More News

Berman wins awards for journalism, landscaping

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006

The Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Aspen Hill recently won two awards in two very different disciplines — journalism and landscaping.

Hamodiya, the Rabbi Moshe H. Levinson Upper School student newspaper, won a gold medal for the second year in a row from the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association in its annual critique.

The school also won the Award of Excellence for a public institution from Montgomery County in its 20th annual Beautification Awards Competition Contest.

Hamodiya, the student newspaper, was scored in four categories: coverage, writing and editing, graphic presentation and business operations.

For three of these, Hamodiya earned points qualifying it for All-Columbian Honors.

In its critique, CSPA stated, ‘‘Your range of coverage is excellent; you are not afraid to tackle the tough topics and issues facing your student body and you do an outstanding job in relating national and international events to your school community and how the events will affect your students.”

Moshe Broder was the editor-in-chief for the 2005-06 academic year, the period for which the newspaper was judged.

Linda Kaiser, faculty adviser, was overjoyed at receiving news of the award.

‘‘These kids put everything they’ve got into their newspaper, and it shows,” she said. ‘‘Hamodiya is helping them find their voices about issues which affect them today and will continue to affect their lives as they become contributing members of society.”

At a ceremony at the Executive Office Building in Rockville, the recently completed landscaping of the Berman Hebrew Academy’s front lawn was recognized with an award of excellence.

The landscaping was funded through federal and private grants and was intended to combine beautifying and securing the premises.

Local landscape architect Susana Altmann, working as a volunteer, designed the award-winning plan, which was implemented by Jeff Aronson of As You Like It Landscaping.

The design includes a combination of trees and shrubbery and offers dual-purpose benches. Comprised of reinforced concrete and stone, the benches provide a place for social interaction for the students while serving as a physical deterrent to potential assaults on the school. Most of the plantings are perennial and will remain green and ornamental throughout the year.

Maryvale to hold book fair through Friday

Maryvale Elementary School PTA is holding a Scholastic Book Fair with the theme ‘‘Reading Rainforest: Wild About Books!” through Friday at the school, 1000 First St. in Rockville.

Families, friends and community members are invited to attend.

The book fair features English, French and Spanish books. There are French magazine vendors and a used book section.

All proceeds from the book fair will go toward purchasing books for the Maryvale Elementary School Kyla Temkin Media Center. For more information, call Colleen Kemp at 301-515-7677 or Rachael Nichols at 301-949-7925.

Blake chosen to perform‘High School Musical’

James Hubert Blake High School artistic director Michael D’Anna was asked by representatives of The Walt Disney Company to present one of the first stage productions of the popular Disney movie ‘‘High School Musical.”

‘‘High School Musical,” a made-for-Disney Channel movie that premiered in January, has won two Emmys and set Disney Channel viewership records. The soundtrack and the DVD have become large sellers.

The movie has been turned into a theatrical presentation and before it is prepared for Broadway the writers want to evaluate the effectiveness of the script for the stage. Blake High School was one of only seven schools nationwide to be selected to put on the production, Blake officials reported.

Music Theatre International of New York, Disney’s representative, has worked with D’Anna on previous projects.

D’Anna’s team includes Dominique and Danielle D’Anna as choreographers, Harry Winter as vocal director and John Ovington as technician.

The Blake Stage Company and the Instrumental Music Department are working on the production to premier in early December.

Disney also has asked The Blake Stage Company to present the show at the 2007 National High School Theater Festival next June.

Liberty Bellesto hold pom camp

The Maryland State Champion Magruder Pom Squad invites all interested girls to join them at its Pom Mini-Camp on Nov. 11.

The camp is designed for students between first and eighth grades who enjoy dancing, cheering and fun. Participants will learn pom and dance moves and a routine especially choreographed for their age group. They will perform for parents and spectators at 2:30 pm.

Mini-Pom Camp will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gym at Magruder High School, 5939 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. Registration is $30 and includes a T-shirt, poms and a souvenir.

For more information, call Cheryl Sailer, pom sponsor, at301-840-4630.

College to help girls‘Prepare for Success’

The sixth annual ‘‘Preparing For Success, Helping High School Girls Prepare for Life after Graduation” will be held 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Montgomery College, Rockville Campus.

‘‘Preparing For Success” is a seminar for high school girls who plan to attend college or enter the workplace. The event is free. Lunch and breakfast will be provided.

The event includes resume writing and interview techniques, getting into college and paying for it, street law and how to stay safe, a survivors guide to independence and ‘‘The Right Look” fashion show.

All workshops are in English; however, Spanish interpreters may be available. For more information, visit www.preparingforsuccess.org.

Items appropriate for this column may be sent to Judith Hruz, Editor, The Rockville⁄Aspen Hill Gazette, 1200 Quince Orchard Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878; faxed to 301-670-7183; or e-mailed to jhruz@gazette.net. Include a telephone number for clarification purposes. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. All items are subject to space availability and editing.