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Cindy Matter, president of the Quince Orchard High School Booster Club, has received the National PTA's highest honor: The National PTA Life Achievement Award.

The school's PTSA presented her the award during a brief Jan. 13 ceremony at the school, citing her commitment and devotion to children and youth.

Matter served as Booster Club president for three years championing projects including citrus sales, mulch sales, and serving as wrestling team coordinator.

"Cindy is an amazing leader, great person, great friend," said PTSA president Kathy Kurkjian in a statement.

The PTA's Life Achievement Award was established in 1899 to honor those who demonstrated exemplary service in support of children, school officials said.

Character Counts scholarship

High school seniors who are residents of the City of Gaithersburg are encouraged to apply for a W. Edward Bohrer, Jr. Memorial Character Counts! Scholarship.

Fifty high school seniors have received more than $107,000 to help with their continuing education costs since the program's inception in 1999.

"I plan on continuing my studies to the best of my ability," said 2009 scholarship winner Francisco Cartagena in a recent letter of thanks to the Gaithersburg's Educational Enrichment Committee.

"The least I could do is to let you all know that people like you do make a change in our community and allow young students like me to have a taste of what a higher education is like."

Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the committee and are based on the embodiment of the Six Pillars of Character Counts!, personal merit, financial need, and the student's commitment to further education.

Previous scholarships have ranged from $1,500 to $3,000 each. Applications are available through school guidance counselors, principals, senior class sponsors, and on the CHARACTER COUNTS! page of the city's Web site at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/communityservices. The deadline for applications is 4 p.m. on Friday, April 23.

This program is funded in part by the W. Edward Bohrer Memorial Fund, DRS Signal Solutions and Rodgers Consulting Inc. For more information contact the Gaithersburg Community Services Division at 301-258-6395 ext. 3.

Open house

Church of the Redeemer Christian School is hosting an Open House from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at the school, 19425 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879.

For more information on curriculum, admission and registration, contact the school office at 240-238-1500 or visit www.church-redeemer.org (keyword:school). Or contact Barbara Schaefer at bschaefer@church-redeemer.org.

Reading volunteers needed

Help second-graders at Cedar Grove, Germantown, Dr. Sally K. Ride, Stedwick, Summit Hall and Watkins Mill elementary schools improve their reading.

Three Montgomery County nonprofits, the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, Interages and Passion for Learning, are seeking volunteer tutors for the Ruth Rales-Comcast Kids Reading Network Program.

The weekly tutoring session may take place before, during or after school. Training and ongoing support, plus tutoring materials and books will be provided. For details call, 301-279-3890 or www.montg

omeryschoolsmd.org/reading

network.

Awards paint a

pretty picture for QOHS

Twelve Quince Orchard High School students are winners in the first round of the National PTA Reflections Arts Competition designed to encourage students to explore their artistic talents. Principal Carole Working and Julie Newcomer encouraged Quince Orchard High School students to submit more than 170 entries this year, to the theme: "Beauty is..."

Judges selected four entries in each of three arts categories to advance to the next level of competition at the county level. Competing in the literature category are sophomore Liza Amatetti, senior Arpine Baghdasarian, senior Christina Hoenow, and sophomore Grace Toohey. Budding photographers from the school, junior Bridget Adams, sophomore Ellie Hernandez, junior Amel Mouloua and junior Natalie Weill will compete in the photography category. Representing the school in the contest's visual arts competition are: senior Heather Mercer, senior Chelsea Patrichuk, sophomore Rebekah Wisniewski and junior Lanyi Zhao.

Youth art contest

accepting entries

Montgomery County students in grades six through 12 are invited to enter their artwork in the 2010 Youth Art Contest and Exhibition sponsored by the Montgomery County Federation of Women's Clubs. All forms of media will be accepted.

Judging will be March 13 at Leisure World in Silver Spring. Nine cash prizes will be awarded to the top entries, and the winners' art will go on to a state competition.

Contact Ruth Melson at 301-221-4469 or rockinruth@verizon.net.

Parent advisory

council meetings set

Montgomery County Public Schools' Parent Advisory Council has set its meeting schedule for the 2009-2010 school year.

The council provides input on communication and parent involvement and holds parent advocacy trainings. All meetings are at 6:30 p.m. at the Department of Family and Community Partnerships, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Meetings are Feb. 24, April 12 and May 12.

For more information, call 301-279-3100.

Education Notebook accepts short news items and photographs about events, people and good news at your school. We feature fundraiser, event and meeting announcements, student and staff achievements, requests for donations, new education initiatives and anything else that goes on in your school. Please send us story ideas at least a week in advance of the event. Contact Melissa A. Chadwick at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877.