STUDENTS FOCUS ON AMERICAN INDIANS.

Byline: JOANNE PEPIAK

LITTLEROCK - About 30 Daisy Gibson Elementary School fourth-graders culminated their study of California American Indian history by staging a daylong celebration with traditional Indian food, crafts and song and dance.

The students began in early September studying about several California tribes, including the Mohave, Gabrilino, Chumash, Yurok and Miwok, fourth-grade teacher Janette Coggeshall said.

Pupils, most wearing clothing or jewelry indicative of one of the tribes, took part Sept. 20 in the closing ``Potlatch,'' a celebration typical of some coastal tribes, Coggeshall said.

``We wanted to be as true as we could,'' Coggeshall said. ``They did a lot of research on it and came out with a pretty good understanding of the Native American people. We steamed real corn. We had popcorn, too, because popcorn was discovered by Native Americans. We had tortillas, and squash, and we made real beef jerky. . . . We had melons because that's what the Mohaves had out in the desert.''

Vivien Seal's third-grade class was invited to sit in on the feast, which was mostly prepared in the classroom by Coggeshall, pupils and parent volunteer Jennifer Gemaeohlich.

Coggeshall brought willow tree branches from home, along with small beads, feathers and yarn for each fourth-grader to make ``dreamcatchers,'' which according to American Indian folklore will capture good dreams and block bad dreams.

As a closing activity for the day, students participated in a ritual song and dance, ``Spirit of the Running Deer.'' Some children played American Indian instruments; others portrayed deer, other forest animals, or hunters.

``They loved it,'' she said. ``They absolutely loved it.''

LANCASTER - Paraclete High School will hold its fifth annual golf classic Saturday to benefit the school's athletic programs.

Check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. at the Elizabeth Lake Golf Club, 42505 Ranch Club Road.

Entry fee is $75 a person. It includes green fees, shared use of a golf cart, tee gifts, awards and a catered dinner, parent Eldridge Mayor-Perry said.

Nongolfers can attend the dinner for $15.

Anyone interested in registering for the tournament can call Richard Caton at [phone] or [phone].

LANCASTER - Paraclete High School will hold a joint reunion for the classes of 1971, 1976 and 1981 at 10 p.m. Oct. 25 on campus after the homecoming football game.

Any former alumni from any year are invited to attend the party at no charge, Paraclete office manager Caryl Hier said. Game admission is $4.

The party consists of a no-host bar, finger foods and dancing.

For more information, call Hier at [phone].