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Students Learn Value of Helping Others During Holiday Season

Posted on: Friday, 16 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By Burroughs Virginia

In addition to holiday music programs, plays and classroom parties, many Dayton schools are helping others during the holiday season. Among those with holiday projects are Patterson Career Center, Edison Elementary School and Franklin Montessori School. The National Honor Society at Patterson is conducting a Holiday Aid campaign to collect nonperishable items. Students in each division decorated collection barrels with a different theme and are competing against each other to collect the most canned goods and other items. According to adviser Deb Pitstick, "On Dec. 16, the last day of school, students who donated will attend a dance during school hours, and awards will be given to classes that collected the most, and those who had the most creative barrels."

Honor society members hope to at least match the 660 pounds of canned goods that was collected last year. "We can't compete with the very large schools, but we do well for our size," Pitstick said. Fewer than 500 students attend Patterson.

Edison students collected two barrels of canned goods, also to be given to Holiday Aid.

"This is an annual event, headed up by our class leaders," said Deborah Hollingshead, adviser for the student leaders.

Franklin students and staff collected new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves for a "hat tree," with donations benefiting Artemis House.

Memorial service held for slain police officer

Dayton Police Officer Kevin Brame lost his life on Nov. 1, 1999; his killer has not been found, and there's still a $100,000 reward being offered for information on his death.

In his memory, relatives and friends have met each Oct. 31 for a memorial program.

Among the annual participants have been Gerry Griffith, principal of Colonel White High School, and Major O'Dell Graves, in charge of the JROTC at Colonel White.

Brame was a 1986 Colonel White graduate.

This year, following the memorial service, Griffith decided it was time for Colonel White to pay tribute to Brame, to recognize him as a graduate and a role model for students.

"When I started going to the memorial services, I was amazed at how close-knit this family was and what they were going through daily," Griffith said. "He (Brame) was an alumni of our school, and we wanted to make our students aware of this case and the fact that it's still open after all this time."

A display case in the school's main hall was filled with photos and mementos of Brame, who was active in many Colonel White programs, and on Nov. 15, Colonel White held a memorial service for Brame.

The JROTC, under Graves, presented the colors, and the national anthem was sung by student Jassmine Gaines. Griffith welcomed those in attendance and told them what the school was trying to accomplish.

Major Graves, who had known Brame when he was a student, and two friends who graduated with Brame -- Marty Stone and Perry Roberts -- reflected on their friend and former student.

Willie Terrell, president of the Dayton Education Association, read the inspirational poem Don't Quit for family and friends who have refused to give up until Brame's murderer is caught.

"It's a cold case now, but there's a cold case team still working on it," said Margaret Peters, Brame's aunt.

Willie McGrady, Executive director of secondary operations for Dayton schools, presented a tribute from the school district, "Honoring the Life of Dayton Police Officer Kevin Brame," signed by school superintendent

Dr. Percy Mack.

Closing remarks were made by Brame's parents, Rosemary and Jerry Brame, and Peters.

But activity didn't end when the program was over. "The students did research on the case in social studies and English classes, and they hope to get a letter writing campaign going. Maybe they can get more attention put on the case," Griffith said.

St. Luke's to hold Christmas Cantata

On Saturday, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church and Shiloh Baptist Church will present a Christmas cantata.

Born a Savior/Born a King

will be directed by Deidre Vance and Terrence Grimes, the music directors at St. Luke and Shiloh.

The program, which will begin at 6 p.m. at St. Luke, 2262 N. Gettysburg, is free and open to the public.

K12 Gallery offers holiday gifts

If you need something unique for someone on your gift list, try shopping at the Dayton Visual Arts Center or at K12 Gallery.

- Gifts at DVAC's ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery, at Fourth and Ludlow streets, range from hand-made outerwear to a wide range of jewelry, ceramics, and, of course, paintings, photographs and other arts media. Close to 100 area artists are represented.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The gallery will close at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 3 p.m. Dec. 30, the final day for shopping.

- The K12 Gallery's Time Warner Cable Art Zone features work by students and faculty artists. Very popular items this season are Muriel Meray's "bowlies" -- ceramic bowls with whimsical paintings and sayings.

The gallery at 510 E. Third St. is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Students in the news

- Erin Seiter of Dayton was named to the fall term dean's list at Johnson & Wales University. Seiter is pursuing a bachelor of science degre in Culinary Arts Nutrition from the College of Culinary Arts at the school's Providence, R.I., campus.

If you or a friend or relative recently achieved an honor, or your club or organization has an activity that would make interesting reading, call Virginia Burroughs at 276-4441, e-mail her at vburroughs@woh.rr.com or send a typewritten notice to: Neighbors, Dayton Daily News, 45 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH 45402. We want to hear from you.

Source: Dayton Daily News

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