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Families staying at The Children's Inn at NIH now have a full pantry thanks to a joint venture between third-grade students at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and the Bethesda Doubletree Hotel.

Students, teachers and parents at the Rockville school loaded more than 1,300 nonperishable food items into a Bethesda Doubletree Hotel van for delivery to The Children's Inn on Dec. 16.

The food is available in the "Help Yourself Pantry" at The Children's Inn in Bethesda, which provides patients and their families with a place to stay while they are receiving treatment.

Prior to loading the van, students learned about world hunger and making a difference in their community, organizers said. The "Can the Van" event is part of the Doubletree Hotel and Hilton Worldwide "Teaching Kids to CARE" program, which engages third-graders in discussions about values. This year's lesson focused on the problem of world hunger.

Donation bins were placed at the school, the Bethesda Doubletree Hotel and other local businesses.

Sherwood, Montgomery Village students win video contest

MCT Federal Credit Union recently recognized one high school student and two middle school students as winners of its student video contest.

The creators of each winning video were awarded $500, with $250 of the prize money going to the winner's favorite school club or organization.

Ted Youngmin Sim, a junior at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, was the winner from the high school category. His video message focuses on the importance of saving small amounts of money throughout life. The video features a young girl earning money for her savings by mowing the lawn, raking leaves and selling lemonade. The video ends with the character as a teenager able to afford her college tuition.

Rachel Hodge and Rachel Watkins of Montgomery Village Middle School won the middle school category with a film that demonstrates the rewards of maintaining good savings habits throughout life. The film begins with two girls playing a game of Monopoly, with one losing because she spends all of her money. Later in the film, the two girls are shown as adults, with the saver able to afford a vacation during her summer break and the spender having to stay home.

Videos were judged on their creativity and originality, overall impact to inspire individuals to save money, and message clarity and relevance to the theme, "Why do you need to save money?"

To watch the winning videos, visit www.mctfcu.org.

New cello awarded

to Rockville student

Tatios Kebrab of Rockville is among three student recipients of the Potter's Violins Instrument Awards, a program that grants promising young stringed instrument players in financial need with high-quality instruments.

The Potter Violin Company in Bethesda donates six Heinrich Lutiger violins, violas or cellos annually for the competition.

Kebrab, a cellist, along with students from Waldorf and Shaker Heights, Ohio, received instruments, bows and cases valued at approximately $10,000, the company reported.

Applications for the program are accepted on behalf of students in elementary through high school, from members of the American String Teachers Association, a national nonprofit organization for string and orchestra teachers and players.

Applications for the next Potter's Violins Instrument Awards are due April 1 and are available at www.astaweb.com.

Parents invited to learn

about college savings

Parents are invited to Robert Frost Middle School at 7:30 a.m. Friday to learn how they can prepare for their children's college experience.

The meeting will be held in the school's media center and is hosted by the principal. A guest speaker from the University of Maryland Admissions Office will be on hand as well. To RSVP, call the school at 301-279-3949.

Frost Middle School is located at 9201 Scott Drive in Rockville.

MCPS offering

symposium on bullying

Montgomery County Safe and Drug Free Schools will hold a symposium on bullying policy and prevention from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29.

The symposium, "Enhancing School Climate through School Connectedness: Bullying Policy and Bullying Prevention," will be held at The Universities at Shady Grove Building 2 in Rockville. It will feature national and local presenters.

Parents and school employees may register for the entire day or only for the morning or afternoon session. Call 301-279-3041 for registration and information.

Reading volunteers needed

The Ruth Rales Comcast Kids Reading Network is seeking volunteers to tutor second grade students in reading at public elementary schools throughout Montgomery County.

Volunteers will work with the same student for one hour each week. Training and all materials are provided.

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, call 301-279-3890 or visit www.montgomeryschools

md.org/readingnetwork.

Parent advisory

council meetings set

The next meeting of the Montgomery County Public Schools' Parent Advisory Council for the 2009-2010 school year is Feb. 24.

The council provides input on communication and parent involvement and holds parent advocacy trainings.

All meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at the Department of Family and Community Partnerships, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Other meeting dates are April 12 and May 12.

For more information, call 301-279-3100.

Education Notebook is compiled by Staff Writer Melissa J. Brachfeld. Items appropriate for this column should be sent to mbrachfeld@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183, or by mail to Education Notebook, The Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items are used on a space-available basis.