about drinking and driving, please don't. It an get you in
a lot of trouble with the police, and hurt a lot of people.
isd
CHECK AWARDED — Béver
Project Graduation Promotion
riy Bollinger right); winner of the ‘Project Graduation logo contest,
receives a check for $100 from Phil Reid, Chairman of the graduation festivities. Jackie Ploek (left), a
Two Central students also participated in special events. Chuck Kaylor member of the skiing committee and co-chair of decorations, looks on.
Bollinger Wins Logo Contest
Beverly Bollinger, a senior at Kings Mountain High
School, recently won the logo contest held to create a
theme for Project Graduation, the drug free/alcohol
free party to be held May 30th at the county fair-
grounds. She was awarded $100 by project Chairman
Phil Reid for her "Rated PG - Project Graduation"
theme.
Competing with fourteen other entries from Kings
Mountain, Shelby, Crest and Burns high schools,
Bollinger's entry was chosen for its originality and
promotion of the drug-free theme. Her logo will be
used on Project Graduation T-shirts, billboards and in
newspaper advertisements.
Bollinger never suspected that her entry would win. -
"I sat in drafting one day and put something down to
start off," she said. When she received the news that
she had won, she was startled. "I didn't think I'd win,"
she said. "I was so hyper. I couldn't sleep. I was call-
ing everybody."
She already has decided how to use the prize money.
"I'm going to pay for my prom dress," she said.
For now, Bollinger and others are continuing their
efforts to make Cleveland County's first annual Project
Graduation a success.
Organizers say the party will provide the opportuni-
ty for area seniors to celebrate their graduation without
drugs or alcohol. In fact, Chairman Reid of CODAP
(Community Organization for Drug Abuse Prevention)
hopes Project Graduation will send a positive message
that drugs aren't necessary for a good time.
Activities planned for the party include bands, local
disc jockeys, games and plenty of food. In addition,
local businesses are being asked to donate prizes to
give away during the evening, with the biggest prizes
being awarded late in the evening to encourage stu-
dents to stay at the party.
"It's a project the entire county can get behind,” said
Reid.
In fact, the planning of the event has taken a great
deal of manpower from individuals throughout the
community, Reid noted. For Rev. Bob Collins, public-
ity chairman of the event, it has been hard work well
worth doing. He prepared surveys to determine if stu-
dent interest would support such a project and he has
done much of the legwork to make it all possible.
“Had it not been for Bob, Project Graduation would
not have gotten off the ground," said Reid.
Jackie Ploek, also a senior at Kings Mountain High
School, is a member of the steering committee and
was responsible for telling her school about the contest
and generating the interest necessary to make it a reali-
ty.
With students and businesses gettting involved, both
Reid and Collins feel one more element is needed.
"What we really need are parents and volunteers to be
a part of this project,” Reid said.
Anyone interested in working with Project
Graduation can contact them at P.O. Box 1711, Shelby,
NC 28150 or call 480-0000.
ELEMENTARY MATH AND SCIENCE WINNERS — Pictured are Elementary students who math
and science awards in the annual fair Saturday. From left are O'Brien Hayes, Clay Gardner, honorable
mention; Laura Smith, first place; Renee Moss, second place, and Jason Putnam, third place.
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Busy Week
At KMSHS
By LISA LUND
Students at KMHS have had an-
other busy week. The girls and
boys varsity basketball team com-
peted in the Southwestern
Conference Tournament at Gardner
Webb college. Now both teams
will continue on with their compe-
tition to the sectionals. The girls
team began by traveling to North
Buckum High School while the
boy's varsity went to Swananoah.
The drama department received
help from the choral groups and
- the band to make its most recent
production, "The Music Man," a
huge success. Despite the snow
and bad weather which changed
the dates of the production, "The
Music Man," brought out quite a
large crowd and impressed every-
one who saw it.
In addition to group successes,
there have been many individuals
who have received recognition this
week. Beverly Bollinger designed
a logo for Project Graduation
which will be used in advertise-
ment for the event. Allison Parizo
placed first in job interview com-
petition which qualifies her to con-
tinue competition on the state lev-
el. J.J. Warlick is at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in
final competition for the
Moorehead Scholarship.
There are also many upcoming
events for which students are busy
preparing. The band is working
hard in preparation for contest
March 17th at Gaston College.
Their trip to contest will be fol-
lowed by a trip to Florida the first
week in April. Finally, the steering
committee for the prom is busy
preparing for the big night, April
29th.
With the end of the fourth school
term, the students are very busy
and anxiously awaiting a summer
break.
Science
Fair Held
At KMJHS
"There was something for every-
one "is how one visitor to the annu-
al Math-Science Fair at Kings
Mountain Junior High described
the event on Saturday.
The exhibits drew high praise
from the judges who announced
that projects of 17 students from
the Elementary through Senior
High level will compete on March
17 and March 18 at UNC -
Charlotte in the regional Sompetiz
tion.
First place winners at the local
level Saturday went home with
$100 savings bonds while second
place winners received $75 savings
bonds. Third place winners won
silver dollar Statue of Liberty com-
memorative coins and honorable
mention winners won silver half
dollar Statue of Liberty commemo-
rative coins.
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