JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CELEBRATE SPIRIT WEEK

Students at R.O. Hawkins Junior High celebrated Spirit Week March 26 through 30, capped off with a free hot dog lunch and a spirit dance on March 30.

Money raised during the week will go to the proposed World War II veterans' memorial in Washington, D.C.

The week began March 26 with "Decade Day," in which students dressed up like their favorite decade. March 27 was "Red and Black Day," in which students wore school colors.

March 28 was "Hat Day" and also featured the coin roll.

"Students were urged to bring as much money as possible to their first-hour class -- in coins -- and the teacher would roll them into rolls. The teacher would roll the coins before class started, so the more coins they brought in, the longer it was before class began."

The coin roll raised about $800.

March 29 was "Country Day," in which students dressed in a country and western or rural motif, while March 30 was "Spirit T-shirt Day."

The T-shirts were printed for the occasion and sold, with the proceeds going to the week's total. In all, about $1,500 was raised for the veterans memorial.

For their work, the students were treated to a "spirit lunch" of grilled hot dogs March 30. Schnucks, Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, Albertson's and Food Giant donated to the lunch.