Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Students at Potomac's Bullis School received an unusual visitor Friday during their English classes: Henry David Thoreau.
Well, technically, it wasn't Thoreau, but he sure did fit the part.
Richard Smith, a Thoreau impersonator, visited Bullis on Friday to meet with students, discuss his transcendental philosophy, and field questions from the eager scholars.
"It brought the students a real opportunity to connect with history and Thoreau's material," said Amanda Lombardo, the Bullis teacher who arranged the event. "They were able to have a conversation with him and ask him questions they would've asked Thoreau himself."
Smith is a historian for the Thoreau Society, and often "interprets" Thoreau in the author's hometown of Concord, Mass. Sections of students met with Smith Friday, quizzing him on his beliefs about philosophy, race, and gender.
Prior to working at Bullis, Lombardo worked at a school in Massachusetts, and would often take her students to Walden Pond when learning about Thoreau and other thinkers of the time, Like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
When she began working at Bullis this year, she wanted to continue the program.
"I thought if I couldn't take my students to Walden I'd take Walden to my students," she said, referring to the pond where Thoreau lived and wrote.
Washington Waldorf celebrates fall with bazaar
The Washington Waldorf School will host its 39th annual Fall Bazaar and Faire from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 22, at the school's Bethesda campus.
Artisans from the area will sell hand-crafted items, food and beverages will be on sale, and there is plenty of fun for children as well. Children can stroll through a mini-labyrinth, watch a puppet show, or listen to storytellers throughout the day.
Admission is free; there are fees for activities, crafts and food.
Washington Waldorf is located at 4800 Sangamore Road, Bethesda.
For more information, call Mimi Hetzel at 301-933-3559, or e-mail her at gmhetzel@iglide.net
WJ Crew accepting
citrus orders
The crew team at Walter Johnson High School is currently selling citrus fruit to raise money for their squads.
More than 50 students are on Walter Johnson's team, and the citrus sale is one of the team's biggest fundraisers.
Prices vary between $20 and $28 for a box of fruit, depending on the variety of fruit, orange or grapefruit.
For an order form or more information, e-mail Dorothy Murdoch at Murdoch@mindspring.
com. Forms must be received by Saturday. The fruit will be delivered either Dec. 6 or 13.
Westbrook Elementary takes students of reading safari
Families, teachers and the community are invited to a "Book Fair Safari," from 8 am to 8 pm, Nov. 19-21, at Westbrook Elementary School in Bethesda.
The book fair will also feature special guests, including Alexander Moen, vice president of mission programs for the National Geographic Society at 7 p.m., Nov. 19, and Martha Honey, an author and sustainable safari advocate, at 7 p.m., Nov. 20.
For more information, contact Karen Thornton at 301-602-2594.
Norwood raises money
for sister school
Bethesda's Norwood School is teaming up with Barnes and Noble to purchase books and technological equipment for its sister school in Ghana.
The school will host a book fair from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Bethesda Row Barnes and Noble, with all proceeds going to support the Emmaus Methodist School Complex in Ghana.
The goal of the fundraiser is to build a virtual classroom, so students from both schools can interact.
The Bethesda Barnes and Noble is located at 4801 Bethesda Ave.
Holy Child minister named volunteer of the year
Jean Plummer, campus minister for the Connelly School of the Holy Child, was named Adult Volunteer of the Year by Potomac Community Resources.
Plummer was recognized by the group, who works with hundreds of individuals with developmental difficulties, for her work with the Best Buddies program at Holy Child.
Best Buddies is an international program that pairs students with classmates and community members with developmental differences for friendship and activities. Plummer has worked with Holy Child's Best Buddies program since 1996, and has been campus minister at the school for 14 years.
Bullis hosts Jazz Café
The first Jazz Café of the year at the Bullis School will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, at the school's Blair Family Center for the Arts.
The Bullis Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Workshop and Percussion Ensemble will play, as well as King Soul, a Washington, D.C. soul band.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students, with all money going to support the school's jazz program.
Space is limited, and reservations are recommended.
For more information contact Guylaine Gallant at (301) 983-5720 or at guylaine_gallant@
bullis.org.
Bullis is located at 10601 Falls Road, Potomac.
School Notes is a weekly column during the school year. Send story ideas by 10 a.m. Thursdays to Bradford Pearson via e-mail at bpearson@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183 or by mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Photos will also be considered.
