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After reading "Maniac Magee," a book about a homeless teenager, sixth grade students at Green Acres School in North Bethesda started brainstorming ideas to help Montgomery County's homeless population.

They thought about making sandwiches for a soup kitchen, or collecting toiletries, but with winter fast approaching, they realized the homeless needed one thing most: clothes.

The 31 students ended up collecting more than 2,000 items of winter clothing, which they donated Monday to Silver Spring nonprofit Shepherd's Table.

"They feel like they are really a part of it," said Green Acres teacher Kara Combs. "This is a new project for the school, and the kids really took control."

To publicize the project, students hung flyers around the school and their community, wrote articles for the parent newsletter, and solicited donations from their churches and sports teams, Combs said.

What started as a way to connect real life with literature turned into a life-changing experience for some students, Combs said.

"They were just beyond excited and touched that they were really helping people in need," she said.

WJ Crew team hosts Hamlet fundraiser

The Walter Johnson High School crew team will host a fundraiser from 5-9 p.m., Dec. 9, at the Hamburger Hamlet in Bethesda.

During those hours, 15 percent of all food and non-alcoholic beverage sales will be donated to the team.

Hamburger Hamlet is located at 10400 Old Georgetown Road, in the Georgetown Square Shopping Center.

For more information, call the restaurant at 301-897-5350.

Free college admissions workshop comes to B-CC

A free workshop, "Getting into the College of Your Choice," will take place from 7:30-9 p.m., Dec. 4, at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda.

The event will be led by Eliot Applestein, an area college admissions expert, and topics will include early decision, college essays, the SATs and ACTs, and extracurricular activities, among other things.

The workshop will take place in the school's chorus room.

For more information contact Applestein at eliotapplestein@verizon.net.

B-CC High School is located at 4701 East-West Highway, Bethesda.

Holy Child to

Host Holiday Bazaar

The Connelly School of the Holy Child will host a holiday bazaar Saturday and Sunday at the school's Potomac campus.

More than 75 vendors will be on hand, selling jewelry, stationary, art, monogrammed clothing, handbags and much more. A café and bake sale will offer food and drinks. Entry to the bazaar is free.

On Saturday the bazaar will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday it will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holy Child is located at 9029 Bradley Boulevard, Potomac.

For more information, visit www.holychild.org, or call Suzi Montes de Oca at 301-365-0955.

‘Horrors' come to B-CC

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School's theater department will present "Little Shop of Horrors" on Dec. 5-7 and 12-13 at the school's Bethesda campus.

The rock musical features doo-wop, Motown and rock songs, and is appropriate for the whole family.

Showtime is 7 p.m. for all shows, except for a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 7.

Tickets are $10 for ages 12 and under and students, and $15 for adults. Visit www.bcctheater.com to purchase tickets. For more information, contact Sally Kelly at 301-656-6634.

Grease slides into Wootton

The Wootton High School Center for the Arts presents "Grease," Dec. 4-7 at the school in Rockville.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4-6, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 7.

Tickets are $12 for reserved seating and $8 for general admission and can be purchased at www.fieldhouse.com/

woottondrama or at the door.

For more information, call 301-279-8581. Wootton High School is located at 2100 Wootton Parkway, Rockville.

Bright poster contest

Shine a light on energy conservation with Montgomery County Public Schools' annual "Watt's Up?" poster contest.

The competition, sponsored by the school system's School Energy and Recycling Team, is open to MCPS elementary and middle school students, and a winner will be selected in each of the three age group categories: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade and sixth through eighth grade. One entry per category per school will be selected for the final judging.

Posters must encourage others to save energy and not exceed 18-by-24 inches. Entries must be original work and can be done by individuals or groups of up to four students. The winners will be chosen by MCPS facilities management staff and announced by the end of the school year.

Submit entries by Feb. 20, 2009, to SERT Program Manager, Department of Facilities Management, 2096 Gaither Road, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20850. Entries will become property of MCPS and may be used in future school educational campaigns. Posters must be submitted with an official Watt's Up? entry form signed by a sponsoring teacher, principal and parent.

For more information, contact hillary_h_kirchman@

mcpsmd.org, call 240-314-1092 or visit www.montgomery

schoolsmd.org/departments/

facilities/greenschoolsfoscus.

School Notes is a weekly column during the school year. Send story ideas by 10 a.m. Thursdays to Bradford Pearson via e-mail at bpearson@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183 or by mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Photos will also be considered.