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The global awareness group, part of the Leadership Training Institute at John F. Kennedy High School, is raising awareness about human trafficking by screening a documentary on the subject for the community, 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the school's auditorium, 1901 Randolph Road.

The documentary, produced by the Not For Sale campaign, a global advocacy group dedicated to re-abolishing slavery and ending human trafficking, will feature the destructiveness of human trafficking, as well as where it's taking place, who the victims are and what their lives are like. This event is free and open to the community.

Farquhar wins second place

at competition

Five Farquhar Middle School students took second place at the Big Bones Bash at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14.

The Olney school's team was made up of eighth-grade students Jordan Newmark and Bhakti Patel and seventh-grade students Hayley Mazur, Jordan Holbrook and Sarah Khan. Farquhar teacher Linda Lindstrom was the team's sponsor.

The team had to submit a concept by Oct. 14 on how to teach young people about the importance of getting enough calcium in their diets. The team was then notified that they were chosen to be finalists in the calcium challenge.

The students used the cell phone to inform teenagers about what their bodies need.

The Farquhar students were awarded $500, which will go to the school's Family and Consumer Science Department. The competition was sponsored by Cabot Cheese, Smithsonian Institute, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Giant.

Fundraising book fair

at Barnes & Noble

The Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation in conjunction with Barnes & Noble Booksellers will hold a fundraising book fair Dec. 3-5.

During that time, a portion of all book and music sales made at the any of the stores nationwide will be donated to the foundation. Shoppers must present a special voucher number, 595355, at the time their purchase is made.

Special events for children and adults will be held at the Rockville Barnes & Noble Booksellers store, located in the Montrose Crossing Shopping Center at Rockville Pike and Randolph Road, during the promotion.

-The events are as follows:

Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. — "Polar Express" story time with activities and snacks.

-Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. — Educator Appreciation Day. Teachers will receive 25 percent off books and 10 percent off music.

-Dec. 5, 11 a.m. — Costume character and story time.

-Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m. — Reading and book signing with Shawn K. Stout, author of "Fiona Finkelstein, Big-Time Ballerina!!"

The MCPS Educational Foundation in a nonprofit organization that provides funds for programs that the annual school budget cannot support, including funding for special equipment, technology grants and programs for at-risk students.

For more information, visit www.mcpsfoundation.org.

Sandy Spring Friends to hold open house, winter carnival

Sandy Spring Friends School will hold an open house and annual Winterfest fair Dec. 5.

Winterfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the open house will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.

For the open house, the school requests families to arrive no later than 11 a.m. in order to have sufficient time to tour the campus. No reservations are necessary.

Those unable to attend but still interested in visiting are asked to call the admissions office at 301-774-7455, ext. 115.

Winterfest, which is free and open to the public, will feature food, music, breakfast with Frosty the Snowman, art and jewelry for sale and more.

For more information, visit www.ssfs.org.

Reading volunteers needed

The Ruth Rales Comcast Kids Reading Network is seeking volunteers to tutor second grade students in reading at public elementary schools in Montgomery County.

Volunteers will work with the same student for one hour each week. Training and materials are provided.

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, call 301-279-3890 or visit www.montgomeryschools

md.org/readingnetwork.

School-closing procedures outlined in case of weather

It's getting to be the time of year when winter weather may disrupt school operations, forcing schools to close, dismiss early or delay opening.

Announcements of school closings or delays are made as early as possible, generally in time for news broadcasts that begin at 5 a.m. If schools are closing early, the announcements are made by 11 a.m.

There are several ways to get the latest information on closings.

-MCPS QuickNotes e-mail news service will send emergency information to subscribers. To sign up visit www.mcpsquicknotes.org.

-MCPS home page

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ will display emergency announcements in bold red letters at the top of the page.

-ASK MCPS Telephone Information Center at 301-309-6277 has English- and Spanish-speaking operators available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

-MCPS information line, 301-279-3673, has recorded information 24 hours a day.

-MCPS Cable channel 34 and local radio and TV stations will broadcast the information

-MCPS will Twitter at

www.twitter.com/mcps.

-Schoolsout will text message your cell phone with school emergency information There is a fee for the service, but emergency information is available by e-mail without a fee at http://www.schoolsout.com/.

Items appropriate for this column should be sent to syarborough

@gazette.net. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items are used on a space-available basis.