SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013
THE DALLAS POST
PAGE 7
BRACELETS
Continued from Page 1
ee and a half hours after the length of the brace-
was announced, the official count was in.
s Kronenwetter counted off the last 10 bracelets
and Bolton echoed the numbers, anticipation mount-
ed.
When the last bracelet was counted, Ross Elemen-
tary students had made 7,507 friendship bracelets.
The crowd erupted.
But is it enough to be recorded in the Guinness
Book of World Records? Time will tell.
The current record for the longest friendship brace-
let belongs to Owingsville Elementary School in Ken-
tucky. Students there tied 3,799 friendship bracelets
that measured more than 810 feet in 2011.
Officials at Guinness reported to James that a
group of people in India had submitted evidence that
it had tied together 4,123 friendship bracelets but
that amount has not yet been ratified.
‘Even if the India count stands, the Ross students
tied 3,384 more bracelets. As long as the documen-
tation holds up, students at the Sweet Valley school
will have their names recorded in history.
The project started last October when James heard
a radio promotion attempting to gather together
enough people to put on sunblock at the same time in
an attempt to make it into the Guinness Book. That
attempt failed but it was all James needed to rally his
troops.
After meeting with Vanderhook and several other
teachers, the plan was in place and students started
tying. Every one of the school’s nearly 300 students
made at least one bracelet.
Sporting t-shirts that read, “Ross Elementary
School Tied Together in Friendship,” students en-
joyed a Carnival Day on the grounds of the school on
May 1 while Kronenwetter and Bolton counted while
teacher Jen Welby video recorded and PTO volunteer
Cheri Derhammer photographed the counting, both
requirements of Guinness.
The message of the project was much greater than
just brightly-colored string and tying as students
bonded together in their record-breaking attempt.
Savannah Purdy was the leader of bracelet tying
in her family, according to her mother, Jennifer, who
said the sixth-grader encouraged third-grader Chase
Marie and kindergarten student Tristan to become
involved in bracelet tying.
“They’ve been excited about it all year long,” Jen-
nifer said.
Cheri Horan said her daughter, Samantha, a first-
grader, “is excited about being part of a world record.”
Sixth-grader Jessica Evans said, “Every little bit
AIMEE DILGER PHOTOS
/THE TIMES LEADER
ABOVE: Kindergar-
ten students Nikayla
Rynkiewicz, Ella Wilson
and Nichols Joseph of
Ross Elementary clap
as the chain of brace-
lets passes by them.
AT LEFT: Savannah
Purdy looks to the
other side of the brace-
let chain while helping
measure it.
counts” while her friend, Rebecca Bonomo, another
sixth-grader, pointed out the anti-bullying message
the project centered around.
Third-grader Lilian Raczkowski tied about 200
bracelets, 100 of them during recess while Sarayah
Smith, another third-grader, said the 100 bracelets
she tied represent friendship.
Superintendent Jim McGovern sported a t-shirt at
the event and third-grader Jeanna Pritchard reflected
on the fun she had tying bracelets.
As students, teachers and parents danced to the
“Hokey Pokey” and the “Macarena” while measuring
was taking place, fourth-gradera Spencer Judge and
Christian Seprish talked about how the project made
them want to stop bullying.
RECORD
Continued from Page 1
good humor, as well.
A newspaper editor needed to
officially witness the attempt. That’s
where I came in - and was honored
to do so. Principal James asked me
to be at the school at 8:30 in the
morning. I'm an early riser, so that
wasn’t a problem. What he didn’t tell
me was that I needed to witness the
counting of every single bracelet - all
7,507 of them - which took nearly
four hours, making for a very long
day and an experience I wouldn’t
trade for all the friendship bracelets
in the world. Besides, it was a beauti-
ful day and I got a great start on my
summer tan.
The measuring and the counting
needed to be recorded, both with
still photography and videography.
Teacher Jen Welby held a video
camera during the entire count-
ing process while PTO volunteer
Cheri Derhammer photographed
the surveyors counting the bracelets
and the numbers recorded on their
surveying wheel.
Bill, Jess and I had to fill out three-
page documents about our involve-
ment when the entire process was
completed.
All of that documentation, includ-
ing the bracelets, will be sent to
Guinness and the wait begins. The
record doesn’t stand until officials at
Guinness say it does.
Here’s what I learned as an official
Guinness Book of World Records
witness:
* The Ross Elementary School
students not only know how to have
a good time but are incredibly well
behaved.
* Professional land surveyors are
not always as serious as they appear
to be when they’re looking through
the lens of that odd-looking equip-
ment they use.
* The faculty and staff at Ross
Elementary School are committed to
teaching and guiding the youngsters
in their care.
* Donny James is still passionate
about being the principal at Ross
Elementary after nine years and mo-
tivates the faculty and staff in their
commitment.
* Red’s makes a mean tuna hoagie.
Thanks, Principal James, for that.
* All of us who participated in
the attempt to become world record
holders are now forever bonded.
And we're all still trying to get those
numbers out of our heads.
- Dotty Martin
Pinnacle
The Music Box Players
Rehabilitation
h\ Kevin M. Barno, MPT ¢ K. Bridget Barno, PT
Sharon Marranca, MPT ¢ Hal Glatz, MPT
Maria Hall, PTA « William Montross, MPT
Feel Better, Hit It Further
and Win Your Match!
e Treatment for all golf injuries or any
injury that is affecting your game
e Golf specific flexibility and
strengthening programs available
The Marvelous Misadventures of
Little
Rehabilitation Assoxiates, PU
Red Riding Hood
A Musical For Children
May 17, 18, 19 Schoolday Performances May 15 & 17
Admission Includes a McDonald’s Fun Meal
$2.00 discount per person with this ad.
The Music Box Dinner Playhouse
196 Hughes Street Swoyersville, PA 18704
283-2195 or 800-698-PLAY
%
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
my Dixon, left, uses an Ipad to input her information in a science
ss at the Dallas Middle School. The information is then projected
on the screen with pictures and video segments for her presentation.
[PADS
Continued from Page 7
Expert physical therapy close to home
520 Third Ave. 201 S. Main St.
Kingston ¢ 714-6460 Pittston * 602-1933
www.pinnaclerehabilitation.net
The Dallas Foundation is run
by a nine-member board of vol-
unteers which decides how the
donated money is used. Teach-
ers are welcome to make appli-
cations for projects on the foun-
dation’s website.
Barbose is very enthusiastic
about the learning atmosphere
in his classroom. Of the iPad
program, he said, “It’s high in-
terest. It’s motivational. It’s eas-
ily managed.”
Barbose began his career in
: Florida but his wish was always
to come back home which he
did nine years ago. “This is my
district,” he said. “I'm teaching
in my ninth-grade English teach-
| pas classroom.” j
arbose admitted that using
ads in middle school is cutting
edge. There aren’t many apps
i created for that age group. “You
have to be creative,” he said.
Next up for his sixth-graders’
study of physics is the construc-
tion of a virtual roller coaster.
Newton would surely be im-
pressed.
BACK MOUNTAIN BOWL
Sicilian Pizza » Wings
Hoagies and More!
Eat in and Take Out!
VEER EL EER YAR 171
Investment and insurance products: Not FDIC Insured. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value, Mustang is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company, used with permission, First Liberty Bank & Trust is a division of Community Bank, NLA.