IT WAS "Silly Hat Day" on Friday at Phelps Luck Elementary School. Hats appeared from everywhere -- from the backs of closets and even borrowed from light fixtures.
The event, which recognized the National Education Association's "Read Across America" program, was inspired by the books of children's author Dr. Seuss.
In every classroom, parents and volunteers read aloud to children.
"The kid wearing the lamp shade was so cute," said Stazy Godlewski, who was taking time off from her job as a Navy program analyst to read "It Happened on Mulberry Street" to her son Josh and his third-grade class.
The Phelps Luck event was sponsored by the student government association under the direction of faculty adviser Mary Tatum.
This is the second year of Read Across America, which is timed to coincide with the March 2 birthday of author Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss.
But when the project was proposed at Phelps Luck, the Tuesday school calendar was full, so the young planners had to come up with something different, making Friday a Seuss-inspired Silly Hat Day instead.
The day began with a visit to the school by County Executive James N. Robey. Wearing a child's borrowed yellow-paper top hat covered with miniature dollar bills, Robey read to the morning kindergarten classes.
His audience listened intently as the county executive read "Green Eggs and Ham." They laughed at his antics and eagerly helped him with the tougher words in the story.
Class representatives Shelby Starr and Shanelle Tatum (Mary Tatum's daughter) were in charge of greeting visitors at the front door and directing them to the main office to meet their student escorts.
Andrew Sasser, president of the student government, waited patiently for the arrival of his charge -- defenseman Devin Payton of the Maryland Mania professional soccer team.
Arriving in plenty of time, Payton, who graduated as a communications major from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., was assigned to read to fifth-graders.
President Andrew -- sporting a floppy red, white and green cap -- led the soccer player to Rhonda Inskeep's classroom, where he read Dr. Seuss' classic story "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Eager children gathered on the floor in front of Payton. The soccer player looked at home reading aloud, holding the book up to show the pictures to the children and pausing to let them finish the tongue-twisting Seuss sentences.
"It's an exhilarating time to be with the kids," Payton said afterward. "They are so bright, and they are quick to correct you when you make a mistake."
Along with cheerful parents and relatives -- many of whom took the day off from work to be with the children -- readers included Donna Richardson, Comcast Cablevision manager of public affairs; Ernest Donaldson from Equitable Life Insurance; Larry Dorsey, manager of the Howard County Schools custodial division; and this correspondent, who couldn't resist the invitation to read "If I Ran the Circus" to second- and third-graders.
"What a great afternoon, Mary Tatum!" said kindergarten teacher Jodi Sacki, as Tatum walked back into school after dismissal.
"Hear, hear!" responded a voice from the crowd of teachers coming back from bus duty -- provoking a chorus of thanks to Tatum for the wonderful, wacky day.
Hoedown at the hill
Down the road, at Thunder Hill Elementary School, artist- in-residence Slim Harrison led a Friday-evening hoedown to wrap up his weeklong visit to the school.
Harrison -- a singer, guitarist and master of folk music -- travels to schools to share his knowledge and love of the American musical experience.
All of the students at Thunder Hill participated in the cultural arts project.
Each grade was assigned an instrument to make and a dance to learn -- culminating in the hoedown.
Art teacher Polly Jazwiecki spent a weekend preparing materials for the children to use to construct their instruments.
Physical education teacher George Petrlik taught each grade a different square dance, and music teacher Herbrette Richardson lectured on the history and influence of folk music on American culture.
At the hoedown Friday night, nearly everyone wore Western get-up, including parent Ed Kidera who came dressed as a sheriff.
Kidera's outfit looked authentic from his hat down to his boots, including riding chaps and badge.
Guests enjoyed the music of the Sunnyland Band, led by Harrison and made up of all of the students playing tunes on their newly made instruments.
Each grade took a turn dancing to the musical accompaniment of the band.
Parents were invited to join in the dance after each class completed its square-dance demonstration.
Harrison's visit was sponsored by the school's PTA. Cultural arts Chairwoman Cindi Alvey organized the weeklong event. Her husband, Jim, and parent Bert Wilson were recruited as stagehands.
Assistant Principal Diane Martin and teacher Virginia Ellingsworth were seen among an estimated 350 parents and friends of Thunder Hill dancing the night away with the kids -- all of them having a grand time.
In the spring, the Cultural Arts Committee will sponsor a weeklong visit by ceramicist Maria Barbosa. The fifth-grader will work with Barbosa to complete a mosaic for permanent installation on the outside of the school.
Delicate images
Jing-Jy Chen of Kendall Ridge is showing her delicate watercolor images of wildlife this month at Artist's Gallery in the American City Building.
Chen brings a fluidity to her work with subtle strokes and restrained color. The fragile beauty of her images evokes a mystical quality.
Chen, a member of the cooperative gallery, has her work on exhibit at the gallery year-round.
A native of Taiwan, she has lived in Maryland since 1990.
She began studying brush painting as a student at the Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, and now teaches the art at the Columbia Language School.
Her show will run until March 26. Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9: 30 p.m. to to 12: 30 p.m. Saturdays.
Information: 410-740-8249.
Pub Date: 3/09/99