Potomac Elementary students do good deeds

June 3 was the school’s second-annual Good Deed Day. Students completed tasks that helped the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda and Montgomery County’s branch of Manna Food Center.

‘‘We feel that especially in our community, where we are so well off, it’s very important for kids to learn how to give back to less fortunate,” said Jill Newman, a co-chair of the event.

The students packed more than 580 bag lunches for Manna, and assembled 180 toiletries kits for NCCF.

For two weeks prior to the event students and their families donated items, like juice boxes, toothbrushes and fruit cups, to the school. Costco also donated $500 to be spent on packing supplies like plastic baggies and lunch bags.

The students also decorated the lunch bags and wrote uplifting notes to the recipients.

‘‘The kids were very enthusiastic,” Newman said. ‘‘Some of the bags were completely covered; they really enjoyed helping the underprivileged kids.”

Potomac student raises money for juvenile arthritis

Hallie Lancz, a kindergartener at Bethesda’s Norwood School, was recently chosen as the 2008 Walk Honoree for Montgomery County at the 2008 Arthritis Walk, held May 17 in Silver Spring.

The Potomac resident, who has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, raised nearly $9,000 for the Arthritis Foundation.

Participants in the event chose either a one-mile or three-mile walk.

Van Hollen names public service award recipients

U.S. Representative Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington announced the recipients of the 2008 Van Hollen Public Service Award, given for outstanding community service.

The award recognizes area high school seniors for contributions to their school and community.

They include:

*Winston Churchill: Elisabet Tassis

*Stone Ridge: Caitlin-Marie Wood

*Holy Cross: Catherine Robertson

*Bethesda-Chevy Chase: Aileen Tschiderer

*Georgetown Prep: Kyle Bancroft

*Walt Whitman: John Zachary

*McLean School: Joyce Gendler

*Lycee Romchambeau: Isabelle Robert

Area students awardedfor their academic prowess

Sixteen Montgomery County students have been named in the first-round of the National Merit Scholarships. Colleges select students who will attend their institution in the fall for the awards. Bethesda and Potomac students include:

*Bethesda-Chevy Chase: John Stevens, New York University

*Winston Churchill: Michael Groeneman, Carleton College; Kevin Levine, Washington University in St. Louis

*Walt Whitman: Shantanu Jha, University of Chicago; Eliza Kern, University of North Carolina; Michael Lee, Washington University in St. Louis.

*Thomas S. Wootton: Sha Luo, New York University; Sean Weerakkody, University of Maryland

Schools Notestakes a break

The School Notes column will take a break for the summer beginning this week. Information about schools and events can still be sent to The Gazette, and the column will resume again with school in the fall.

Bethesda teacher named Teacher of the Year

Steven Bartl, a mathematics teacher at St. Bartholomew School in Bethesda, has been named the Catholic Elementary School Teacher of the Year for Montgomery County. The Archdiocese of Washington presented the award May 14.

Bartl was recognized for morning and after-school programs he hosts for students, and his motivational skills. He has taught in the archdiocese for 25 years.

Each elementary school teacher in the archdiocese chooses a teacher of the year who best exemplifies their school, and the nominees are reviewed by an archdiocese committee. Winners receive cash prizes.

The overall winner for the entire archdiocese was Jennifer Eller, a teacher at Holy Redeemer School in College Park.

Catching up

In December, fourth grade students at Somerset Elementary School in Chevy Chase began a campaign to clear their homes and neighborhoods of plastic grocery bags, replacing them with reusable ‘‘Somerset Sacks.”

Well, the fourth-graders succeeded. After setting a goal of selling $700 worth of the reusable bags, the students collected $880. The money will be donated to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

School celebrates25th anniversary

The Apple Montessori School, in Bethesda, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The school is the brainchild of Marian Pepper and Lynn Obeler, who opened the school by renting space in St. James’ Episcopal Church in Potomac 25 years ago.

Apple Montessori recently opened its new location on Hidden Creek Road in Bethesda. The small school offers classes for students ages 2 through kindergarten.

Duo honoredat Maryland History Day

Rebecca Gale, a student at North Bethesda Middle School, and Patricia Robinson, her teacher, were both given awards at Maryland History Day, held April 26 in Catonsville.

Gale was one of 22 Montgomery County students awarded for their works at the event. She received a second place award in the junior individual performance category for her piece ‘‘The Abolition Movement in Massachusetts.”

Robinson was named Montgomery County District History Day Teacher of the Year. More than 14,000 Maryland students entered projects at school and regional contests; the event encourages students to research and analyze a topic in history.

Libraries announce redesigned Teensite

Montgomery County Public Libraries has unveiled its newly redesigned Teensite that was designed by members of the Teensite Advisory Group (TAG).

The site, accessible from the library system’s Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov⁄library, features a new logo and artwork, plus new categories, such as Connect, Participate, Resources and Read & Write.

‘‘The goal of the redesign project was to involve teens in every step along the way,” Montgomery County Public Libraries Director Parker Hamilton said in a news release. ‘‘As a result, our Teensite has an exciting new look that reflects current tastes of our young people.”

In addition to the new logo, artwork and categories, the teens submitted content, interviewed authors and the Teen Artist of the Month, and wrote book, movie and Web site reviews.

Teens demonstrated the site at an official launch party at the Rockville Library that recognized advisory group members and their contributions.

The Teensite Advisory Group, consisting of 18 members ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old, has members from schools around the county, as well as a home-schooled student. Schools represented include Walt Whitman, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Paint Branch, Col. Zadok Magruder, Montgomery Blair and St. Anselm’s high schools, Montgomery Village and Westland middle schools and the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

Share your School Notes about students, teachers and anyone associated with your school. Feel free to send news tips. Contact Bradford Pearson via e-mail at bpearson@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3003, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.