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A free Olympic Skills Competition for boys and girls ages 8 to 13 will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Good Hope Neighborhood Center, 14715 Good Hope Road in Silver Spring. The event, held in conjunction with Marilyn J. Praisner Community Center, East County Community Center, Long Branch Community Center and the Jr. Olympic Skills Competition, is the official youth skills competition of the U.S. Olympic Team and offers a chance for young athletes to showcase their athletic abilities in four sports: basketball, soccer, tennis and track and field.

Youngsters can participate in any or all of the individual sports and advance through three levels of competition, including local, regional and the national finals. Each sport is scored individually and the boys and girls compete separately.

Good Hope Neighborhood Center is hosting the regional competition in June 2009. All participants must compete in a local qualifying event to advance to higher levels of competition. Age is determined as of Aug. 31, 2009.

All participants must provide a copy of a valid birth certificate or other proof of identification and age at all levels of competition for each sport.

Each youngster may participate in only one local qualifying event for each sport. For a registration form, call 240-777-6840.

Middle school competes

in National Science Bowl

A team from Takoma Park Middle School moved to the "Sweet 16" in the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., but was eliminated in the event featuring 16 high school and 16 middle school teams. Only two high school teams and two middle school teams survived double elimination to compete in the national championship over the weekend at the National Building Museum. The high school national champion received an all-expense-paid science research trip to attend the International Science School at the University of Sydney, Australia.

More than 20,000 students competed in this year's National Science Bowl regional competitions. Since the National Science Bowl's inception in 1991, more than 150,000 students and teachers have participated.

Teacher awarded

a ‘Golden Apple'

Jennifer Blaine, a third-grade teacher at St. Michael the Archangel School in Silver Spring, is one of 10 teachers from the Archdiocese of Washington who will receive Golden Apple Awards this month, which includes a $5,000 prize along with a golden apple, pin and certificate. She is being honored for her excellence in teaching and commitment to Catholic education. Blaine has been part of the St. Michael community for 27 years and has served in numerous leadership positions, including acting principal from 2001-2004. She has mentored new teachers, directed the after-care program for 10 years, operated the summer program from 1985-1995, coordinated Christmas and spring shows, coordinated the annual Book Fair and served on the Parish and School Anniversary/Reunion committees. Currently, she serves as teacher and textbook coordinator, service coordinator, school yearbook and catechist for sacramental preparation for the school's second graders.

The Golden Apple Award was established by the Jack and Rhodora Donahue Family Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pa., whose founders, Jack and Rhodora Donahue, sent their 13 children to Catholic schools. They established the award to express their deep appreciation to Catholic school.

Silver Spring mom wins college aid through

‘Tyra Banks Show'

Agaba Bisengo of Silver Spring was one of five moms to receive a full-ride online college scholarship through "The Tyra Banks Show" and "Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!" Bisengo and other winners were awarded the scholarships April 20 during an episode of the show. The moms can receive a free education through online colleges: Ashford University, Capella University, Everest University, Virginia College and Ashworth College. 

Bisengo, who is from south western Uganda, wrote an essay to win the contest and described carrying firewood from house to house begging to exchange for food with natives until she came to America 13 years ago. She will pursue a master of business administration, with a focus on organizational leadership, from Ashford University.

Silver Spring resident

to intern at Goldman Sachs

Silver Spring resident Jason Bernier will intern for the third summer in a row in the technology department of Goldman Sachs. A graduate student in computer science at Hampton University, Bernier has also interned at Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors in Manassas, Va.

Lutheran school hosts events

Calvary School, a junior-kindergarten through grade 8 school at 9545 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring, will hold a variety of events in the coming weeks. For more information, call 301-589-4001, ext. 204 or e-mail schooloffice@celcs.org.

A Circus Celebration for families with preschoolers will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. May 14. Enjoy puppets, stories, music and snacks. The free event will be held rain or shine.

A Teddy Bear Picnic for families with preschoolers will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 1. Enjoy puppets, stories, music, action and snacks. The free event will be held rain or shine.

A Children's Music and Arts event will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 28, featuring music, art and poetry.

Wheaton class

of 1964 holds reunion

Wheaton High School class of 1964 will hold its 45th class reunion July 24, 25 and 26. The event will feature a mixer July 24, a dinner and dance July 25 and a morning brunch July 26. For more information, visit www.wheaton1964.org.

Send items for the Education Notebook to The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. Items may be e-mailed to flewis@gazette.net or sent by fax to 240-473-7501.

Eighteen county students win Maryland History Day prizes

Students from Eastern Middle School and Grace Episcopal Day School in Silver Spring won prizes in the Maryland History Day competition during the April 25 event on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Students qualifying for the statewide Maryland History Day competition were selected from over 16,000 Maryland students from 16 counties and Baltimore City who entered projects at school and regional contests following this year's theme of "The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies." The competition encourages students to develop their research and analytical skills. To that end, students worked individually or in groups to research and present findings for historical topics of their choice.

Student winners were chosen for both individual and group efforts in Junior and Senior divisions. Winners from five categories — research papers, museum-type exhibits, performances, web sites, and multimedia documentaries — will represent Maryland at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest on June 14-18, at the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition, 40 students received special prizes in various themed categories.

Langston Cotman, Isabel Hendrix-Jenkins and Nick Park from Eastern Middle School placed first in Junior Group Documentaries for the project, "D.A. Henderson: Pioneer in Smallpox Eradication."

Sarah Goldberg, Hannah Hwong, Temi Ibirogba and Sarika Ramaswamy from Eastern Middle School placed first in Junior Group Performances for the project, "Katharine Graham: The Rise of the Washington Post during Watergate."

Alanna Natanson from Eastern Middle School placed second in Junior Individual Performances for the project, "That Flanagan Woman: The Story of Hallie Flanagan in Three Parts."

Riley Mazariegos from Grace Episcopal Day School received the Special Prize in Religious Freedom, Junior Division, sponsored by the Rev. Florence L. Ledyard, Rector, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, for the Individual Exhibit, "Elie Wiesel: Prisoner to Peacemaker."

Julia Fine, So Jung Kim and Sierra Polston from Eastern Middle School received the Special Prize in Social History, Junior Division, sponsored by Maryland State Society, Colonial Dames XVII Century, for the Group Performance, "Edith Green: The Referee of Gender Discrimination."

County has eight Gates scholars

Eight county residents have been named to the 10th annual class of Gates Millennium Scholars, a highly competitive scholarship for minority students around the country. Sponsored by a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the program awards good-through-graduation scholarships for 1,000 students around the country, focusing on students interested in science, mathematics and education.

Twenty-three students won the scholarships in Maryland this year.

Montgomery County's recipients are: Yenia Cardozo Gomez of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School; Ana Coello of Albert Einstein High School; Nosheen Hayat of John F. Kennedy High School; Nyamagaga Gondwe of Rockville High School; Macarena Torres and Kashira Turner of Watkins Mill High School; and Oscar Portillo of Wheaton High School. Rockville resident Angelica Acosta, of the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., also won the award.

In Maryland, Watkins Mill's pair of recipients was topped only by Eleanor Roosevelt High, a magnet high school in Greenbelt, which had three. Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale also had two recipients.

Wheaton High hosts EsaÌ Lopez Poetry Contest

Wheaton High School will host the awards ceremony for the second-annual EsaÌ Lopez Poetry Contest at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the school, 12601 Dalewood Drive.

The idea for The EsaÌ Lopez Poetry Contest came last year during April, National Poetry Month, as a collective effort from the school's media center, literacy teacher and English department. The contest launched interest in creative writing and re-energized the school's literary magazine club, currently in production, according to a news release from the school.

While the contest has provided an outlet for previously-untapped creative writers at Wheaton High School, it is also a message to the students and to the community about the importance of literature in all cultures.

Takoma Park youth honored by entrepreneurship group

Brandon Haynes, Takoma Park resident, is one of 30 students who were just awarded and honored as a Global Youth Entrepreneur of the year by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) on April 16 in New York City at the foundation's 16th annual Spirit Awards dinner.

NFTE is a global nonprofit that provides entrepreneurial programs to students in low income communities and helps build excitement for the workplace by connecting skills learned in the classroom to real world business scenarios.

Haynes participated in NFTE's local entrepreneurship education programs chapter in Takoma Park and impressed judges with his business plan Innovative Event Concepts, which will team up with nonprofits to provide internship and employment opportunities for high school and college students and tap into their social networks to promote family-oriented events. Haynes's model was based on his childhood experiences. At age 16, Brandon and his family were evicted from their home in Montgomery County. For the next few years, in order to survive, he and his mother and four brothers had to live with his uncle in an impoverished neighborhood in Northwest Washington D.C. While Haynes's mother fought the eviction in court, she lost her job and the family continued to struggle, terrified of the drug violence just down their block.

Takoma Park Middle School students, teachers honored

Takoma Park Middle School seventh-grader Shaun Datta has won the Ben Carson Scholarship Award and received the award with other students at the Carson Scholars Fund's 13th-annual awards banquet Sunday at Martin's West in Woodlawn. Ben Carson delivered the keynote speech and legendary newscaster/anchor Sam Donaldson was to serve as the masters of ceremonies.

Takoma Park Middle School teacher Sarah Manchester's MathCounts team placed first in the state at the MathCounts competition held March 21 at Johns Hopkins University. Manchester will coach the winning state team of Sam Zbarsky, Jason Hyun and Charlie Pasternak at the National Competition, which will be held in Florida in May. 

Takoma Park Middle School's Science Team — Avikar Periwal, Charlie Pasternak, Sam Zbarsky, Myles Wagner and Daniel Amir, and Mrs. Phelan and Mrs. Epling, science teachers and sponsors — placed first at the State Science Academic Competition. The team will compete in the 2009 National Competition in Washington, D.C., Thursday through Monday.

Rock N' Soul Revue 2009 coming Banneker MS

Back by popular demand for the eighth year running, Rock N' Soul Revue 2009 will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and May 15 and 16 at Benjamin Banneker Middle School, 14800 Perrywood Drive in Burtonsville. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. The event will include comedy, singing, dancing and music.

For more information, e-mail rns.crazy8@yahoo.com.

Loiederman Middle School presents ‘Fiddler on the Roof'

A Mario Loiederman Middle School Magnet for the Creative and Performing Arts will present "Fiddler on the Roof Jr." 7 p.m. May 15, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 16 and 2 p.m. May 17. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults, and can be ordered in advance, or purchased at the door.

Maurice Johnson, the school's theater instructor, directs the show. This is Johnson's fourth main-stage performance at Loiederman.

Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye the Dairyman, whose hold on tradition in the fictional czarist Russian town of Anatevka is tested by the successive marriages of his three oldest daughters. What began as classic Yiddish literature has developed into a universal story about the dissolution of the Old World in the face of modern complexities.

This special edition of one of Broadway's great masterpieces, "Fiddler On The Roof Jr." covers the full range of human emotions, presenting young performers with unique acting challenges — especially the mature young man starring as Tevye — among the most memorable and rewarding roles in musical theater.

Vehicles needed for educational programs

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation needs donated vehicles for Montgomery County Public Schools high school auto educational programs.

The foundation, which is a licensed used-car dealership, provides auto students at four county high schools with an opportunity for hands-on experience in the field, according to foundation specialist Judyn Rengers. The foundation will accept any vehicle and donations are tax-deductible. Call 301-962-4810 or visit www.atfcareers.org.

Realty group offers scholarship

The Rhonda Mortensen Group of Long & Foster Realtors is offering a $3,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior in the 20901 and 20910 ZIP codes. Students must be accepted to a junior or four-year college in the 2009-2010 school year and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (include high school transcript with application). The deadline is Friday.

To be considered, applicants must submit a 300-word essay on the importance of a positive attitude on your life and successes, including: the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, the role a positive attitude has played in your life and the role you see a positive attitude playing in your future.

Include your name, address, phone number, name of your high school and the college you plan to attend; three letters of recommendation reflecting the applicant's positive attitude.

Get an application at www.helpmerhondarealestate.com or by a request at rhondamortensen@aol.com. Mail to Rhonda Mortensen at the Bethesda Gateway Office, 4650 East West Highway in Bethesda.

Fund offers scholarships for children of service members

Children of U.S. service members who have been killed or permanently disabled in an operational mission or training accident can apply for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. Students who may qualify are encouraged to apply early.

To be eligible, an applicant must be the dependent son or daughter of a U.S. soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or Guardsman who has been killed or permanently disabled as a result of an operational mission or training accident, or who is currently classified as a Prisoner of War or Missing in Action. They must also be a high school senior, high school graduate, or registered as a full time undergraduate student and under the age of 26.

To learn more about the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund and/or to apply, visit www.fascholarship.com/ or call 800-475-6620. The application deadline is July 31.

Register for pre-K, Head Start

Registration for the prekindergarten/Head Start Programs for low-income Montgomery County residents with children who will be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2009, began last week for the school year 2009-2010. Registration for a limited number of openings for Head Start eligible children who will be 3 years old by Sept. 1, 2009, also begins Sunday.

For more information regarding required documents and registration locations and times, contact prekindergarten/Head Start at 301-230-0676 or check the Montgomery County Public Schools Web site.

Volunteer to help a youngster read

Volunteer to help a struggling second grader become a skilled and enthusiastic reader at any of the following schools: Broadacres, Jackson Road, Cannon Road, Burnt Mills, East Silver Spring, Forest Knolls, Sligo Creek, Montgomery Knolls or Woodlin. Tutor the same child each week for one hour during school hours. Training and all tutoring materials are provided to the volunteers as well as on-site support. To find out how to volunteer, contact Peggy Graham at Montgomery County Public Schools at 301-279-3890 or see www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/readingnetwork.

Organization seeks volunteer teachers

English for Daily Living, a classroom program for parents of children in the Montgomery County Public Schools, is seeking volunteer teachers and assistant teachers for spring classes. Classes are held on weekdays, usually in the evenings, at schools in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg.

Lead teachers should have classroom teaching experience, experience teaching adults for whom English is a second language, enthusiasm for working with adult learners, and be available to teach eight two-hour weekly classes.

Assistant teachers should have an interest in working with adults for whom English is a second language and be available to assist during eight two-hour weekly classes.

For more information, contact Jayne Klein at the Literacy Council of Montgomery County, 301-610-0030 or e-mail jayne@literacycouncilmcmd.org.

Foreign exchange group seeks representatives

Asse International Student Exchange Programs is seeking representatives for Montgomery County to help promote and help administer the program. Representatives find and interview host families for the high school exchange program and act as counselors for the international teenagers visiting the area through the program.

The organization will train and reimburse representatives for their time and expenses.

For more information, call 800-677-2773 or visit www.asse.com.