WordSmith
Weekly

May 28, 1999

Editor: Pou Keophakhoun

GCS preparing for graduations

The Guilford County Schools plans for increased security at Smith’s graduation June 11 in the Special Events Center of the Greensboro Coliseum.

“Graduation is a special day for our students and our expectations are high that the community will show respect,” said Barry Williams, former BLS principal who now is director of secondary education for GCS. “However, we have to plan for before, during and after each of the ceremonies.”

Since the Littleton, Colo., massacre, GCS’s high schools have been the sites of numerous disruptions, including a bomb threat at Smith last Friday. Other schools, notably Northeast and Southern Guilford, have had many bomb threats and three Guilford teens were recently arrested for calling some of those into the schools.

“We know the potential exists for copycat incidents,” said Greensboro police Capt. Drew Cannady. “We know the potential exists for hoaxes and other threats, and we have made plans to handle those.”

More officers will be assigned to the Coliseum for each of the 10 graduations ceremonies that will take place next month.

Supreme Court says harassment suits fair game

WordSmith reported in its March 5 edition that the Supreme Court would rule this term on student sexual harassment in schools. Monday the high court handed down a decision that states that school systems like GCS can be held liable for damages to victims if educators ignore student complaints of sexual harassment.

In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS sided with Aurelia Davis of Forsyth, Ga. Davis sued the Monroe County, Ga., Board of Education, claiming that it did not stop a male student from sexually harassing her fifth-grade daughter. The current GCS policy states that a student can face expulsion if he or she repeatedly harasses a member of the opposite sex. The offender’s physical or verbal behavior must lead to what GCS terms a hostile or intimidating environment.

Justice Sandra Day O’Con-nor, writing for the majority, said districts can only be found liable if they knew about a student being sexually harassed.

New rides featured at Southern theme parks

Extreme is the buzzword at theme parks throughout the South this summer. Almost every park is introducing new roller coasters or a new thrill ride that officials guarantee will give passengers a bigger rush. Emerald Pointe has a new ride called Twisters that last 11 seconds, but you’ll remember it for much longer. To get to the ride, consumers climb up seven stories, step into a black 32-inch tube and lie flat on their backs. Then off they go sliding down the tube at 40 mph.

Southern Theme Parks

Emerald Pointe Water Park

When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Memorial Day weekend. Starting June 3, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Friday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Where: 3910 S. Holden Road. Admission: General admission $22 all day; Information: 852-9721.

Busch Gardens Willamsburg, Va.

Apollo’s Chariot is a new roller coaster designed to take passengers on a two-minute ride and plummet them a combined 825 feet, more than any other steel roller coaster in the world. Cost: General admissions, $35; three-day pass, $55. Information: (757) 253-3350

Paramount King's Dominion

This park is 30 minutes north of Richmond, Va., just off I-95. This summer the park brought in a new 16-acre water park called Waterworks and Nicktoons Rockin’ Countdown. The Rockin’ Countdown has games and appearances by favorite Nicktoon characters. Waterworks offers a 650,000-gallon wave pool and a water-powered fun house called Surf City Splash House. Cost: General admissions, $33.99. Information: (804) 876-5000.

Paramount Carowinds

Carowinds is located on the North Carolina-South Carolina line near Charlotte. It offers a new roller coaster called Top Gun, the Jet Coaster. It is the biggest, fastest and tallest ride in the Southeast. The park will also bring in two new music shows, Scooby Doo and Poltergeist and Tropicale. Cost: General admissions, $31.99. Information: (704) 588-2600 or www.carowinds.com.

Water Country USA

This water play park in Williamsburg, Va., just three miles form Busch Gardens, is the largest mid-Atlantic water park. It features 35 rides, including Nitro Racer, Rambling River and Big Daddy Falls. Cost: General admissions, $27. Information: (757) 253-3350 or www.watercountryusa.com.

Dollywood

Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., near the Great Smoky Mountains, offers a new roller coaster called Tennessee Tornado. It will also features the top country stars. Cost: $29.99. Information: (423) 428-9488.

In and Around Smith

Sports physicals to be given June 3

• Students who plan to play sports at Smith during the 1999-2000 school year may get their physicals June 3 at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the BLS Gym. Price is $10.
• The 36th Aquila, which was unveiled Wednesday in a signing party in the lobby of the gym, is on sale during first and second lunch for $45. Checks will not be accepted after June 1. Students who have not paid for their yearbook ads need to go by room 233 to make their payments. Checks should be made payable to Smith High School.
• Tickets for graduation will be dispersed June 8, according to senior class adviser Octavia Taylor. Taylor said information about obtaining extra tickets is forthcoming.
• Extended day for making up excused absences is underway at 7:15 a.m. in room 105 and at 3:30 p.m.. in room 101. Students must be on time and must bring their work with them. No student will be allowed in late.
• The 1999-2000 editorial board of WordSmith will meet June 2 at 3:30 p.m. in room 226 for a power-point presentation by outgoing executive editor Pou Keophakhoun. Students will also be given information packets for summer activities.
• WordSmith will have its final cookie sale of the year beginning next Friday. Cookies are three for $1 and will be available in room 226.
• Portraits for the class of 2000 will be taken June 21-22. See Sherrish Holloman in room 233 for more information.
• Applications for the Guilford County Junior Miss scholarship program are available in the main office. Funded by the Greensboro Jaycees, the program funds $7,000 annually in college scholarships. The application is due back to the Jaycees’ office June 1.
• Tickets for graduation will be dispersed June 8, according to senior class adviser Octavia Taylor.
• The National Youth Leadership Forum is looking for an exceptional sophomore, junior or senior with at least a 3.3 grade-point average to take part in a social studies program in Washington, D.C., this summer. Applicants must be interested in the legal profession. See Larry Ratliff in room 232 for more information.
• Brian Woodward, a junior, was honored recently by the National Conference for Community and Justice for promoting understanding and respect among all people.
• Julia Hall recently served as a page in the N.C. House in Raleigh.

WordSmith Weekly is a publication of WordSmith Magazine. Please E-mail us at bullad@guilford.k12.nc.us or bls@geocities.com.

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