Sligo third-graders to perform ‘Diving into Hot Water’

Sligo Creek was selected by the Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department to participate in the Creating Original Opera program, according to a news release from Sligo Creek.

Diving into Hot Water’s production was made possible by The Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department, The GE Fund, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Sligo Creek PTA.

Local studentswin leadership awards

James Hubert Blake High School student Komal Dilawari and Montgomery Blair High School student Benjamin Simon have been selected to receive $1,000 and the Leadership Montgomery Youth Community Leadership Award, according to a news release from Blake.

Five $1,000 awards are granted annually to Montgomery County high school seniors who have exhibited outstanding leadership in developing and⁄or implemented service learning activities in their communities, according to the release.

The cash awards are sponsored by the law firm of Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy and Ecker, according to the release.

Local student wins Carson scholarship

Alana Richards, a fourth-grader at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School, recently won a $1,000 scholarship from the Carson Scholars Fund, a nonprofit charity founded by Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson and his wife, Candy.

The award recognizes and rewards students in grades 4-11 who strive for academic excellence (3.75 grade-point average or higher) and demonstrate a strong commitment to their community, according to a news release from the school.

For more information, visit  http:⁄⁄www.carsonscholars.org⁄

Takoma Park student a winner of science fair

Takoma Park Middle School student Melodi Anahtar was recently named among the winners of ‘‘Science Montgomery,” a countywide science fair for middle and high school students that is affiliated with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.  

Anahtar’s project, ‘‘The Effect of Use of Movable Insulation on Optimum Window to Wall Area Ratio,” was among 500 submitted.

Each winner received a $100 prize donated by members of the Rockville Rotary Club and certificates from Montgomery County’s Energy Air Quality Advisory Committee and the Rotary Club.

Artist to continue work at Eastern Middle

Artist Arturo Ho appeared at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring May 20 to kick off his third artist-in-residence project at the school as part of its Arts Alive event.

Last year Ho collaborated with Eastern students to make 14 large mosaic panels that line the school’s hallways. The upcoming project will have students creating original stepping stones to be used in the school’s interior courtyard. Eating lunch in the courtyard is one of the ways students at the school are rewarded for improved behavior.  

Ho has also been involved with projects at Silver Spring International Middle School, Takoma Park Middle School, and A. Mario Loiederman Middle School.  

Students honored in recycling poster contest

Student artists from Montgomery County school have won awards in the Montgomery County School Recycling Poster Contest. The theme was ‘‘Don’t Throw It Away, Recycle Every Day.”

Kindergarten and first grade: First place — Susana Ochoa, Rosemont ES, Gaithersburg; Second place — Mia Hazra, Beverly Farms ES, Potomac; Third place — Sam Welsh, Glenallan ES, Silver Spring; Honorable mentions — Jonathan Gonzalez, Sherwood ES, Sandy Spring; and Clarissa Halpern, Ritchie Park ES, Rockville.

Second and third grade: First place — Grace Lee, Ritchie Park ES, Rockville; Second place — Beira Ho, Cannon Road ES, Silver Spring; Third place — Camilo Gonzalez-Sol, Rolling Terrace ES, Silver Spring; Honorable mentions — Rebecca Schrader and Maria Diaz, both of Chevy Chase ES, Chevy Chase.

Fourth and fifth grade: First place — Helana Zagami, Sherwood ES, Sandy Spring; Second place — Kalila Morsink, Chevy Chase ES, Chevy Chase; Third place — Rachel Berlowe-Binder, Chevy Chase ES, Chevy Chase; Honorable mentions — Olivia Mannon and Leighton Moore, Chevy Chase ES; and Aditya V. Kaliappan, Clearspring ES, Damascus.

Sixth to eighth grade: First place — Tiffany Keung, Herbert Hoover MS, Rockville; Second place — Olivia Chao and Anna Rose Chi, Cabin John MS, Potomac; Third place — Carly Stoliker, John Poole MS, Poolesville; Honorable mentions — Devin Luce, Parkland MS, Rockville and Mayu Arimoto, Cabin John MS, Potomac.

Middle School Foreign Language: First place — Dalila Pineda, Takoma Park Middle School, Silver Spring; Second place — Aziz Mbaye, Takoma Park Middle School, Silver Spring; Third place — Dudveris Reyes, Takoma Park Middle School, Silver Spring.

Ninth to 12th grade: First place — Thomas Laprade, Winston Churchill HS, Potomac.

High School Foreign Language: First place — Xiomara Portillo, Seneca Valley HS, Germantown.

Multi Media⁄3-D: First Place — Brendan Lipton, James Hubert Blake HS, Silver Spring; Second place —Timmy Ostermeyer, James Hubert Blake HS, Silver Spring; Third place — Heather Young, James Hubert Blake HS, Silver Spring; Honorable mentions — Sumaccha Duyn and Ana Raffeld, Tilden MS, Rockville.

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

Events at Calvary Lutheran

Calvary Lutheran School will host an ‘‘Authors’ Tea” 8 a.m. May 29 at the school, 9545 Georgia Ave. First-graders will read their writing to guests.

The school will also host a ‘‘Teddy Bear Picnic” 10 a.m. June 2. Parents with young children are invited. Attendees are asked to bring a teddy bear. Call 301-589-4001, ext. 207.

Springbrook students honored

Springbrook High School recently honored students during its annual Awards Recognition Program. The following students were honored.

Beginning Photo: Paula DeGuzman. Advanced Photo: Georgia Gripiotis. Independent Study Photo: Jessica Portillo. IB Visual Art: Michael Siegal. AP Studio: Aselin Lands. Studio Art 2: Raven Johnson. Studio Art 1: Freddie Silvestre Jr. Drawing and Design: Geraldine Gotera. Foundations of Art: Hyowon Sices. Digital 1: Donald Greger. Digital 2: Peter Gambardella. Digital 4: Amir Ali. Ceramics: Rachel Wartman.

Asian American Student Association Award: An Dinh. Outstanding Senior in Computer Science Mini-Scholarship: Peter Meyers.

English Department Award: Nenna Akpaete. Elizabeth Fellow Award for Excellence in Publications: Josh Cantor. Raphael Bennett Award: Jemina Cornejo.

Outstanding Arabic Student: Asifa Sahin. IB Higher Level French Award (diploma): Wilize Maleombho. IB Higher Level French Award (certificate): Ajshay Barber, Georgia Gripiotis. Italian Award: Barbara Alexis. German Language Awards: Laura McNulty, Joshua Wartman.

Level 1 Latin, Perfect Score Latin Exam: Jennifer Lue, Hyowon Sices. Level 2 Latin, Gold Medal Latin Exam: Tim Orbanac, Avinash Kosuru. Top Latin Student Award: Nicole Wise. AP Spanish Literature: Eirene Wang. AP Spanish Language: Melanie Pereira. IB Higher Level Spanish: Marc Anthony Murray. IB Standard Level Spanish: Lauren Nyack. Hispanic Heritage Program Awards: Randy Cardona, Jessica Portillo.

John Phillip Sousa Band Award: Waldemar Berenguer. National School Orchestra Award: Maria Herdoiza. Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Joshua Glaser.

Mathematics Department Award: Kevin Ngo. American Mathematics Competition Awards: Soohyun Anne Myung, Gabriel Yu, Seungun Daniel Myung, Lammi Asrat. Mathematics Commitment Award: Jemina Cornejo. Mathematics Excellence: Ariana Buckley, Michael Siegal, Peter Myers, Michael Winogradoff.

Rensseler Medal: Alexander Ridgway. Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Medal: Nury Criollo. Military Officers Association Medal: Apolline Ngati. Maryland Reserve Officers Association Medal: Daniel Coll. ROTC Department Awards: Kwadwo Asante, Apolline Ngati.

Outstanding Physics Student Award: Peter Gambardella. Outstanding Life Sciences Student Award: Jemina Cornejo. Outstanding Chemistry Student Award: Kevin Ngo. Science Commitment Award: Sara Castillo. Science Achievement Award: Bernard Mamphey. George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science Medal: Joseph Martin.

Outstanding History Student Award: Linnae O’Flahavan. Outstanding Social Studies Award: Emily Blecker. Marian Greenblatt Social Studies Award: Julia Regan Fanelli.

ESOL Department Award: Robel Desta. Vocal Awards: Jessica Johnson. Guitar Awards: Jeffrey Acosta, Leonel Senai-Alemou. Outstanding Physical Education Student: Carlo Galeano, Melisa Corado-Williams. Outstanding Health Student: Folasade Campbell. Achievement in Heath and Human Consumer Sciences: Khadija Campbell. Outstanding Dedication to the Springbrook News Show: Nicodemus Guetatchew.

Senior Athletic Achievement Award: Melisa Corado-Williams, Uchenna Ahaghotu. Outstanding Senior Athlete Award: Shannon Connolly, Charles Galeano. Senior Scholar Athlete Award: Linnae O’Flahavan, Sharif Kronemer.

United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award: Pedro Flores. United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award: Sharif Kronemer. Lewis Black Scholarship: Jackson Costa. Clyde G. Nora Foundation Award (honorable mention): Peter Andoh-Kesson, Cyril Bright, Tiffany Eng, Amina Haleem, Petoucheca Joseph, Kevin Ky, Jonathan Nwosu, Melanie Pereira. Van Hollen Public Service Award: Jonathan Nwosu.

Bryn Mawr College Award: Eirene Wang. Calvin College Award: Megan Van Dyke. Harvard Book Prize: David Sweigart. Smith Book Award: Yvonne Nguyen. Dartmouth Club Book Award: Giridhar Sankar. Holy Cross Book Prize: Angelica Eng. Kappa Alpha Phi Book Award: Benjamin Pierce. Wellesley College Book Award: Erica Barnett. Howard W. Bell Sr. Memorial Book Award: Prapti Muhuri.

Comcast Leadership and Achievers Scholarship: Shanalee Russell. Springbrook Faculty Scholarship: Miriam Ngegba, Jackson Costa. Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution: Marco Penne. Lee Stern Peacemaker Award: Lissett Valle. Prudential Spirit of Community Award: Malcolm Clyburn, My Tran, Victoria Ng, Maria Herdozia. Principal Leadership Award: Jonathan Nwosu. Toyota Community Scholars Scholarship: Melanie Pereira.

Springbrook Sports Academy Award: Taiwo Soetan. Springbrook Unsung Heroes Award: Nicodemus Guetatchew, Pritha Shah. Desiree Pumphrey Sav-A-Life Award: Jessica Lomax. Lensay Kassa Sav-A-Life Award: Maria Christina Herdoiza. Linda Trinh Scholarship: Wilize Maleombho. Kesi Guilford Reynard Scholarship: Naderge Nwana. Charles Murkey Administrative Award: Bladimir Ramirez. David Cooper Robin Award: Kwadwo Asante. Dr. Richard Ahlberg Award: Jonathan Nwosu. Dr. Thomas P. Marshall: Sharif Kronemer.

Board of Ed seeks students for family life committee

High school students are needed to serve on the Family Life and Human Development Advisory Committee of Montgomery County Public Schools.

The committee helps educators within the school system to administer the family life and human development program.

Student appointments are for one year. Applicants must be residents of Montgomery County and be a student at an MCPS high school. 

Applications must be received by close of business June 6 for appointments to be made by the Board of Education at the Board meeting on June 23.

To apply, contact Becky Gibson at 301-279-3301 or e-mail Becky_Gibson@mcpsmd.org. Application forms also may be completed by accessing them at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄boe. Mail applications to Roland Ikheloa, chief of staff, Montgomery County Board of Education, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 123, Rockville, MD 20850, Roland_Ikheloa@mcpsmd.org.

Kennedy foundation to host fundraising golf tourney

The John F. Kennedy High School Educational Foundation invites the public to participate in the first annual Cavalier Classic Golf Tournament 9 a.m. Oct. 17 at Hampshire Greens Golf Course in Silver Spring.

The registration fee is $150 per golfer, or $500 per foursome. Registration includes greens fees, golf cart, and post-golf awards lunch. Prizes will be awarded, and a limited amount of corporate sponsorships are also available.

The Kennedy High School Educational Foundation was launched in September 2007 to support the people and programs at Kennedy High School. In its first four months of existence, the JFK Ed Foundation, founded by a small group of JFK parents, alumni, staff and local business leaders, has created an alumni network, a local business network, and raised more than $40,000 for the school.

Additional details about the golf tournament can be found at www.CavalierClassic.com.

Additional information about the Foundation and registration information for the Cavalier Classic, can be found at www.JFKEdFoundation.Org, or by contacting tournament director Richard Glover at Richard_Glover@yahoo.com or 240-299-7188.

Schools earn recognition from state for test improvement

More than 100 Montgomery County Public Schools have earned certificates of recognition from the Maryland State Department of Education in the 2007 Maryland School Performance Program. The awards were based on performance on the 2007 Maryland School Assessment.

Ten Title I elementary schools received $5,757.52 each for showing significant improvement, according to a news release from MCPS. Seventy-three other elementary schools, 11 middle schools, eight high schools and one special school also received recognition based on overall achievement or for improvement within a subgroup from the 2006 to the 2007 MSA. Subgroups include race⁄ethnicity, special education, limited English proficiency and students who are receiving free or reduced-price meals.

Viers Mill Elementary School—recently named a National Title I Distinguished School—was the only Title I school to be recognized for both overall achievement and for improvement within subgroups.

The following eastern Montgomery County schools received certificates of recognition from the Maryland State Department of Education for overall achievement (A), subgroup improvement (I) or both (A, I).

Title I elementary schools ($5757.52 award)

East Silver Spring (I)

Highland (I)

Kemp Mill (I)

Montgomery Knolls (I)

New Hampshire Estates (I)

Rolling Terrace (I)

Viers Mill (A, I)

Wheaton Woods (I)

Elementary schools

Bel Pre (I)

Cloverly (A)

Forest Knolls (I)

Glen Haven (I)

North Chevy Chase (A)

Oakland Terrace (A, I)

Pine Crest (I)

Piney Branch (I)

Rock Creek Forest (I)

Rock View (I)

Rosemary Hills (A)

Sligo Creek (I)

Takoma Park (I)

Westover (A, I)

Woodlin (A, I)

High schools

Paint Branch (I)

Teachers earn national certification

Seventy-four educators in Montgomery County Public Schools achieved certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2007. The county has 363 board certified teachers overall, according to a news release from the school system.

Teachers achieve certification after completing a series of assessments that include teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes, and rigorous analyses of their classroom teaching and student learning.

Candidates also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge and their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students.

Non-administrative school-based MCPS teachers receive an additional $2,000 in their MCPS salary each year as long as they retain a valid NBPTS certification. The state matches the local salary supplement with a stipend of $2,000 per year for school-based educators who meet the eligibility requirements set by the state.

Educators who earned certification in 2007:

Bonnie C. Globerman, Arcola Elementary School

Katherine R. Landry, Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School

Carolyn J. Goshen, Beall Elementary School

Juliet D. Wolfe, Bells Mill Elementary School

Leslie V. Blaha, Montgomery Blair High School

John A. Haigh III, Montgomery Blair High School

Nicole C. Hopkins, Montgomery Blair High School

James R. Schafer, Montgomery Blair High School

Caitlin M. Sullivan, Montgomery Blair High School

Damon L. Pigrom, James Hubert Blake High School

Rachel F. Fisher, Little Bennett Elementary School

Allison M. Becker, Broad Acres Elementary School

Linda M. Schneider, Burtonsville Elementary School

Tara M. Strain, Cabin John Middle School

Diane Kolata, Chevy Chase Elementary School

Lisa Alderoty, DuFief Elementary School

Patricia L. Carballo, Albert Einstein High School

Raegan M. Hilbrecht, Fallsmead Elementary School

Therese O. Louie, Fallsmead Elementary School

Cynthia H. Weston, Fox Chapel Elementary School

Wayne Breslyn, Gaithersburg High School

Kimberly A. Henriquez, Germantown Elementary School

Rebecca E. Redman, Great Seneca Creek Elementary School

Jennifer R. Strouble, Great Seneca Creek Elementary School

Kristen M. Mankulish, Greenwood Elementary School

Jane H. Reiser, Herbert Hoover Middle School

Brian D. Freiss, Highland Elementary School

Barbara A. Covington, Highland View Elementary School

Rui-Hung Tsai, Jones Lane Elementary School

Reyna S. Farber, Kemp Mill Elementary School

Candice E. Marshall, Kensington Parkwood Elementary School

Anna M. Galdi, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

Mark E. Craemer, Lakelands Park Middle School

Stephanie S. Sheron, Lakelands Park Middle School

Michelle M. Mach, Longview School

Meredith R. Howington, S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary School

Jennifer L. Delorge McKeown, New Hampshire Estates Elementary School

Noreen P. Gale, Oakland Terrace Elementary School

Susan C. Mathis, Oakland Terrace Elementary School

Jessica M. Bain, Pine Crest Elementary School

Lisa L. Harris, Pine Crest Elementary School

Margaret M. Arnold, John Poole Middle School

Joy A. McIntyre, John Poole Middle School

Catherine A. Sparrow, Poolesville Elementary School

Edward L. Gardiner, Poolesville High School

David F. Horgan, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

Michael J. Humphreys, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

Valerie S. Rey, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

Virginia A. Azuree, Richard Montgomery High School

Martin J. Morin, Seneca Valley High School

Julianne B. Kettleman, Seven Locks Elementary School

Julie R. Lowe, Sherwood Elementary School

James M. Douglas, Sherwood High School

Allison L. Erdman, Sherwood High School

Rosemary P. McNary, Silver Spring International Middle School

George C. Pappas, Silver Spring International Middle School

Michelle I. Cohen, Sligo Middle School

Lisa M. Gallo, Summit Hall Elementary School

Jennifer R. Hammer, Summit Hall Elementary School

Daniel T. Hutton, Takoma Park Elementary School

Hue Tran, Takoma Park Middle School

Abby J. Jacobs, Twinbrook Elementary School

Lucia Daubresse, Walter Johnson High School

Amy M. Barnes, Waters Landing Elementary School

Debra G. Levine, Watkins Mill Elementary School

Marie G. Paul, Wheaton High School

Deborah C. Firestone, Wheaton Woods Elementary School

Carol A. Gough-Alonso, Walt Whitman High School

Sarah W. Kass, Walt Whitman High School

Susan J. Kite, Walt Whitman High School

Carin A. Moran, Woodfield Elementary School

Donna M. Schwartz, Woodfield Elementary School

Carolynn Walsleben, Woodfield Elementary School

Amani M. Elkassabany, Thomas S. Wootton High School

Reading tutors needed

Nonprofit organizations the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, Interages and Passion for Learning are looking for volunteer reading tutors to work with elementary school students as part of the Ruth Rales Comcast Kids Reading Network.

Training and materials are provided at host schools: East Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Woodlin, Sligo Creek, Oak View, Rolling Terrace, Montgomery Knolls and New Hampshire Estates elementary schools.

Schools with a need for tutors in the Wheaton area include Arcola, Glenallan, Sargent Shriver and Harmony Hills elementary schools.

Middle and high school students can receive community service hours for volunteering. Tutors work with the same child for one hour per week.

Call Peggy Graham at 301-279-3890 for more information, or visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄readingnetwork.

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