Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Instead of decorating Germantown Elementary School's library with cartoon characters for the annual book sale, Principal Amy Bryant decided to decorate it with college memorabilia.
Cartoon star Clifford the Big Red Dog came to the school Oct. 19 to help kick off the fair, Bryant said. Mannequins and stuffed animals were dressed in college T-shirts, sweat shirts and decals were hung on the walls for the week-long book sale. Teachers also dressed in memorabilia from their alma maters all week, she said.
"Introducing them to college while they are young gives them an advantage," Bryant said. An early introduction to colleges keeps students in accordance with Montgomery County Public Schools "Seven Keys to College Readiness," Bryant said.
Watch the parade
Parents are invited to Ronald McNair Elementary School's annual Halloween Parade on Friday, said school administrative assistant Sherrin L. Sharpe. Students will gather in front of the school in their costumes at 2:15 p.m. and walk around the school, Sharpe said. If it rains, the parade will be in the school's gymnasium.
Students can't wear their costumes to school but will be given time prior to the parade to change, she said.
For details, call the school at 301-353-0854.
Historically black colleges to hold admissions events
Morehouse College and Dillard University will discuss admissions with potential students and their parents 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 4 at Gaithersburg High School, 314 S. Frederick Ave.
Morehouse, in Atlanta, will conduct one-on-one interviews with high school seniors and make admission and scholarship offers on the spot. The school generally admits African American males, but is also interested in reaching out to Latino males.
Hampton University will visit Rockville High School 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 23. Morgan State University will visit Walter Johnson High School 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2. University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, will visit Springbrook High School 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9.
For more information, contact the resource counselor or college/career information coordinator at local high schools.
Hispanic College Fair
set for Nov. 9
Montgomery College, The Universities of Maryland at Shady Grove and the School Counseling Services of Montgomery County Public Schools will hold a Hispanic College Fair informational session for parents and students from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9, the night before this year's Hispanic College Fair.
The parents' session will be held at The Universities of Maryland at Shady Grove Campus, Building 2, Room 1022, 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville.
Topics to be discussed include financial aid, how to apply for scholarships, filling out the federal aid FAFSA form, the importance of preparing for college, what courses should be taken in high school to be college ready, the college application process, what college admissions representatives look for in college applicants and understanding two-year and four-year college options.
Hispanic college students will be on hand to answer questions concerning their experiences transitioning from high school to college.
Registration is requested by Nov. 6, but not required. Clarksburg High School students should send an e-mail to Sharon_W_Williams
@mcpsmd.org or call 301-444-3035. Damascus High School students should send an e-mail to Edward_K_Martin@mcps.org or call 301-253-7045.
Reading volunteers needed
Help second-graders at Cedar Grove, Germantown, Dr. Sally K. Ride, Stedwick, Summit Hall and Watkins Mill elementary schools improve their reading.
Three Montgomery County nonprofits, the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, Interages, and Passion for Learning, are seeking volunteer tutors for the Ruth Rales-Comcast Kids Reading Network Program.
The weekly tutoring session may take place before, during or after school. Training and ongoing support, plus tutoring materials and books will be provided. For details call, 301-279-3890 or www.montgomery
schoolsmd.org/readingnetwork.
Prom dresses sought
Seneca Valley High School's PTSA is looking for prom dress donations.
The Germantown school group is collecting gently used formal, semi-formal and party dresses to sell at a one-day event on Feb. 27. For more information, contact Marci Schafer at marci.schafer@gmail.com.
Clemente Career Day
Volunteers are needed to assist with Roberto Clemente Middle School's annual Career Day on Nov. 18.
Presenters are needed to talk about their professions with seventh-graders at the Germantown school, 18808 Waring Station Road. Presenters will be paired for two 20-minute sessions with different groups of students.
For more information, contact Ellen Berman at helene_berman
@mcpsmd.org or 301-601-0343. Deadline is Nov. 4.
Education Notebook accepts short news items and photographs about events, people and good news at your school. Contact Melissa A. Chadwick at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877.
Is school closed?
It's getting to be the time of year when winter weather may disrupt school operations, forcing schools to close, dismiss early or delay opening. Announcements of school closings or delays are made as early as possible, generally in time for news broadcasts that begin at 5 a.m. If schools are closing early, those announcements are made by 11 a.m.
There are several ways to get the latest information on closings or delays.
- MCPS QuickNotes e-mail news service will send emergency information to subscribers. To sign up visit www.mcpsquicknotes.org. –
- MCPS home page http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ will display emergency announcements in bold red letters at the top of the page.
- ASK MCPS Telephone Information Center at 301-309-6277 (-MCPS) has English- and Spanish-speaking operators available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- MCPS information line, 301-279-3673, has recorded information 24 hours a day.
- MCPS Cable channel 34 and local radio and TV stations will broadcast the information
-MCPS will Twitter at http://twitter.com/mcps
- Schoolsout will text message your cell phone with school emergency information They charge a fee for this service, but you can receive emergency information by e-mail without a fee. http://www.schoolsout.com/.
