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Several organizations are in need of volunteers this month. Read on to find a place to share your talents:

-Go green at paper shredding, recycling event: The Division of Solid Waste Services, Department of Environmental Protection, is looking for volunteers to help at a paper-shredding and recycling event from 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 11 at Montgomery College, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.

This event is approved for Student Service Learning credit. To register, contact Ana Arriaza, volunteer coordinator at 240-777-6445 or ana.arriaza@montgomerycountymd.gov.

-Add to success of Seneca Valley homecoming: Although a month away, homecoming at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown is planned for Oct. 9 and the Student Government Association is looking for help.

Parents are needed to help with the snack table or coat check at the dance and donations of bottled water, soda, paper cups, small paper plates and napkins are requested. The SGA will accept donations at Back to School Night on Thursday or at the school office at any time. Label items SGA Homecoming. For details, e-mail Katie_A_Caldwell@mcpsmd.org.

-Play sports with autistic children: Sports Plus, a nonprofit in Montgomery and Howard counties offering sports programs for children ages of 5 and 14 with mild to moderate autistic spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, is asking for volunteers for fall programs.

Volunteers assist coaches, help with setting up and cleaning up and encourage the athletes. Expertise in a particular sport is not required.

Sports Plus is an approved SSL organization for the county school system. For information about opportunities, e-mail Suzy Kennedy at susan.kennedy@jhuapl.edu or Diane Golden at golden4@ comcast.net or visit www.playsportsplus.org.

Meet the neighbors

Parents had an opportunity to meet John F. Kennedy High School's new principal .

The school's Community Meet and Greet was held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the school, 1901 Randolph Road in Glenmont. Principal Dr. Eric Minus was there to answer questions, and parents and students were invited to participate in activities, learn what the school has to offer and meet others in the school community.

For more information, call 301-929-2100 or e-mail kimberly_n_haydenwilliams@mcpsmd.org.

Meet the principal at

Takoma Park Middle School

Sixth-graders and their families are invited to a Family Picnic at Takoma Park Middle School at 6 p.m. tonight. The picnic will feature free food and a brief introduction to the school's outdoor education program, a two-day camping field trip sixth-graders can attend during the fall.

Back to School Night for parents and guardians of all students will be held at the school at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The open house is an opportunity to meet Principal Renay Johnson and representatives from the county Department of Recreation and Montgomery County libraries, who will discuss upcoming events and programs for middle school students. The school is located at 7611 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring. For details, call 301-650-6444.

Video contest announced

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a video contest for Maryland school children, grades K-12, to help promote the Maryland Farm-to-School Program. The goal of the program is to bring fresh, healthy and local foods to more school lunches.

The contest asks students to answer the question "What does local food mean to you?" in the form of a short video. Winners will receive an iPod Touch, a Maryland State Park Pass valid for one year and the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture, Buddy Hance, will visit the winning school and have lunch with the students.

Contest deadline is Sept. 8, in time for the annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week, Sept. 13 through 17. Contest rules can be found at www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/farm_to_school_youtube_rules.pdf.

Education Notebook accepts news items and photographs about events, people and good news at your school. Please send us story ideas at least a week in advance of the event. Contact Peggy McEwan at pmcewan@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877.

Correction: The original version of this story gave the wrong date for John F. Kennedy High School's meet-and-greet.