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In an effort to educate students about what it takes to get elected President of the United States, the Hebrew Day Institute in Rockville recently held its own election with students taking on the roles of presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Students in fourth through sixth grades were assigned to either the Democratic ticket (Sen. Barack Obama/Sen. Joe Biden) or the Republican ticket (Sen. John McCain/Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin). They then held a debate, with each of the candidates putting forward his or her best platform.
Afterwards, students in second through sixth grades voted on who best understood the issues, such as taxes, health care, defense, energy and the environment, and who best articulated each of the issues. The top two on each ticket then became that party's presidential and vice presidential nominee.
Representing Obama was Samantha Noland and Leah Fleischer was Biden. On the Republican side, Joshua Lempert represented McCain and Aviv Mittelman was Palin.
The elections were held Oct. 24. Each student voted and the ballots were counted and certified on Oct. 27. In the end, 74 percent of students voted for the Democratic ticket.
As a result, Noland and Fleischer will have the opportunity sit on the Head of School Council for the remainder of the school year and take part in decisions on special student programming and student needs.
RM to dedicate stadium
to longtime coach
Richard Montgomery High School will dedicate its new football stadium to longtime coach Roy Lester during halftime of Friday's game.
Lester coached at Richard Montgomery from 1959 to 1968, and then served as head football coach at the University of Maryland for three seasons from 1969 to 1971. While coaching in Montgomery, he won 260 games and had eight undefeated seasons.
Richard Montgomery dedicated the former school stadium to Lester in 2003.
For more information, athletic director Bob Maxey at Robert_D_Maxey@mcpsmd.org.
The Tide comes out on top
Richard Montgomery High School's student newspaper, The Tide, received a first-class rating from the National Scholastic Press Association for its seven issues for the 2007-2008 school year.
The student editors-in-chief were Sandhya Devaraj, Lelia Glass, Katie Smith and Amanda Yeager. Jonathan Taylor, a history teacher, serves as faculty sponsor.
Magruder yearbook staff strikes gold
The 2008 Liberator Yearbook staff at Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Derwood was awarded a Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
Richard Montgomery
holds online auction
The Richard Montgomery Booster Club is holding its first annual online auction.
Bidding began Nov. 2 and will end at 6 p.m. Nov. 15.
Auction items range from local restaurant gift certificates, sports memorabilia, artwork and theater passes to VIP tickets to "The Colbert Report" in New York City.
The auction Web site is www.RMboosters.org. For more information, e-mail Chris Kelly at Nearys51@comcast.net.
Magruder to conjure up ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream'
The Col. Zadok Magruder High School Drama Department will present William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 in the school's auditorium.
One of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, the play features tales of magic and misdirected love set in a moonlit forest on a midsummer night set in the 1960s.
To reserve seats early, send an e-mail request to magruderbusiness@yahoo.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Magruder High School is located at 5939 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. For more information, call 301-840-4600.
Get ready for ‘Dinner'
at Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery High School will present "The Man Who Came to Dinner" at 7:30 p.mm. Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22 and a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16 on the school stage, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.
Tickets are available at the door.
The student-run production consists of 180 students who handle costumes, lighting, makeup, props, publicity, set construction, set decoration and sound, all under the supervision of artistic director Denise Saladyga.
Homework Hotline Live!
is back
Homework Hotline Live!, a Montgomery County Public Schools Instructional Television (MCPS-ITV) program, began its 22nd year of broadcasting last week.
Since 1986, the program has offered one-on-one homework help in most academic subjects from kindergarten to 12th grade. MCPS teachers take calls from students live on-the-air and assist them with homework problems.
Homework Hotline Live! is broadcast 5-6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on Comcast Channel 33, Verizon Chanel 35, and RCN Channel 88.
For more information, visit montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/itv/ITV_Programs_HHL.shtm.
Items appropriate for School Notes should be sent to Melissa J. Brachfeld at mbrachfeld@gazette.net, sent by fax to 301-670-7182 or 301-670-7183, or mailed to School Notes, The Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items will be used on a space-available basis.