Blair student named high school journalist of the year by foundation

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Montgomery Blair High School senior Jody Pollock was named the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Foundation’s 2006 Michael S. Powell High School Journalist of the Year. The award is presented each year following competition among journalists in the area.

Pollock is the third Blair student to win the award in the last six years. She began writing for Blair’s school paper, Silver Chips, during her junior year. Pollock has received other journalism awards, including first- place awards in the features, online features and online editorials categories of the 2005 Maryland Scholastic Press Association journalism contest. She was also a sweepstakes winner in the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ 2005 Quill and Scroll International Writing and Photo Contest.

Pollock will receive a $1,500 award and be honored at the MDDC Editorial Conference and Awards luncheon April 28.

Basket bingoat St. Bernadette

St. Bernadette School, 80 University Blvd. East, will host a Longaberger Basket Bingo event April 7. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the games begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20 and includes three game boards for each of the 20 games.

Proceeds will benefit the school to help provide field trips and extracurricular activities for students.

Registration is suggested. E-mail stbernadettebasketbingo@yahoo.com or call 301-593-4733.

Restaurants raise moneyfor Takoma Park Middle School

Patrons who bring a fund-raising flier to selected area restaurants on specific days will donate proceeds to Takoma Park Middle School toward a sound system. The next days are Friday at Baja Fresh on Fenton Street in Silver Spring and Tuesday at El Golfo on Flower Avenue in Long Branch. Other days are April 6 at Chick-fil-A on Fenton Street in Silver Spring and May 16 at Mark’s Kitchen in Old Town Takoma Park. For information, call Sara Pratt at 301-891-3682.

Blair students win second place in programming contest

A team of students from Montgomery Blair High School took second place in the University of Maryland 16th annual Computer Programming Contest. The contest brings together high school students to participate in a three-hour competition. Students compete in teams of four and demonstrate their programming and problem solving skills by attempting to solve eight programming problems.

Students on the Montgomery Blair team are David Goode of Bethesda, Mitchell Katz of Silver Spring, Mike Luo of Potomac and Matt McCutchen of Rockville.

A team from Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax won first place, but only beat the Blair team by six minutes. Both teams solved all eight problems correctly.

A team from Winston Churchill High School took third place.

Blair seniorreceives science award

Montgomery Blair High School senior Kiran Belani received the ‘‘Advancing Science for Better Health” award from MedImmune of Gaithersburg. Belani received the award at the Montgomery Area Science Fair in Gaithersburg.

Pathways Schoolshold academic expo

An academic expo to showcase the work of students in the Pathways Schools will be held 10 a.m. to noon today at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church on University Boulevard in Silver Spring. Included will be winning entries in Pathways’ ‘‘Alternatives to Aggression and Violence” contest, in which students submit ideas and visions through artwork for positive ways to resolve conflict, according to a news release from Pathways. The Pathways Rhythm Ensemble will also perform, featuring traditional African drumming. Call 301-649-0778.

Springbrook freshman sings with all-state chorus

Etahjayne Harris, a freshman at Springbrook, sang with the 2006 Maryland Junior High All State Chorus weekend March 18-19 in Frederick. Harris was selected by audition in November 2005, from among hundreds of students in grades 7-9.

Forums to highlightmiddle school reforms

Public forums are being held to discuss ways to strengthen the middle school program in Montgomery County Public Schools. Feedback and suggestions will help guide the school system’s Middle School Reform Initiative, according to a news release from the school system.

The forums will be held 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the following dates at these sites:

*Today: Montgomery Village Middle School, 19300 Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg

*Monday: Francis Scott Key Middle School, 910 Schindler Drive, Silver Spring

Interpreters for Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and French will be available. Sign language interpretation will be provided if requested at least one week prior to the event by calling 301-517-5539 or 5582 (Voice⁄TTY).

B-CC announcesLazarus Leadership fellows

Fifteen Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School sophomores and juniors have been nominated to join the Lazarus Leadership Fellows program. Students are selected each year to participate in leadership training in the community.

The fellows will attend nine leadership seminars led by program founder Bruce Adams and business, government and community leaders during the spring. They will also spend a minimum of 200 hours on community service programs.

Program coordinators work with the fellows to select and design service projects.

The selected students are: Naya Misa, Suzan Abebe, Rosemary Dason-Deane, Zack Kohn, Patrick Eagan-Van Meter, John Owen, Walter Beller-Morales, Mark Strom, Tina Walsh, Ginna Roach, Allaire Guralnik, Obadele ‘‘YoYo” Brown, Tom Shriver, Eli Hager and Jessica Akyea.

For more information, contact Bruce Adams at bruce@greaterwash.org or visit www.bccedfoundation.org.

Blair studentreceives scholarship

Hannah Thresher of Montgomery Blair High School has been named a Henry Wells Scholar at Wells College, Aurora, N.Y. Scholars are awarded $3,000 to fund an experiential learning opportunity while studying at Wells College, according to a news release from the school.

Springbrook musiciansgrace Georgia

The Springbrook Instrumental Music Students will perform at the National Music Festival in Atlanta, Ga. Thursday to Sunday. In addition to performing, the group will tour Atlanta and attend the festival awards banquet on Saturday atSix Flags.

Items appropriate for School News may be mailed to The Gazette, 8650 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. They may be sent by fax to 301-562-3262 or by e-mail to jbrocker@gazette.net. Deadline is Wednesday for the following week’s paper.

Springbrook staff members honored

Karen Willets, a foreign language resource teacher at Springbrook High School, has been honored as an ‘‘exceptional role model” by the National Society of High School Scholars.

Willets was nominated by senior Harmony Gbe as an educator who makes a difference, according to a news release from the school.

Reginald Smith, a security assistant at Springbrook High School, was presented with a Drawing the Line Community Recognition Award at a ceremony March 16 in Rockville. Drawing the Line is a project of the Maryland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration and Montgomery County HHS, and is dedicated to reducing adolescent access to alcohol. Smith was recognized for his dedication to improving the lives of young people in the community, according to a news release from the school.

Springbrook senior wins scholarship

Rodolpho Loureiro of Springbrook High School was awarded an ‘‘I Empower” scholarship from Thursday Network, an auxiliary of young professionals from the Greater Washington Urban League.

High schools, middle schools sponsor plays

Several area high schools and middle schools are holding productions this spring.

High schools:

*Albert Einstein: ‘‘Once Upon A Mattress,” a story based on the fable ‘‘The Princess and the Pea,” 7:30 Friday and Saturday at the theater, 11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington. Tickets are $8 reserved seats; $6 rear seats will be available at the door. For reservations, e-mail einsteinstage@comcast.net.

*James Hubert Blake: ‘‘Anything Goes,” April 28, 29, May 4 and 6 at the school, 300 Norwood Road, Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-879-1300.

*John F. Kennedy: ‘‘Aida,” Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the school, 1901 Randolph Road, Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-929-2100.

*Northwood: ‘‘The Cinderella Waltz,” May 5-7 at the school, 919 University Blvd. W., Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-649-8088.

*Wheaton: ‘‘Once on This Island,” today, Friday and Saturday at the school, 12601 Dalewood Drive, Wheaton. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-929-2050.

Middle schools:

*Benjamin Banneker: ‘‘Rock ‘n Soul Revue” May 12, 13, 19 and 20 at the school, 14800 Perrywood Drive, Burtonsville. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-989-5747.

*Briggs Chaney: ‘‘Once Upon a Mattress,” May 4, 5, 6 at the school, 1901 Rainbow Drive, Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-989-6000.

*White Oak: ‘‘Aida,” 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the school, 12201 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Tickets are $6 adults and $4 students. Call the school at 301-989-5780.

Mulch sales

Several area high schools will be holding mulch sales in the coming weeks. Delivery is available in many cases to residents who live near the school or put in large orders.

A mulch sale to benefit the Springbrook High School Booster Club will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at White Oak Middle School, 12201 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Call Ron Lane or Kitty Robbins at 301-989-6070.

The Paint Branch High School Instrumental Music Boosters, in cooperation with Fehr’s Nursery, is selling mulch to benefit all PBHS instrumental music program activities. Hardwood mulch in bags of three cubic feet are priced at $4.50 per bag and is delivered free within the area bounded by I-95, I-495, Layhill Road⁄Ednor Road and the Montgomery–Howard county line. To order, call Bob or Marsha at 301 388-0513 or e-mail kaiskat4@aol.com. Delivery will be made between March 25 and April 5.

County seeking students to serve as election aides

The Montgomery County Board of Elections is seeking 1,000 school age students, grades 6-12, to serve as Election Day Student Aides during the 2006 gubernatorial elections. Students and their guardian must attend mandatory training to serve and, if applicable, to receive Student Service Learning (SSL) credits required for high school graduation.

Students will be placed according to home address into neighboring precincts.

Citizenship is not a pre-requisite. This program is available to all students within a public, private, independent, religious, and home schooled setting located in Montgomery County. Students with bilingual and American Sign Language skills are encouraged to apply.

Apply by mail, fax, or e-mail by May 1, 2006 to Gilberto A. Zelaya II, Future Vote Initiative, Montgomery County Board of Elections, 751 Twinbrook Parkway, P.O. Box 4333, Rockville, MD 20849-4333, fax: 240-777-8505, e-mail: gilberto.zelaya@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Kennedy to hold sports camps

The JFK Jr. Cavalier Sports Program will hold basketball, soccer and flag football camps for boys and girls ages 8-12 at John F. Kennedy High School, 1901 Randolph Road. Sessions run June 19-23 and June 26-30. Fees are $150 per session and after-camp care is $25 per session. Deadline to register is May 26. Call Ken Cudd at 301-962-5936.

Essay contest considers life in 1985 and how it’s changed since then

To encourage students to think about their place in history, University of Cambridge International Examinations is working with schools to hold a 20th Birthday Essay Competition.

CIE wants students to reflect on a time before they were born: 1985. Although this may not seem so long ago to some, the world has developed tremendously since then. In 1985, the world’s population was only 4.8 billion people. That year, Microsoft launched the first version of Windows and Cambridge pioneered the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), the most popular international qualification for students between 14 and 16 years old in the world.

The essay competition is open to Cambridge IGCSE students worldwide. Students will choose one aspect of human life and society that reflects the speed of modern developments. The essays should explore what it was like 20 years ago, how it has changed and what it might be like in 2025.

Winners will be divided into first, second and third places. To learn more about the Cambridge IGCSE 20th Birthday Essay Competition, visit www.cie.org.uk⁄igcse.

Student transfer application season

Montgomery County parents who wish to request a change in school assignment for their children from their home school may begin the process during the upcoming transfer season, which began Feb. 1 and will continue through April 1.

Except for consortium areas, students in Montgomery County Public Schools are assigned to a school on the basis of their place of residence and are expected to attend their home school. Students can change assignments from one school to another if they have older siblings in the requested school, a documented hardship situation, or if they have a continuation in a feeder pattern from middle school to high school, except when affected by boundary changes.

Assignment change forms and the information booklets will be available in schools in February and on the school system Web site at www.montgomeryschoolmd.org.

For more information about the transfer process, parents should contact the principal of their home school. Non-English-speaking parents can receive information by calling the Spanish Hotline at 301-230-3037 or the ESOL parent Center at 301-230-0674. Language Lines also are available to leave a message. They are Spanish, 301-230-5403; Cambodian, 301-230-5427; Chinese, 301-230-5428; French, 301-230-5429; Korean, 301-230-5430, and Vietnamese, 301-230-5432.

For more information about assignments for students residing in consortium areas, call 301-649-8081.

County to hold school media showcase

The Montgomery County School Media Showcase will be held April 26 at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre in Silver Spring.

The Montgomery County School Media Showcase is a chance for students from Montgomery County public and nonpublic schools to showcase their talents in the fields of graphic design and photography, motion media and Web site design. In the last festival in March 2005, more than 900 participants submitted 228 entries from 64 public and nonpublic schools in Montgomery County.

The deadline for entries is March 24. For more information, visit www.mcsmf.org.

Volunteers needed to tutor elementary school students in after-school geography program

Interages Inc., a nonprofit organization, needs volunteers for its Global Wizards geography enrichment program 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through late March at Woodlin Elementary School in Silver Spring. Volunteers meet with two to four children weekly to learn about continents, solve word puzzles, and play geography games. Training, on-site supervision, materials, maps and activities will be prepared for each session. Contact Sara Cartmill at 301-949-3551 or Cartmill@interagesmd.org.

School system Web site offers info in multiple languages

Speakers of other languages other than English can now find information about Montgomery County Public Schools from the system’s home page. Web sites have been created in Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese to enable non-English-speaking families to more easily find news, documents, and information, according to a news release from the school system. The Web site is www.mcps.k12.md.us.

Find the school that serves your neighborhood

A Web site offered by Montgomery County Public Schools is available to help people determine what schools serve a neighborhood or address.

The school system’s Web site www.mcps.k12.md.us features the school assignment locator. Once at the Web site, click on the school assignment locator, then type in the street address and ZIP code. A map will show the address, nearby schools and boundary lines.

Call 301-279-3331 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for information.