Little Bennett to construct outdoor classroom

The Outdoor Classroom grant program, started in 2005 by Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and National Geographic Explorer magazine, has funded the construction and expansion of outdoor learning environments at public schools nationwide.

Over the past two years, more than 200 schools have received Outdoor Classroom grants totaling more than $400,000, according to a press release. Lowe’s has brought the program under the umbrella of its signature educational grants program, Toolbox for Education.

‘‘We wish to thank Lowe’s for generously supporting science education at Little Bennett Elementary School with an Outdoor Classroom grant,” Little Bennett Principal Shawn Miller said. ‘‘We look forward to implementing this project and expanding opportunities for our students to learn.”

Little Bennett Elementary School is a green school. The grant will provide students with the opportunity to make their Educational Courtyard Classroom a reality.

‘‘The goal of the outdoor classroom is to enhance the curriculum with hands-on activities, increase awareness of ecology and environmental interactions, demonstrate the need to protect the environment and implement energy efficient measures, and enhance efforts to become a model green school.

‘‘Students will be able to continue their science curriculum in the courtyard for years to come, and it will become more and more beautiful,” Chris McDermott, Little Bennett’s PTA president, said in a press release. ‘‘It’s very exciting and provides a great deal of satisfaction for everyone involved.”

Little Bennett Elementary School opened in August 2006 and is a model green school for Montgomery County.

Damascus High elects officers

Junior Brittany Johnson will be the president and freshman Michael Hagan Jr. will be the vice president of the Student Government Association for the 2008-2009 school year at Damascus High School.

The co-presidents of the class of 2009 will be juniors Amelia Leach and Bobby Patton. Sophomore Tommy Creegan was voted in as the president for the class of 2010 and freshman Emma Ratpojanakul has been chosen as the president for the class of 2011.

Get caught reading at Baker

The Baker Middle School English Department is sponsoring a ‘‘Get Caught Reading” program this summer to encourage students to photograph themselves while they read during their summer travels.

The photos should be turned into the school’s media center in August and prizes will be awarded in many different categories.

Baker Middle to hold orientation

Orientations sessions for incoming John T. Baker Middle School students and their parents will be held at the end of the month at the school.

The student sessions are 1 to 3:45 p.m. June 24 and 9 to 11:45 a.m. June 25.

Parent sessions will be held 7-8 p.m. June 24 and 10:45 to 11:45 p.m. June 25.

Incoming students who would like to participate are asked to call the school’s counseling office at 301-253-7015 to sign up for a session, but parents do not need to sign up for their sessions.

Parents and students only need to attend one of the two sessions.

This is the final School Notes column for the school year. School Notes will resume in September.