Middle schoolers qualify for state geography bee

Student qualifiers from eastern Montgomery County schools:

*Timothy S. Porter, Grade 7, Francis Scott Key Middle School, Silver Spring

*Daniel Galitsky, Grade 8, Parkland Middle School, Rockville

*Raphael N. Grimes, Grade 8, Silver Spring International Middle School, Silver Spring

*Daniel E. Hafner, Grade 8, Eastern Middle School, Silver Spring

*Saurav Das, Grade 6, Takoma Park Middle School, Silver Spring

*Anthony V. Clark, Grade 8, The Newport School, Silver Spring

*Francisco I. Gonzalez, Grade 8, A. Mario Loiederman Middle School, Silver Spring

*Ronald K. Borkow, Grade 7, St. Bernadette Elementary

Blair students raise funds for measles prevention

Two Montgomery Blair High School student groups, the Future Educators Association and the Technology Student Association, presented a $271 check to Norma Gamero of the National Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross to go toward measles prevention initiatives.

The students spent two weeks in February asking for $1 donations for the Red Cross’ ‘‘Have a Heart, Save a Child” program, where donors received paper hearts to place on a wall at the school for their contributions, said Lisa Seid, lead teacher for the Human Services Professions Academy at Blair.

‘‘The students wanted to do a community service project, and they had the opportunity to contact the Red Cross,” Seid said. ‘‘They were very excited about this.”

The Red Cross initiative to reduce measles deaths is an effort in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Parent workshops in eastern Montgomery

Montgomery County Public Schools is continuing its series of parent education workshops.

‘‘The Power of Positive Discipline” will be held 7 p.m. March 20 at Sligo Middle School, 1401 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring.

‘‘Introduction to Basic Computer Skills” will be held 7 p.m. April 2 at Eastern Middle School, 300 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring.

‘‘Introduction to Microsoft Word” will be held 6 p.m. April 3 at Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring.

‘‘Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet” will be held 7 p.m. April 9 at Newport Mill Middle School, 11311 Newport Mill Road, Kensington, and again 7 p.m. April 17 at Benjamin Banneker Middle School, 14800 Perrywood Drive, Burtonsville.

‘‘What Are the High School Graduation Requirements?” will be held 7 p.m. April 10 at Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring. The same program will be held in Spanish 7 p.m. April 16 at Springbrook High School, 201 Valley Brook Drive, Silver Spring.

‘‘Introduction to Basic Computer Skills” held in Spanish will be held 7 p.m. April 14 at Sligo Middle School, 1401 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring.

‘‘Understanding Preteens and Teens” will be held 7 p.m. April 30 at 9 at Newport Mill Middle School, 11311 Newport Mill Road, Kensington.

‘‘Going Green at Home” will be held 7 p.m. April 30 at White Oak Middle School, 12201 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring.

Other workshops are being held throughout the county. For a complete schedule, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄departments⁄parentacademy⁄.

Paint Branch student wins Comcast scholarship

Paint Branch High School senior Sehar Sabir was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Comcast Leaders and Achievers program to go toward her college education.

The award recognizes students who get involved with their schools to make a positive change for their community and serve as models for other students, according to a news release from Paint Branch.

Sabir, president of the student government association, is also the vice president of the school’s National Honor Society and the opinions section editor of her school newspaper.

She has served as a Senate page for the Maryland General Assembly, participated in the Washington Post’s Ninth Annual High School Writing Seminar and Scholarship Program, and works as an assistant Sunday school teacher and actively does charity work for her youth group.

Paint Branch celebrates Pi

Paint Branch High School celebrated Pi Day Friday in honor of the important number, roughly 3.14, that represents the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. Friday’s date—March 14, or 3⁄14—was chosen in honor of the number.

Students celebrated by playing math games, competing against one another and eating pie. They also presented pi projects, which included research on the history of pi, pi poems, pi cartoons, pi plays, original pi songs and pi fashion.

Springbrook student takes part in scholarship contest

Christina Washington, a senior at Springbrook High School, recently participated in Lynchburg College’s scholarship competition. Washington, already a grant winner, was among 200 students competing for additional funds through completion of an essay contest and interviews with faculty members. The competition recognizes students who excel in scholarship, leadership and community service.

School sponsors lectureon global climate change

Sandy Spring Friends School teacher John Fuller will report on his firsthand look at global climate change in the Arctic and Antarctic during an illustrated lecture at the school 7:15 p.m. April 2 in the campus Performing Arts Center, 16923 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring.

In ‘‘The Arctic and Antarctic: A Firsthand Report on Their Majesty and Fragility,” Fuller will show photos and video taken on two polar expeditions and discuss his impressions and opinions on climate change. The program is suitable for upper middle school grades through adults.

Fuller teaches physical science courses in the Sandy Spring Upper School, including astronomy, physics, and foundations of science.

For more information on the talk, part of the School’s Faculty Lecture Series, call 301-774-7455, ext.131, or visit www.ssfs.org.

Mulch sales

The Springbrook Booster Club’s mulch sale will be held April 5 at White Oak Middle School. High-grade shredded hardwood mulch will be sold for $4 pick-up or $4.25 delivered (delivery for Northeast Consortium only, 10-bag minimum). All proceeds to benefit Springbrook athletics. An order form can be found at www.gobluedevils.net⁄boosters⁄index.html.

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-mail kensalins@verizon.net.

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. 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 or e-mail ljungatheart@yahoo.com.

State recognizes schoolsfor test improvement

More than 100 Montgomery County Public Schools have earned certificates of recognition from the Maryland State Department of Education in the 2007 Maryland School Performance Program. The awards were based on performance on the 2007 Maryland School Assessment.

Ten Title I elementary schools received $5,757.52 each for showing significant improvement, according to a news release from MCPS. Seventy-three other elementary schools, 11 middle schools, eight high schools and one special school also received recognition based on overall achievement or for improvement within a subgroup from the 2006 to the 2007 MSA. Subgroups include race⁄ethnicity, special education, limited English proficiency and students who are receiving free or reduced-price meals.

Viers Mill Elementary School—recently named a National Title I Distinguished School—was the only Title I school to be recognized for both overall achievement and for improvement within subgroups.

The following eastern Montgomery County schools received certificates of recognition from the Maryland State Department of Education for overall achievement (A), subgroup improvement (I) or both (A, I).

Title I elementary schools ($5757.52 award)

East Silver Spring (I)

Highland (I)

Kemp Mill (I)

Montgomery Knolls (I)

New Hampshire Estates (I)

Rolling Terrace (I)

Viers Mill (A, I)

Wheaton Woods (I)

Elementary schools

Bel Pre (I)

Cloverly (A)

Forest Knolls (I)

Glen Haven (I)

North Chevy Chase (A)

Oakland Terrace (A, I)

Pine Crest (I)

Piney Branch (I)

Rock Creek Forest (I)

Rock View (I)

Rosemary Hills (A)

Sligo Creek (I)

Takoma Park (I)

Westover (A, I)

Woodlin (A, I)

High schools

Paint Branch (I)

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