Fundraiser aids victims of slavery

As a way to recognize Black History Month, the Chapel Hill High School chapter of the National Honor Society is sponsoring a fundraiser to benefit an international organization that aids victims of modern-day slavery.

According to the United Nations, some 27 million people, many of them children, are held in slavery.

The CHHS chapter is selling tiger-stripe patterned wristbands through Friday. Each wristband costs $1, which will go to Internationl Justice Mission, a human rights organization that seeks and secures justice for victims of slavery.

The goal is to sell 1,000 wristbands and raise $1,000 to send to International Justice Mission.

Senior Chelsea James presented the idea to the chapter at its last meeting. With several students agreeing to help out, she began to put ideas into action.

She purchased wristbands with individual serial numbers to use as raffle tickets. Next, she and her mother visited local businesses to ask for donations as prizes that students could win.

For information about International Justice Mission and its work, see IJM.org

Discussion focuses on new movie

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will host a Black History Month event today for middle and high school students, their families and members of the community.

The district will then host a community dialogue on the new film "The Great Debaters," today from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Smith Middle School Auditorium.

The movie recounts the true story of the debate team from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. The debate team represented a historically black college and was one of the first to break the color barrier by debating teams from white colleges. The film stars Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker.

The film is rated PG-13 and contains one graphic lynching scene and a romantic scene.

A viewing and thinking guide for the film is posted on the district's Web site, www.chccs.k12.nc.us, under "Quick Links." Light refreshments will be provided for the event.

Registration taken for kindergarten

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School system is accepting registrations for kindergartners for the fall 2008 semester.

Parents can receive registration forms by printing them from the district's Web site, www2.chccs.k12.nc.us/registration, by going to Lincoln Center to pick them up, or by calling the registrar, Marlen Orio, to have registration packet sent by mail.

Only parents or legal guardians are permitted to register students.

Registration forms may be returned in person to the registrar at Lincoln Center Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For questions or for information, contact Orio at 967-8211, ext. 268, or at morio@chccs.k12.nc.us. For preschool questions and registration, contact Michelle Brewington at 918-2153, ext. 20291, or at mbrewington@chccs.k12.nc.us.

Chinese New Year

The Dual Language classes at Glenwood Elementary School will celebrate the Chinese New Year today in the school's cafeteria.

The celebration will begin with a potluck lunch at noon and at 1:30 p.m. Classes will put on New Year performances.