The new Silent Sustained Reading program, which was introduced at Robertsdale High at the beginning of the new school year, seems to be a success, as students are allowed to read the materials of their choice.

Those materials can either be a book, magazine or newspaper. They can be brought from home, or signed out from a public, or the school’s library.

“By the end of the day our students will have spent 40 minutes reading, or approximately three-and-a-half hours per week,” said RHS Principal Theresa Bryant. “It’s a proven fact that those students who read, whether it’s for pleasure or not, become more well-rounded, their vocabularies improve, and they can speak on a larger number of topics.”

Kelly McCrady, the Robala yearbook sponsor, said students can drop by the library during the school day and pick up their Robala, if they ordered one last year.

For those who may have missed out on ordering a Robala last year McCrady said she ordered a few extra copies, however, once they are gone, they’re gone.

The Robertsdale High School Band Boosters are pre-selling barbecue plate dinners for its Annual Play-A-Thon that will be held Sept. 17 at the Robertsdale High School Stadium.

The Dinners are $7 a plate and will contain pulled pork (from L.A. Bar-B-Q), baked beans, cole slaw, bread and dessert. The times for pick up at the stadium are 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The band will present their final show “The Blues Brothers” at 4:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held during the event.

To purchase tickets you can see Robin Isherwood or any of the Band Boosters. If you are interested and you want to purchase a ticket, you can also e-mail Isherwood at risherwood@bcbe.org and you will get the ticket a.s.a.p. The Band Boosters are trying to raise $17,000 to cover the travel expenses for the Band to go to the Gator Bowl in January.

Julian Katz, a representative of the University of Alabama, was on campus this past week to talk to those students who are interested in attending UA next fall semester.

Bama and Auburn are two of the most popular schools that RHS students show an interest in. When it comes to costs, the amount of scholarship money that is offered (if any) and the educational aspect, rather than athletics, many students begin to consider such schools as the University of South Alabama, Troy University, the University of West Alabama, the University of Mobile and Faulkner State Community College.

The bottom line for many families isn’t a university’s football team, but money, plain and simple. Not only are the initial costs to be considered, but whether the institution will offer the student any scholarship money.

A college education isn’t cheap, however, it’s estimated that a degree will increase a person’s earning potential over a million additional dollars by the time they are ready for retirement.

Math tutoring began last week and will continue every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in room 708. This is a free service that is offered by the math department.

This past spring the following seniors were elected to the following leadership positions for this year’s Student Government Association with no opposition. They include Erica Alexander, class president; Rachel Lomax, vice president; Kristen Curtis, secretary; and Taylor Ryals, treasurer.

The leaders within the junior, sophomore and freshmen classes were to be elected this past Friday. We’ll run the names of the winner in next week’s edition.