Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008
It’s always a treat for students to meet a historical figure. When that person was one of those who sat at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s side during his death, it becomes a lesson in history.
Rev. Samuel ‘‘Billy” Kyles addressed students, staff and parents at Bethesda’s Norwood School Friday, punctuating his speech with messages of hope and charges of tolerance.
‘‘The kids sat in rapt attention of this man,” said Quanti Davis, director of diversity and community development at Norwood. ‘‘Some times people say kids don’t listen; when an adult has something to say though, they listen.”
Kyles, who is the last living person to be with King when he died, taught the crowd to be tolerant of others and to fight injustice. He also spoke at the school last year, but Davis said he had to have him back.
‘‘When I saw the reaction from the students [last year] it was clear we had to keep him coming back,” Davis said.
Davis said since the address he’s received numerous e-mails from parents about the event, praising its universal themes.
‘‘All the kids can take something from it,” he said. ‘‘No matter how young or old, his message transcends, and it means a great deal to our community.”
Student productionshit the stage
With springtime, come plays and musicals to the area’s schools:
*Walt Whitman High School presents ‘‘The Nerd,” a comedy written by Larry Shue, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $8 for students, $10 for adults and $20 for reserved seating. For reservations call (301) 320-6569. Walt Whitman HS is located at 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda.
*‘‘My Favorite Year” is the spring musical for Thomas S. Wootton High School. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on April 11, 12, 17 and 18, and 2 p.m. April 13. Tickets are on sale now at www.fieldhouse.com⁄woottondrama, and cost $10 for general admission and $15 for reserved seating. Wootton High School is located at 2100 Wootton Parkway. For more information, call (301) 279-8581.
*Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School’s theater arts program is performing ‘‘Lend Me a Tenor,” on March 7, 8, 14, and 15, in the school’s auditorium. Showtime for the comedy is 7:30 p.m. each night, in addition to a 2 p.m. matinee March 8. Tickets are $9 for students and senior citizens, and $12 for adults. They can be purchased at www.bcctheater.com, or by calling the B-CC box office at (240) 497-6346. Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS is located at 4301 East-West Highway, Bethesda.
Eat soup, helpUgandan children
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School’s Invisible Children Club is hosting its second-annual Soup⁄Bowls fundraiser to raise money for Ugandan children. The event, held at 6 p.m., April 2 at the school, will offer handmade bowls and soup dinners for a $20 donation.
The bowls are handmade in the school’s ceramics studio.
Last year’s event raised more than $3,000 for the Invisible Children Schools-to-Schools campaign, a group dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in war-torn northern Uganda.
For more information, contact Judy Gilbert Levey at (301) 657-9752 or j.levey@verizon.net.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase is located at 4301 East West Highway, Bethesda.
This column is for you and your school community. Share your School Notes about students, teachers and anyone associated with your school. Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact Bradford Pearson via e-mail at bpearson@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3003, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.
