Three in a row

Terri Bridges' Grassy Pond students are all smiles after winning the $50 'Roll Call' prize for the third month in a row. The students made 1,910 calls to Bridges' extension. Grassy Pond Elementary School third grade teacher Terri Bridges spends a few minutes every evening updating her message on "Roll Call."

In this case, Bridges isn't taking attendance in class. She uses an automated phone service operated by The Gaffney Ledger so her students can stay current on homework assignments.

Daily clues left on her "Roll Call" extension provide students practice in solving math word problems. More often than not, Bridges has started each school month by receiving a $50 check from The Gaffney Ledger for use in her classroom.

Students made 1,910 calls to Bridges' extension number in October. This made it the most popular number on "Roll Call" for the third straight month this school year.

"The main reason I do it is because so many children don't copy their homework correctly and they don't remember all of the upcoming events," Bridges said. "By doing the 'Roll Call' every evening, not only can the children check but parents can make sure the children are completing their homework. It also keeps parents current on any events going on at school."

Local business sponsors enable The Gaffney Ledger to provide the "Roll Call" service for free in county schools. Any county teacher can receive an extension number and are able to update their message as often as they want.

The Gaffney Ledger received 5,269 calls on its Roll Call teacher extension numbers in October. The newspaper had the thirdhighest call volume among newspapers in North and South Carolina that use the phone information line system operated by EduCom Services in New Bern, N.C.

Bridges wasn't the only teacher at Grassy Pond Elementary with high call volumes in October.

The school's teachers had three of the 15 top extensions on "Roll Call" this month.

Grassy Pond Elementary teacher Starr Moore had 1,396 calls on her "Roll Call" extension. The school's Gifted and Talented teacher Charlene Key received 732 calls.

For her part, Bridges said she considers the few minutes she spends each day updating "Roll Call" to be worthwhile.

"It does take time and that is something teachers have very little of," Bridges said. "I just make the time because $50 is very helpful in the classroom especially now with all of the budget cuts."