Comedy Club to perform at Lee Middle School

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

The Comedy Club at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School in Wheaton will present ‘‘Slaw and Disorder: Comic Intent” 7:30 p.m. April 28 and 29 at the school, 11800 Monticello Ave., Silver Spring.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and are sold at the door.

A spaghetti dinner⁄theater package is available for the April 29 show. Dinner begins at 6:45 p.m. and continues until 7:15 p.m. The cost for dinner is $5 for adults and $4 for students. Call the school at 301-649-8100.

Since 1995, the Lee Comedy Club has been creating original comic material either written by or inspired by Lee’s students, according to a news release from the club. The show is the result of a seven-month process of script development and rehearsals. Fifteen of this year’s 21 comedy sketches have been written by Lee Middle School student writers. All of the material has been developed through the Comedy Club Writers’ Workshop, then revised and improved through readings by student performers. The Comedy Club Writers’ Workshops were led this year by professional playwright⁄comedienne Dale Stein with assistance from comedy writers Austen Villemez and Harry M. Bagdasian.

The show is directed by club cofounder Harry M. Bagdasian and Beck Krefting, a graduate student at the University of Maryland who also works with the students as a comedy and improvisation acting coach. Krefting’s work is underwritten by the Art Gliner Center for Humor Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. This is the fourth year that the Lee Comedy Club has enjoyed the financial support of the Gliner Center.

Middle schoolscience conference

The Middle School Science Student Inquiry Conference will be held today at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. Twenty schools and more than 170 students will participate. Students who have developed inquiry-based research projects can share their results during sessions, workshops, debates and presentations, according to a news release from the conference organizers.

Art show at Einstein

The annual art show sponsored by the county schools’ Visual Art Center at Albert Einstein High School will be held April 26 and 27 at the school, 11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington. Opening receptions will be held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. both days, and the show will be open to the public during the school day. Call 301-962-1027.

Blair leads awards fromfoundation for achievements

Two Montgomery Blair High School students, a Blair High School teacher and Thomas S. Wootton High School have won state awards from the Siemens Foundation for their success with Advanced Placement programs, according to a news release from Montgomery County Public Schools.

Advanced Placement is a signature program of the College Board, which selects up to two students from every state as winners of Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement. The awards also recognize one AP teacher in math, science and technology from each state and one school from each state for exemplary teaching and AP participation.

Montgomery Blair High School students Yueyang Li and John Kim won Siemens Foundation scholarships of $2,000 each. The foundation offers awards for the top male and female student in each state who have earned the greatest number of grades of 5 on AP biology, calculus BC, chemistry, computer science AB, environmental science, physics C: electricity and magnetism, physics C: mechanics and statistics. Both Li and Kim are students in the countywide science, mathematics, computer science magnet program at Blair.

Blair magnet teacher Nannette Dyas won the Siemens state teacher award and $1,000. Dyas teaches analysis 1A, analysis 1B, functions, and linear algebra in the magnet program. Teachers with a minimum of five years of teaching experience in math, science and technology courses are selected for their exemplary teaching and enthusiastic dedication to students and to the AP program.

Thomas S. Wootton High School was the Maryland school selected in recognition of its commitment to students and for being a leader in AP participation and performance. Wootton received a $1,000 grant from the Siemens Foundation to be used to support math and science education.

Area students namedNational Achievement Scholars

Several seniors from eastern Montgomery County have won awards from the National Achievement Scholarship Program for being outstanding black students. The students were named through test scores, recommendations from high school principals and essays, according to a news release from the program.

National Achievement Scholarship winners of $2,500 include Natasha Coleman and Sebastian Johnson from Montgomery Blair High School and Susan Adegboyega-Panox from the Barrie School.

Local studentsearn Hispanic honors

Timothy Antonio Rivera, a Silver Spring resident and student at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., was a winner in the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards. Rivera was a gold medallion winner in the leadership category, and earned a $3,000 educational grant, according to a news release from the sponsoring Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

Karen Campion of Silver Spring was one of 20 high school juniors nationwide awarded a travel grant to Mexico this summer by the National Spanish Honor Society.

Items appropriate for School News may be mailed to The Gazette, 8650 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. They may be sent by fax to 301-562-3262 or by e-mail to jbrocker@gazette.net. Deadline is Wednesday for the following week’s paper.

Poetry slam at Blair

Montgomery Blair High School will hold its first poetry slam 6 p.m. Friday at the school’s media center, 51 University Blvd. E. Many of the students have been working with Carol Peck, a poet-in-residence. For more information, e-mail Ilene Catzva at catzvail@mhbs.edu or call 301-649-2831.

National College Fair at county fairgrounds

The National College Fair, sponsored by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, will be held 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 26, and 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. April 27 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center (fairgrounds) off Perry Parkway in Gaithersburg. Call 703-836-2222.

Youth and family fair at Blair

A youth and family fair for the Silver Spring and Wheaton communities will be held 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 at Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring. The conference will focus on raising awareness of youth violence and gangs, and connecting youngsters and families with service providers. The session will feature speakers and breakout groups.

Blair Fair and Silent Auction

The Blair Fair and Silent Auction will be held April 28 at Montgomery Blair High School. 51 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring. The Blair Fair runs 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the Silent Auction 5:30 pm. to 8:30 p.m. This is the main PTSA fund-raiser of the year. There will be music and performances, including the crowning of Ms. and Mr. Blazer.

The PTSA Silent Auction, in the Student Activities Center, will offer hundreds of items such as teacher baskets, jewelry, tickets to events, weekend getaways and dinners. For more information or to donate items for the silent auction, e-mail Betsy Scroggs at betsyscroggs@comcast.net.

‘Spring Fling’ dance at Blair

The jazz bands at Montgomery Blair High Schools will perform 7:30 p.m. April 29 at the school’s student activities center, 51 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door. E-mail Dustin Doyle at doyledus@mbhs.edu or call 301-649-2839.

Kiwanis Club of Wheaton-Silver Spring presents charter to Parkland

The Kiwanis Club of Wheaton-Silver Spring recently presented a charter to Parkland Magnet Middle School. The Key Club of Wheaton High School cosponsored the charter.

A party at the Parkland Magnet Middle School was held by the Kiwanis Club to celebrate the charter by the Kiwanis Builders Club, whose objective is to work with the schools and community. The Kiwanis Club sponsors Key Clubs in high schools, Circle K in college, K-Kids in elementary schools and Builders Club I’s in middle schools.

Youth summit

The NAACP Montgomery County Youth Council will hold a multicultural youth summit 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at John F. Kennedy High School, 1901 Randolph Road. There will be motivational speakers, entertainment and food. For more information, e-mail gapbuster@earthlink.net.

Step teams fight violence

Step teams from Argyle, Takoma Park and White Oak middle schools will compete, as well as a team from Upper County Steppers 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. April 28 at Springbrook High School, 201 Valley Brook Drive, Silver Spring. The competition is part of a ‘‘Stomping Out Violence Against Our Youth” drive and is sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Call 240-777-4980.

May Fair at Pine Crest ES

The Montgomery Knolls and Pine Crest elementary schools’ PTA will have a May Fair 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 6 at Pine Crest Elementary School, 201 Woodmoor Drive. There will be games for children, a silent auction, plant sale, book sale and bake sale. Proceeds will help pay for educational programs for students. Call 301-649-8066.

Paint Branch hosts 5K run and walk

Walkers, runners and school supporters are welcome at the run and walk, 8 a.m. April 29 at Paint Branch High School 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. Registration will be held at the school 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 28 or on the morning of the race 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The cost is $25. Registration forms are available at the school, online at www.freewebs.com⁄pbhs5k, or by calling Dan Devlin at 301 236-9335.

Silver Spring resident Robert M. Chase has earned High Honors for winter term at Phillips Exeter Academy. A student in grade 11, he is in his first year of study at the school, in Exeter, N. H.

Blake students team up with Special Olympics⁄NFL charity

Students enrolled in James Hubert Blake High School’s Entrepreneurship and Academy of Hospitality and Tourism worked on event planning management activities for the National Football League Players Association James Brown Awards Charity Basketball Game April 18 at the George Washington University Smith Center. Ticket proceeds benefited the DC Special Olympics.

A special black-tie award ceremony and gala was held later in the evening at the Washington Hilton which honored NFL players who have exemplified leadership, dedication and commitment to their team and community.

Blake’s pom squad and pep band performed during halftime at the basketball game, according to a news release from the school.

Fred Katz, Blake’s Entrepreneurship and Business Education teacher, coordinated the event.

B-CC student recognized as McDonald’s Diversity Scholar

A student at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School was chosen as one of the 56 McDonald’s Diversity Scholars in the greater Washington, D.C., area for this year.

Rosa Portillo was honored at a reception March 29 sponsored by McDonald’s USA LLC.

The scholars were selected based on their academic record, financial need and a letter of recommendation.

Students will be awarded with scholarships that will be applied to next year’s tuition.

B-CC junior writes award-winning science paper

A Bethesda Chevy-Chase junior excelled at the Maryland regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium with her paper.

Beebe Parker won third place by submitting a paper titled, ‘‘The Effect of Nicotine on Growth and Development in Larval Zebrafish.”

Parker was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for her research paper and she will compete in the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in late April.

B-CC Shakespeare club honored at Folger festival

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School’s Shakespeare club was honored at the Folger Shakespeare Festival March 12.

At the annual event, students perform Shakespeare on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. More than 50 schools participated. The festival is not a competition, and that enables the participants to work together to celebrate Shakespeare, said Emily Schuster, festivals project coordinator.

B-CC took one award for the most daring and difficult script and another for the most malicious murders.

Four teachers win Greenblatt Excellence in Teaching Awards

Four county teachers have won Marian Greenblatt Excellence in Teaching Awards. The three Veteran Teacher Award winners now become the finalists for Montgomery County Teacher of the Year, according to a news release from Montgomery County Public Schools. The fourth award is given to a first-year teacher.

Winners of Greenblatt Veteran Teacher Awards are Robert Dahlin, music teacher at Ridgeview Middle School; Catherine Ulicny, science teacher at Paint Branch High School; and Karen Wendel, math content coach at Brookhaven Elementary School. The First-Year Teacher Award goes to Alison Divens, special education teacher at Judith A. Resnik Elementary School.

The Greenblatt awards began in 1989 to honor Dr. Marian Greenblatt’s service as a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education from 1976-1984.

Springbrook senior wins scholarship

Rodolpho Loureiro of Springbrook High School was awarded an ‘‘I Empower” scholarship from Thursday Network, an auxiliary of young professionals from the Greater Washington Urban League.

High schools, middle schools sponsor plays

Several area high schools and middle schools are holding productions this spring.

High schools:

*James Hubert Blake: ‘‘Anything Goes,” April 28, 29, May 4 and 6 at the school, 300 Norwood Road, Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-879-1300.

*Northwood: ‘‘The Cinderella Waltz,” May 5-7 at the school, 919 University Blvd. W., Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-649-8088.

Middle schools:

*Benjamin Banneker: ‘‘Rock ‘n Soul Revue” May 12, 13, 19 and 20 at the school, 14800 Perrywood Drive, Burtonsville. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-989-5747.

*Briggs Chaney: ‘‘Once Upon a Mattress,” May 4, 5, 6 at the school, 1901 Rainbow Drive, Silver Spring. For times and ticket information, call the school at 301-989-6000.

*Eastern: ‘‘The Music Man Junior,” beginning April 28 at the school, 300 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring. Call 301-650-6650.

County seeking students to serve as election aides

The Montgomery County Board of Elections is seeking 1,000 school-age students, grades 6-12, to serve as Election Day Student Aides during the 2006 gubernatorial elections. Students and their guardians must attend mandatory training to serve and, if applicable, to receive Student Service Learning credits required for high school graduation.

Students will be placed according to home address into neighboring precincts.

Citizenship is not a pre-requisite. This program is available to all students within a public, private, independent, religious and home-schooled setting located in Montgomery County. Students with bilingual and American Sign Language skills are encouraged to apply.

Apply by mail, fax, or e-mail by May 1 to Gilberto A. Zelaya II, Future Vote Initiative, Montgomery County Board of Elections, 751 Twinbrook Parkway, P.O. Box 4333, Rockville, MD 20849-4333; fax: 240-777-8505; e-mail: gilberto.zelaya@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Kennedy to hold sports camps

The JFK Jr. Cavalier Sports Program will hold basketball, soccer and flag football camps for boys and girls ages 8-12 at John F. Kennedy High School, 1901 Randolph Road. Sessions run June 19-23 and June 26-30. Fees are $150 per session and after-camp care is $25 per session. Deadline to register is May 26. Call Ken Cudd at 301-962-5936.

Find the school that serves your neighborhood

A Web site offered by Montgomery County Public Schools is available to help people determine what schools serve a neighborhood or address.

The school system’s Web site www.mcps.k12.md.us features the school assignment locator. Once at the Web site, click on the school assignment locator, then type in the street address and ZIP code. A map will show the address, nearby schools and boundary lines.

Call 301-279-3331 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for information.