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Derby is currently principal at Garrett Park Elementary School. He has taught in Montgomery County schools since 1995, when he was a second and fourth grade teacher at Flower Hill Elementary School in Gaithersburg. He went on to administrative positions in 1999 when he was an assistant principal at Burtonsville Elementary School. He has been the principal at Garrett Park Elementary School since 2002.

Derby received a degree in psychology in 1986 from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and his master’s degree in elementary education from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., in 1995.

Dietz is currently a principal intern at Cannon Road Elementary School in Silver Spring. She has worked for Montgomery County schools since 1992. From 1992-1999 she was a Kindergarten special education paraeducator. From 1999-2005 she was a second, third and fourth grade teacher at Ronald McNair Elementary School in Germantown. From 2005-2006 she was an assistant principal at Summit Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg. She is currently the principal intern at Cannon Road Elementary School in Silver Spring.

Great Seneca Creekgets county recognition

The county School Board recognized the collaboration of Montgomery County Public Schools staff and the project architect and contractor in designing and building Great Seneca Creek Elementary School in Germantown. The school is the first public school in the state to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. The award recognizes the commitment of MCPS to environmental stewardship.

Seneca Valley dancersplace in Latin competition

The Seneca Valley High School Latin Dance Team earned second place for the Pairs Merengue and fourth place for Group Exhibition at the regional Latin Dance Competition in Virginia on May 5. Felicitaciones!

Kingsview programfor dad’s noted

The county School Board recognized the Fathers’ Circle at Kingsview Middle School in Germantown for its work with African American fathers and students. The group partners with the fathers to gather information and ideas on ways to improve the academic performance of students. The program also has provided books for students and visits to college campuses, among other opportunities. For more information about the program, call the school at 301-601-4611.

WJ junior elected toschool board seat

Ben Moskowitz, a junior at Walter Johnson High School, was recently elected as the student member of the Board of Education for next school year.

Moskowitz was chosen by 56.75 percent of the secondary students who cast ballots in the April 25 election, conducted by the Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student Councils.

The overall voter turnout was 83.56 percent, or 63,732 students.

All high schools and middle schools submitted election results, along with several special schools and alternative programs.

His opponent, Will Bucher, was a junior at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring.

Moskowitz will begin his term as the 30th student member of the board on July 2. He has been active in student government for several years and serves as the treasurer of the Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student Councils.

Red Cross offers servicelearning opportunities

The American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region is seeking youth to work as Volunteer Ambassadors at blood operations this summer.

Teens 14 years or older are offered the opportunity to earn service learning credits and develop job skills by assisting the blood collections staff. The volunteers will welcome donors in the reception area and help care for them in the refreshment area after the donation process.

Specific responsibilities include greeting donors and providing them with essential reading materials, serving refreshments, and offering a hospitable atmosphere to donors. Training is provided.

A commitment of 30 hours over the summer is required. Blood operations last four to six hours, and are hosted daily throughout the Potomac area. Training is in late May and throughout June.

For more information, call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, ext. 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.

High schools honoredfor HSA performance

The Maryland State Department of Education has announced that 12 local high schools received awards in the 2006 Maryland School Performance Recognition Program.

The awards are based on overall high performance on the 2006 High School Assessments and⁄or for improvement among subgroups from the 2005 to the 2006 HSAs.

Damascus and Winston Churchill high schools were recognized for both subgroup improvement and overall performance. Subgroup improvement recognition went to Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Northwood and Wheaton high schools.

Overall performance honorees were Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Poolesville, Richard Montgomery, Thomas S. Wootton, Walt Whitman and Walter Johnson high schools.

The 12 award winners represent half of Montgomery County’s high schools. Statewide, 80 high schools in 15 of 24 jurisdictions received awards in the School Performance Recognition Program.

County students earnHispanic Heritage Awards

Seven Montgomery County Public Schools seniors were honored for their leadership in the classroom and community at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Regional Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Ceremony on April 25.

The event was hosted by Howard University.

Each of the 24 regional winners in the Washington, D.C,. area will receive educational grants of $3,000 for Gold Medallion winners, $2,000 for Silver Medallion and $1,000 for Bronze Medallion.

Winning awards for academic excellence were:

*Patricia G. Moscoso, Richard Montgomery High School, Gold.

*Andrea E. Medina, Col. Zadok Magruder High School, Silver.

*Yihana von Ritter, Gaithersburg High School, Bronze.

*Guillermo A. Olaizola, Walt Whitman High School, Bronze.

Students receiving journalism awards for print, broadcast or Web-based media were:

*Arly-Lian Costa, Col. Zadok Magruder High School, Gold.

*Meaghan I. Mallari, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver.

*Rossana G. Espinoza, John F. Kennedy High School, Bronze.

Clemente teachers to run sports camp at Kingsview

Three Roberto Clemente Middle School teachers will run a summer camp June 18-22 at Kingsview Middle School, 18809 Kingsview Road, Germantown.

Physical education teachers Will Gant and Mat Derrick and math teacher Jay Tringone will direct the multi-sport summer camp. The camp will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with before- and after-care available.

Pick up a registration form at Roberto W. Clemente, 18808 Waring Station Road, or visit the camp Web site at www.gtsportscamps.com. Contact Gant at Will_C_Gant@mcpsmd.org; Derrick at Mat_W_Derrick@mcpsmd.org; or Jason_T_Tringone@mcpsmd.org. Or call them at 301-801-0344.

Send your School Notes to Melissa Chadwick at mchadwick@gazette.net; fax to 301-670-7183 or mail to 1200 Quince Orchard Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.