94-03-10 U.Va. to Facilitate Community Feeling in Area High Schools

U.VA. TO FACILITATE COMMUNITY FEELING IN AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

       CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 10 -- It's "us against them" out
there according to high school students who feel a widening rift
between the student body and their teachers and administrators. 
On Thursday, March 17, central Virginia students, teachers and
principals will converge on the University of Virginia to find
out why.
       To tackle the problem, more than 130 participants will meet
for the "Building Community in Our High School" conference at
U.Va.'s Ruffner Hall from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Groups from
Charlottesville, Buena Vista and Waynesboro city schools, as well
as Albemarle, Fluvanna, Orange, Louisa and Greene county school
districts will attend several mediated sessions during the
conference.
       The Curry School of Education Virginia School-University
Partnership Program's annual conference provides a forum in which
high school students and educators work together to learn,
discuss and find solutions to problems.  According to coordinator
Steve Moody, the conference is unique in its inclusion of
students.
       During the conference students will air their ideas about
strengthening their school's "living and learning environment,"
and work to implement resolutions, Moody says.  He notes that
student response to previous conferences has been extraordinary.
       "Students have gone back to their schools, have tried to
make a difference and became leaders in the process," he said.
       The partnership started several years ago to offer
University resources in solving problems and easing difficulties
in regional education by facilitating conferences, organizing
workshops and providing guidance to superintendents, principals
and teachers.  It includes 11 schools and eight school districts
in the region.
                                             ###
                                                                  
           March 9, 1994
       FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact associate dean Ronald Comfort
or Steve Moody at (804) 924-3335.  A schedule is attached.

"BUILDING COMMUNITY IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL" 
CONFERENCE AGENDA
MARCH 17

Ruffner Hall

9 a.m.        Welcome
              Keynote speaker:
              Ray Dingledine
              Greene County Schools superintendent                
              Auditorium (rm. 004)                                

10 a.m.       Group sessions
              from a mixture of schools                           
              Assigned rooms

1:15 p.m.     Group sessions 
              from individual schools                             
              Assigned rooms

2:15 p.m.     Panel discussion                                    
              Auditorium

3:15 p.m.     Closing              

[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Thu, 10 Mar 94 09:25:35 EST]