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As part of their study of Africa during the second quarter, seventh grade social studies students at Julius West Middle School in Rockville took advantage of an opportunity to help their teacher's former student.
Sarah Blackwell, a former student of seventh grade social studies teacher Nadereh Zolghadr, is a Peace Corps volunteer in the village of Maloba in Zambia. When students learned that Blackwell was involved in a project to build a four-room school in Maloba so that students would not have to walk the seven kilometers to the nearest school, they raised more than $2,000.
The Student Government Association of Rosa Parks Middle also raised money to support the project since Zolghadr met Blackwell when she was a student at the Olney school.
Julius West students raise money for fire victims
Students in Rosemary Carlin's sixth grade English classes at Julius West Middle School took matters into their own hands when they heard about the Washington, D.C., family whose house burned down on New Year's Day, killing six family members.
They organized a drive to collect money and write letters of support and consolation to the family. Students exceeded their goal and raised more than $200 in just five days.
Four students win awards
in writing contest
Four students from Montgomery County Public Schools, including one from Wootton High school, won top awards while competing against students statewide in the "Together We're Better Contest," a program sponsored by a public/private partnership including the Maryland State Department of Education and the Arc of Maryland.
The contest recognizes the creative talents of students with disabilities. Competing students were encouraged to create posters and write essays and poems to explain why inclusive schools are good for students, families and communities.
Elementary class winners receive a class party and middle and high school individual winners receive cash awards or gift cards.
Jennifer Kuo of Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville took third place in the high school essay contest.
The winners in the elementary poetry contest are Rosa Doxtater's kindergarten class at Westover Elementary School in Silver Spring, first place; Deborah Eskenazi's fourth grade class at Westover, second place; and Gretchen Beckman's fifth grade class at Summit Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg, third place.
Other agencies that supported the awards program were the Maryland Department of Disabilities, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education.
Edison students take honors
in SkillsUSA
Thomas Edison High School of Technology students won first place in 20 of 21 events at the 2009 SkillsUSA Regional Competition Feb. 4.
Edison SkillsUSA students also walked away with 19 second place and 17 third place honors.
The 38 volunteer judges from local businesses, schools and organizations used specific SkillsUSA guidelines and criteria to select the winners.
The three winners from each competition will compete at the Maryland State SkillsUSA contest in Baltimore and Anne Arundel County March 21.
The annual SkillsUSA Championships is a national-level competition for public high school and college/postsecondary technical students enrolled in trade, technical and skilled service profession instructional programs, including allied health occupations.
The following is a list of the Edison first-place winners: Enzo Montecinos, architectural drafting; Logan Manfred, automotive refinishing technology; Jordan Johnson, carpentry; Adrian Balcharan, computer maintenance technology; Irais Santillan, cosmetology; Dilver Mejia, culinary arts; Theresa Sintetos, customer service and extemporaneous speaking; Juana Majano, food and beverage service; Sess Hoang, job interview; Hadassa Dubuche, job skills demonstration A; Shameka Chambers, job skills demonstration open; Emeralda Andre, masonry; Nathali Destre Viera, nail care; Young Niarhos, plumbing; Anajulia Almonte, prepared speech; Evan Vanden Valenty, residential wiring; Young Su Park, sheet metal; Frank Zhang, advertising design; and Aleah Bond and Adrian Woolcock, promotional bulletin board.
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 Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items are used on a space-available basis.