Teacher Turns Heritage Into Lessons

When Rena Searles breezed into the Garry Middle School library toting a butter churn last week, students knew something was up.

Clad in a striped, lace-up vest, a cream-colored blouse with frilly collar and sleeves, a dark, floor-sweeping skirt and a soft bonnet, Searles shared stories of settlers, war and travel during the 1700s and 1800s.

They were the stories of three of her ancestors she researched herself, presented in authentic period costumes she sewed herself.

Though Searles teaches seventh-grade language arts, eighth-grade social studies classes were treated to the presentation because they are studying U.S. history.

Searles started researching her family history in 1995. With just a name and location she was able to find facts in census books and deeds from land sales and piece them together with information found in diaries and newspaper clippings to get a general picture of her greatgreat-grandmothers’ lives. She said she can trace some ancestors back to the 1400s.

“It’s a whole academic exercise,” Searles said. “You get addicted and you can’t stop.”

She decided to delve into period clothing after the Daughters of the American Revolution asked her to give a speech on her historical findings. She thought it would be more interesting to do it in costume.

One outfit in particular - a dress made of a purple calico with a big black bonnet - won a DAR award for its excellence. The skirt contains 5 yards of fabric, gathered around the waist with tons of tiny pleats. She said it took about three weeks to complete.

She next plans to start researching her husband’s family.

Shiloh Hills students host Olympics

Following an every-four-year tradition, Shiloh Hills Elementary School students held their own Olympics this week, featuring fun events like a 50-yard dash and a three-legged race.

For opening ceremonies Monday, students marched into the gym hand-in-hand, displaying the true spirit of the Games. They also sported intense national pride as they filed in behind big flags of various countries.

One boy wrote “Germany rocks!” on a German flag pinned to his shirt. A small boy representing Scotland wore a handsome kilt. Team Ireland donned green construction paper visors decorated with “Go Ireland!”

Members of the team representing Greece were especially proud of their T-shirts.

“We did the shirts all by ourselves,” said fifth grader Alessandra Portolesi, displaying the fine garment. The shirts were emblazoned with the Greek flag, painted with bright blue house paint.

“It’s cool!” added classmate Kelly Glatt. “We’re like `Greece Lightning.’ Like in the movie.”

When asked if Greece was likely to win the Shiloh Hills Olympics, team members responded with a hearty “Yeah!”

Shadle parents hope plans pay off

Shadle Park High School’s grad night committee collected more than $40,000 for the seniors’ post-graduation festivities planned for Friday. That’s about twice as much as most high schools spend on grad night events.

“It’s been a lot of work,” said committee co-chair Joanne White. “I hope the kids appreciate it.”

Fund-raisers started in September with a magic show. There was also a pie sale, poinsettia sale and a spring craft fair. But this year, the proceeds came up a bit short.

So, parents clipped coupons from the Sunday paper, stamped them with “Shadle Park” and attached them to products in grocery stores. When customers took the coupon items to checkout stands, they were asked if they would donate the savings to Shadle’s grad night.

In less than two months, White said they collected an extra $3,000.

Since most of the food for the grad night event is donated, White said the $40,000 is enough to have an impressive collection of prizes available for the seniors including refrigerators, microwaves, computers, TVs, stereos and telephones.

“It’s so cool,” she said.

So far, about 220 seniors have signed up to attend, and 189 parents will volunteer as chaperones for the drug- and alcohol-free evening, which lasts from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“After that, we’ll collapse,” said White, “and then the tears will start flowing, knowing our babies are off on a new adventure.”