Cap, gowns, superlatives- Cave Spring High School celebrated their seniors today at a school-wide assembly, but it wasn’t your typical caps and gowns. Cave Spring seniors decorated their caps and gowns with letters, tinsel, feather boas, flags…you name it, they used it, to signify what school they were headed to in the fall. They also got to watch a sideshow of the seniors superlatives and were given awards for most creative cap and gown outfit.

You can view the photos in the slideshow above or in this photo gallery.

Send us your favorite graduating senior moments. Just email us at news@swo-co.com.

From R to L: Alex Cecil, Sam Prescott, Quint Coles, Scout Master Coles, Holt Bibee and Spencer Moore

These five young men recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout (St. John’s Episcopal Troop 17 Boy Scouts).

This is photo from their Eagle Court of Honor held on April 17. All of these young men have attended school in either a Roanoke independent school or a Roanoke City Public School. At one time, they were all students at North Cross School. They are all still North Cross students with the exception of Sam Prescott who now attends Patrick Henry High School and Roanoke Valley Governor’s School and Spencer Moore who attends Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia.

Submitted by Catherine Prescott

Here is a list of summer events submitted by Roanoke County Library:

Events include: Book clubs for adults, teen summer reading program, children summer reading program, family events, and computer classes.

Teen Summer Reading Program:

Hey teens, pack up your protractors and say goodbye to grades. Summer is here, and Roanoke County Public Libraries want you to “Express Yourself,” so get ready to unleash your inner artist with cool, creative projects. A Designer T-Shirt workshop and the Project Teenway Competition challenge fabulous and fashion forward teens to transform everyday materials into haute couture. Serious artists, casual shutterbugs, and sufferers of wanderlust alike will enjoy creating Altered Art Travel Journals or expressing their vision of America by entering the Picturing America Photo Contest (grand prize $50 gift card to Best Buy!). Anime artists are encouraged to enter the Manga Drawing Contest, while aspiring actors and amateur detectives take center stage for Teen Mystery Night. Last but not least, if you prefer entertainment minus the human interaction, bury your nose in books this summer for a chance to win a Nintendo DS. All teens who enter and completRoanoke County Public Library’s Teen Summer Reading Program will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a Nintendo DS handheld game console. So, what are you waiting for? Fire up your right brain and head to the library this summer!

Registration for the Teen Summer Reading Program begins on June 1, 2009. Upon registering, participants receive a Blue Roanoke County “Connect” Portfolio that contains a mood pencil, Express Yourself book mark, reading log, and calendar of teen summer events. Upon completing the required ten hours of reading (that’s not too much!), teens receive a 1GB flash drive, a free food coupon to a local fast food restaurant, a “gigantic” candy bar, a free pass to see the Salem Red Sox, and a chance at winning the Nintendo DS to be raffled on August 5th. For more information on any of these teen programs, contact David Wilson, Hollins Branch Library at 561-8024

Children’s Summer Reading Program:

Signups begin Monday, June 1, at any Roanoke County Public Library (HQ/419 Library, Hollins Branch Library, Vinton Branch Library, Glenvar Branch Library, Mt. Pleasant Branch Library and the Bent Mountain Branch Library).

Read more »

On May 28th Savannah Kramer was awarded an Academic Letter, Excellent Attendance and Social Studies/Civics department award from Hidden Valley Middle School.

Did you receive an award that you want to tell us about? If so, send us an email at news@swo-co.com.

Submitted by Alison O’Brien

Courtesy of Joan Duus

The Pizzazz Star City Twirlers, under the direction of Joan Duus, recently competed in Knoxville, Tennessee in a Regional Competition and won all four of their team events.

Team Members Include from Left to Right:
Olivia Thomas, Bethany Baker, Rebecca Keller, Madison Engl, Christine Wadstrom, Danielle Cormier, Meredith Smith, Elizabeth Hudson, Natalie Smith, Rachel Benton

In individual competition the following girls placed:

Bethany Baker was 1st in Beginner Strut Queen Pageant & Beginner Majorette Queen Pageant in the Pre-Teen Division

Rachel Benton was 1st in the Beginner Twirltacular Pageant in the Juvenile Division

Danielle Cormier was 1st in the Advanced Twirltacular Pageant & the Advanced Majorette Queen Pageant in the Pre-teen Division

Elizabeth Hudson was 4th in the Novice Majorette Queen Pageant in the Juvenile Division

Rebecca Keller was 1st in the Beginner Twirltacular Pageant & 2nd in the Beginner Majorette Queen Pageant in the Pre-teen Division

Meredith Smith was 1st in the Novice Twirltacular Pageant in the Juvenile Division

Natalie Smith was 2nd in the Novice Majorette Queen Pageant in the Teen Division

Olivia Thomas was 2nd in the Novice Majorette Queen Pageant in the Juvenile Division

Christine Wadstrom was 2nd in the Intermediate Twirltacular Pageant & 3rd in the Intermediate Majorette Queen Pageant in the Teen Division.

The Pizzazz Star City Twirlers are hosting a competition at Hidden Valley High School on Saturday, June
6th. This is the first time that Baton is being offered as part of the Virginia Common Wealth Games. This event will run from 9 a.m. until about 2 p.m. and spectators are welcome at no charge.

The Pizzazz Star City Twirlers also still have openings for their camps this summer:
Pizzazz Star City Twirlers are hosting a Baton Camp for girls ages 4 and up, all levels of instruction are available.
Dates: June 15-18
Time: 10 AM -Noon
Place: Cave Spring Baptist Church Family Life Center
Cost: $60.00 (Need Based Scholarships Available)

-Submitted by Joan Duus

Penn Forest Elementary School students enjoyed playing outside on the playground today for their annual field day. SWoCo went and checked it out and we have photos for your viewing pleasure.

You can view the photos in the slideshow above or in this photo gallery.

If you have your own photos from your school’s field day and want to share them with SWoCo, just email us at news@swo-co.com.

It turned out to be a nice day for Back Creek Elementary as they held their annual field day to celebrate the end of the years. Students got to get each other wet with sponges and throw them at each other and jump around on inflatables.

You can view the photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery.

Send us your end of the years photos, just email us at news@swo-co.com.

Bent Mountain Elementary School enjoyed a fun filled day outside for their annual field day. Students enjoyed various activities including a kickball games against their parents and school staff members. They also played on inflatables.

You can view the photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery.

Send us your end of the year photos. Just email them to us at news@swo-co.com!

Molly Bullington (center) with School Board members.

Southwest Roanoke County resident Molly Bullington was recognized last night by the Roanoke County School Board.  Bullington recently was named the Educator of the Year by the NewVa Corridor Technology Council.

-Photo by Chuck Lionberger

Students built this drag racecar by themselves at the Burton Center for Technology. Photo by Chuck Lionberger

Members of the Roanoke County School Board get a first-hand look at a new drag racecar constructed by students at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology. They took a look at the car last night at the Roanoke County School Board Meeting. They also honored those students who work so hard on the racecar.

Photo by: Chuck Lionberger