THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412240100
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Marcia Gray is a teacher at Kilby Shores Elementary School, and she is the kind you like, someone with imagination.
Several months ago she decided the youngsters needed a mascot. Mice have always been popular, witness the three M's: Mickey, Minnie and Mighty.
Alliteration would not work this time because Gray introduced the school to Kilby Mouse, wrote a book about it called ``Kilby's Quest'' and had some of her students illustrate the tome.
A few months ago, an autograph-signing session was held for the new book. One thing they did not have was the real thing, the hero of the poem.
This past Tuesday, they had it: The mysterious Kilby Mouse's appearance surprised Gray and the children as, unannounced and unexpected, he hopped onstage during a Christmas program in the gymnasium.
The first public appearance of the person playing the role of Kilby proved quite an event.
``It's every writer's dream,'' quoth the philosophical mouse, ``to have their creation come to life.''
There was a lot of life. The large, gray mouse jumped around, hand-signaled his fans and walked among the floor-seated youngsters handing out candy canes.
The mousy goings-on followed a music-of-the-season concert by some of the students in the school's gifted/talented program.
The gifted and talented Kilby Mouse, after surprising his creator, gave her the Golden Sneaker Award. The significance of the sneakers is that most of Gray's activities - dances, hops, tournaments - occur in the gym.
In addition to bronzed sneakers, Gray was presented with the real thing. Did she appreciate that gift?
Immediately, she took off the pair she was wearing - tossing them into the audience in the manner of a musician throwing guitar picks to fans - and put on the new pair.
The school was still not through with Gray's recognition day. She was also given the Golden Bee Award, a honey of a presentation.
While the sneaker deal was a one-time event, the bee thing will be an annual thing. Gray is the first recipient.
``It's for staffers who go beyond the call of duty,'' said Principal Sunny Dixon, adding that the idea was borrowed from the Army: ``Be all that you can be.''
Gray is not resting on her laurels. A sequel to ``Kilby's Quest'' has been planned. Meanwhile, KM will continue to delight the children and challenge their imaginations.
One thing we cannot tell you is the name of the individual disguised as Kilby Mouse.
The school prefers that she remain, er, anonymouse. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Gray dons her new sneakers, to Kilby's delight, on the stage at
Kilby Shores Elementary School during the Christmas program
Tuesday.
A gleeful Kilby Mouse gives his creator, teacher Marcia Gray,
center, the Golden Sneaker Award. His helper is Principal Sunny
Dixon.
by CNB