The Times

SHADES OF BETSY ROSS! Boys sewing! But the lass who nimbly needled this nation's first flag couldn't have been prouder had she stepped into this puppet-making class at West Laboratory Elementary School. With spools of thread resting on the table in front of them, Mike Lefkove, left, 625 San Juan Dr. and Robert Milstead, 9100 SW 80th Dr. try to thread a needle so they can begin work on sewing their puppets. Looking on with a discerning eye is Vickie Norman, 3740 Solana Rd. wondering why the lads ever came out of their own backyard of baseball and TV westerns to invade the girl's domain of sewing.

"ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE", said William Shakespeare, and bearing him out are these children and their puppets on a miniature stage at West Laboratory Elementary School. The puppets at each end are fierce-faced pirates. The puppet in the center is Santa Claus. The children and their classmates made puppets of their favorite book characters. Grouping into teams of threes, they wrote their own skits and presented them on this tiny stage, complete with curtain. Putting on their skits are, left to right, Joel Edlowsk, 6450 SW 18th Ter.; Karen Melching, 928 Placetas Ave.; Jeffrey Wero, 48 Marabella Ave.

At West Lab Elementary Puppets Dance To Tune Of Pupils' Imaginations

By RAYMOND LANG A little hand . . . a clump of cloth . . . a piece of paper—that's all it takes to spark a child's imagination at West Laboratory Elementary School. And the way it's done is so simple, you'd hardly believe it. Take some fabric and paper, mix well. Have nearby a miniature stage, complete with curtain. Blend all ingredients with a child's fanciful imagination. Lo and behold, you've got handmade puppets dashing through plots the children have planned with delighted classmates looking on. More Than Play But these fourth graders at 5300 Cabellero Blvd. realize making puppets and then writing their own skits is more than play. There's a serious goal ahead. That goal is to help prepare the children for the day they become adults. This is how: "One of the things we try to do is to express ourselves before the class with greater ease," pointed out Mrs. Evelyn Evans, whose pupils made the puppets. Better self expression at an early age should help the children to be more articulate adults. "So," the teacher went on, "they all picked out a character from a story that they would like to tell about. "Then they used these characters . . . to dramatize their story." Where did the characters come from? From varied sources, again utilizing a child's ingenuity, so vital in later life. "Some of them," said Mrs. Evans, "picked out stories from the library books they had been reading. "And some of them wanted to pick out a pet they had . . . or a person they knew." A few dashed to copies of "Aesop's Fables" and the "Arabian Nights." The result? An array of characters whose personalities run the gamut. But that's the whole idea. Not only are the children expected to express themselves "with greater ease," but it's hoped they will take advantage of "a chance to interpret how the characters feel." When the children are adults, they'll have to know how other persons feel in certain situations and then adjust accordingly. Cooperation among the children are necessary. Especially in writing the skits because two or three puppets would be in the same performance. Clothes To Be Used Of course, making a puppet involves using thread and needle. There are tiny clothes to be made and a head to fashion into the fabric. How did the boys take to this? Like Betsy Ross sewing the Stars and Stripes! "They boys even enjoyed the sewing!" said a surprised teacher. "As much as the girls! "And it does give them a chance to appreciate mother sewing on a button."

Illinois Graduate

Robert F. Bils, 932 Obispo Ave., has received his PhD from the University of Illinois. Dr. Bils is one of 234 late summer graduates of the university, according to an announcement from the university's office of admission and records. Of the total, 202 are advanced degrees.

Robert Winter Stars On Yale Track Team

Robert Winter of Coral Gables and Caracas, Venezuela, is a member of the varsity track team at Yale University. Track is one of fifteen intercollegiate sports in which Yale participates throughout the year at the varsity and freshman levels. Winter, a sophomore, prepared for Yale at Coral Gables High School, where he was president of the Student Council, the National Honor Society, the gymnastic team and the Crescent Club. At Yale, he is studying Economics.

Nichols Convalescing

James W. Nichols, immediate past president of the Coral Gables Apartment Owners Association, is convalescing at his home, 225 Salamanca, after being a patient at Doctors' Hospital.

Hear Good As New!

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meet our new VICE PRESIDENT . . . H. P. McGOOGAN MERCHANTS BANK OF MIAMI

meet our new VICE PRESIDENT . . . H. P. McGOOGAN Mr. McGoogan is a newcomer to the Merchants Bank, but no stranger to our area. He is well acquainted with the problems of modern business, gained through 19 years association with the Federal Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and most recently as President of Coral Gables First National Bank. You'll find him sincerely interested and exceptionally equipped to give friendly personal service to your requirements. Mr. McGoogan is a banker who talks your language. Come in and say Hello. MERCHANTS BANK OF MIAMI 950 RED ROAD (S.W. 57th Ave. near the Trail) Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

ROTC Honors Areffi And Lane

Patrick Areffi and John Lane, Gables residents, were among 19 University of Miami ROTC cadets to receive awards at a formal review, on Jan. 11. Areffi, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Areffi, 1129 Placetas Ave., received the Sons of the American Revolution award as outstanding freshman in the Air Force ROTC. Lane, son of Mrs. Ruth Lane, 1215 Alfonso Ave., was named outstanding sophomore in the Army ROTC by the Sons of the American Revolution. Some 850 UM cadets from the Army and Air Force units marched in the review.

Resigns From Committee

Lyle Roberts, 2600 Columbus Blvd., has resigned from the Coral Gables Bus Terminal Advisory Committee.

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BISCAYNE EXTERMINATING SERVICE

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Page 6 THE TIMES Coral Gables, Fla. Thursday, January 19, 1961