Grand Valley News

by Mary Moore

Students from St. John Middle School gave an outstanding comedy performance, “Shakespeare and the Hillbillies,” last Friday evening to a packed audience (see box).

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Ms. Elizabeth Fink, the eighth-grade language arts and drama teacher, was the director. She accepted this challenging and extra-time job with the same remarkable enthusiasm that she displays in her classroom.

The cast had only four weeks to learn their lines and practice the presentation. Cast members practiced after school on their own time.

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I was impressed with the students’ delivery and acting ability. I was also amazed at how much I learned about Shakespeare from the play – what a great learning tool for students.

St. John principal gets a haircut

This year St. John Middle School has been under the leadership of principal Dan Hoey.

Hoey’s first year as SMS principal has been highly successful; he has gained the respect and loyalty of the staff, the students, and the parents.

As part of his plan to encourage reading with the students, Mr. Hoey made a promise that if the student body reached a very lofty reading goal in the Accelerated Reader Program, he would allow the top 10 readers to shave his hair.

Fully hoping that the students would reach this goal, but not really anticipating they would, Mr. Hoey went through the year with all confidence in his hairstyle.

Well, guess what – they did it. Congratulations, students of St. John Middle School – you read and earned 16,910 points.

On Monday the top 10 readers (see box) gave Mr. Hoey a new hairstyle. The style reminds me of a “poodle cut.” And the smile on Mr. Hoey’s face just won’t stop. Although, it may be time to bring in the Fab Five to give him a complete makeover.

Thank you St. John Middle School, my experience as a middle school parent has been rewarding thanks to you. And now I move on to Grand Valley High School.

Mary Moore’s column, “Grand Valley News,” appears every other Thursday. To contact Mary with a news tip, call her at 945-8525, ext. 108, or e-mail Mary at MooreMOMOF7@aol.com. Mary Moore’s column, “Grand Valley News,” appears every other Thursday. To contact Mary with a news tip, call her at 945-8525, ext. 108, or e-mail Mary at MooreMOMOF7@aol.com.