Blake administrators talk leadership in Texas

The session was attended by about 100 principals and assistant principals from around the United States. The convention was held Feb. 22-24.

Goodman has been the principal of Blake High School since its inception in 1997. She is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently chosen by her peers as the recipient of the 2007 Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision, which recognizes an outstanding Montgomery County public school principal.

With 22 years as an educator in the county, Berry has been with Blake since it opened its doors in 1998. He has served as a departmental resource teacher and signature program coordinator before becoming an assistant principal. In 2007, he was named the Maryland Assistant Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals.

Paint Branch International Night set for Friday

The International Club of Paint Branch High School will hold its fifth International Night at 7 p.m. Friday in the school auditorium.

Sixty-two nationalities are represented by Paint Branch students and many of those cultures will be represented at International Night.

The event will begin with performances from Paint Branch students dressed in native costumes. The countries represented by the performers will include France, Italy, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uremia, Uganda, Columbia, South Korea and more.

The Paint Branch Organizacion de Latinos Americanos, Inspirational Choir, Columbian Folk Team, Modern American Dance Group and the Step Team will also perform.

At intermission, the cafeteria will host a food court where guests will be able sample foods from around the globe provided by Paint Branch students and their families.

Admission to International Night is $5 and proceeds will be donated to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Paint Branch studentto participate in program

Paint Branch High School Senior Sehar Sabir has been selected to participate in The Washington Post’s Ninth Annual High School Writing Seminar and Scholarship Program.

The four-Saturday seminars, which began March 8 and will run through to March 29, are designed to help high school students interested in journalism careers.

Washington Post reporters and editors serve as instructors for the seminars, which are designed to help build the participants’ reporting and writing skills.

Sabir is the opinions editor of the Mainstream, the high school’s newspaper, and a second-year journalism student.

This is the fourth year in a row in which a Paint Branch journalism student has been chosen to participate in this program.

Thinking abouta green career?

The fifth annual Sierra Club Environmental Career Fair will be held 7 to 9:30 p.m. today at the Brookside Gardens Visitors Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton.

High school students and others interested in career options are invited to learn about internships, volunteering, jobs and educational choices.

Call B.J. Altschul at 240-603-8454 or e-mail bjsearth@hotmail.com or visit www.maryland.sierraclub.orgŽmontgomery.

Einstein swings into spring

Albert Einstein High School will hold its annual ‘‘Swing into Spring” dance from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Members of the high school’s award-winning jazz bands will perform, free dance lessons will be available and light refreshments will be served.

The event is sponsored by the Performing Arts Coalition of Einstein. Proceeds benefit Einstein’s music program.

Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the door. The event will be held at the school, 11135 Newport Mill Road in Kensington.

Talking about teensat Magruder

The Col. Zadok Magruder High School PTSA will hold its second teen symposium, titled ‘‘Teen Decisions: Facing Challenges, Choosing Relationships, and Peer Pressure,” on March 19.

The event will be held in the school’s auditorium, located at 5939 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. County agencies will have pamphlets and fliers available from 6:30 to 6:55 p.m. before the event begins at 7 o’clock.

Lance Smith, a Montgomery County Public Schools graduate and motivational speaker who overcame hardships, will speak at the event. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Spanish translation and childcare services will be available.

Gladiators to holdmulch sale on April 5

Northwood High School will hold a mulch sale April 5.

Orders should be placed by March 30 for delivery or pick-up.

The price is $4 per bag for delivery, with a minimum order of 12 bags, and $3.50 per bag for pick-up at the school.

All proceeds will benefit Northwood athletes and musicians and will help pay for the school’s After Prom Party.

To download an order form, visit the school’s Web site at http:⁄⁄montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄schools⁄northwoodhs⁄.

Mail orders and checks to Northwood High School Mulch Sale, 919 University Blvd., Silver Spring, MD 20901.

For more information, call Louise Jung at 301-589-0374 ore-mail ljungatheart@yahoo.com.

Bengals to bag mulchon April 5

James Hubert Blake High School will hold its mulch sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5. The sale is sponsored by the Blake Booster Club and benefits school activities.

Three-cubic-foot bags of shredded hardwood mulch cost $3.75 before March 28 and $4 afterward.

To order, call Ken Salins at 301-384-7616 or e-mailkensalins@verizon.net.

Online ordering is available at http:⁄⁄stores.colorworkspromotions.com⁄blake⁄Mulch⁄Mulch.aspx or by using the order form at the Blake High School Web site at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄schools⁄blakehs⁄ptsa⁄boosterhomepage.

Warriors to holdmulch sale April 6

The Sherwood High School Warrior Club will hold a mulch sale 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 6, rain or shine, in the west parking area of the school.

Cost for a 3-cubic-foot bag of shredded hardwood bark is $4.

Home delivery is available for $5 for orders placed by April 3 and a 10-bag minimum order is required. Delivery is available only within the Sherwood High School community and bags will be dropped off in driveways.

All proceeds will go to support athletic programs at Sherwood. For further information, call Tom Estrin at 301-570-4078 or Mark Deputy at 301-570-1953.

Sherwood High School is located at 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road in Sandy Spring.

Register forprekindergarten, Head Start

Montgomery County Public Schools Head Start and prekindergarten programs are recruiting children who will be 4 years old by Sept. 1 for the 2008–2009 school year.

Prekindergarten and Head Start programs provide comprehensive services such as preschool education, health and social services, and parent involvement for low-income families, including children with disabilities.

Walk-in applications are now being accepted Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141 in Rockville. Parents also can register their children at other locations.

Call the Prekindergarten⁄Head Start Unit at 301-230-0676 for information about documents parents must bring to complete the registration and for a list of additional registration locations and times.

Information also is on the MCPS web site at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄departments⁄earlychi.

Special opportunities to register will be available at the Early Childhood Readiness Fair Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Long Branch Community Center in Silver Spring. The fair is free and open to parents with children from birth to 5 years old. For more information on the fair, call the Judy Center at 301-431-7696.

More information on prekindergarten and Head Start programs is available at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄departments⁄itv⁄ITV_Webcasts_Take10.shtm or in Spanish at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄departments⁄itv⁄ITV_Webcasts_DiezMinutos.shtm webcasts.

Items appropriate for this column may be sent to Melissa J. Brachfeld, The Olney Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; faxed to 301-670-7183; or e-mailed to mbrachfeld@gazette.net. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday. All items are subject to space availability and editing.