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Seventh-grade students from St. John's Episcopal School in Olney traveled to the Marine Science Consortium on Wallops Island, Va., Oct. 15 to complete a three-day study of the environment.

Each day began with a series of lectures and associated field trips to specific ecological zones. Students collected organisms at each site and brought them back to the lab where they were identified and characterized by anatomy, behavior, distribution and other distinguishing characteristics. All organisms were later returned to their native habitat.

Science teacher Jeanette Becker said students "literally wallowed in the mud" and smelled of purple sulfur bacteria, which gives off the odor of rotten eggs.

"They caught organisms in seine nets and sifted the creek's bottom to find snails, blood worms and tunicates, also known as sea squirts, all in the name of science," she said in a press release to The Gazette.

The field trip is part of a larger World Village Experience Program at St. John's in which students are being prepared for a future of global leadership and citizenship.

Paint Branch

to hold open house

Paint Branch High School will hold a northeast consortium open house 7-9 p.m. Thursday.

The open house is for eighth-grade students and their families involved in the choice process. All are welcome to tour the school and learn about the Science and Media Signature program. Administrators, teachers, parents and students will be available to answer questions about the school, academic programs, extracurricular activities and the sports program offered at Paint Branch.

A brief auditorium assembly will kick off the program at 7 p.m., followed by tours of the building. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the tours.

RM to dedicate stadium

to longtime coach

Richard Montgomery High School will dedicate its new football stadium to longtime coach Roy Lester during halftime of Friday's game.

Lester coached at Richard Montgomery from 1959 to 1968, and then served as head football coach at the University of Maryland for three seasons from 1969 to 1971. While coaching in Montgomery County, he won 260 games and had eight undefeated seasons.

Richard Montgomery dedicated the old school's stadium to Lester in 2003.

For more information, contact Richard Montgomery athletic director Bob Maxey at Robert_D_Maxey@mcpsmd.org.

The Tide comes out on top

Richard Montgomery High School's student newspaper, The Tide, received a first-class rating from the National Scholastic Press Association for its seven issues for the 2007-2008 school year.

The student editors-in-chief were Sandhya Devaraj, Lelia Glass, Katie Smith and Amanda Yeager. Jonathan Taylor, a history teacher, serves as faculty sponsor.

Magruder yearbook staff strikes gold

The 2008 Liberator Yearbook staff at Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Derwood was awarded a Gold Medal certificate from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Magruder to conjure up ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The Col. Zadok Magruder High School Drama Department will present William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 in the school's auditorium. 

One of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, the play features tales of magic and misdirected love set in a moonlit forest on a midsummer night set in the 1960s.

To reserve seats early, send an e-mail request to magruderbusiness@yahoo.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Magruder High School is located at 5939 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. For more information, call 301-840-4600.

Get ready for ‘Dinner' at Richard Montgomery

Richard Montgomery High School will present "The Man Who Came to Dinner" at 7:30 p.mm. Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22 and a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16 on the school stage, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.

Tickets are available at the door.

The student-run production consists of 180 students who handle costumes, lighting, makeup, props, publicity, set construction, set decoration and sound, all under the supervision of artistic director Denise Saladyga.

Items appropriate for School Notes should be sent to Melissa J. Brachfeld at mbrachfeld@gazette.net, sent by fax to 301-670-7182 or 301-670-7183, or mailed to School Notes, The Olney Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items will be used on a space-available basis.