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Five Farquhar Middle School students took second place at the Big Bones Bash at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14.

The Olney school's team was made up of eighth-grade students Jordan Newmark and Bhakti Patel and seventh-grade students Hayley Mazur, Jordan Holbrook and Sarah Khan. Farquhar teacher Linda Lindstrom was the team's sponsor.

The team had to submit a concept by Oct. 14 on how to teach young people about the importance of getting enough calcium in their diets. The team was then notified that they were chosen to be finalists in the calcium challenge.

The students used the cell phone to inform teenagers about what their bodies need.

The Farquhar students were awarded $500, which will go to the school's Family and Consumer Science Department. The competition was sponsored by Cabot Cheese, Smithsonian Institute, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Giant.

Candlewood

completes food drive

Candlewood Elementary School in Derwood recently collected more than 1,000 pounds of food during its annual Kids Helping Kids Food Drive.

The food items were donated to Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg, a nonprofit organization that gives food to needy people in the county.

Parents, students, staff, the school's PTA and its Student Government Association all pitched in for the cause.

Randy Ornstein's third grade class contributed the most food items to the collection.

Fundraising book fair

at Barnes & Noble

The Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation in conjunction with Barnes & Noble Booksellers will hold a fundraising book fair Dec. 3-5.

During that time, a portion of all book and music sales made at the any of the stores nationwide will be donated to the foundation. Shoppers must present a special voucher number, 595355, at the time their purchase is made.

Special events for children and adults will be held at the Rockville Barnes & Noble Booksellers store, located in the Montrose Crossing Shopping Center at Rockville Pike and Randolph Road, during the promotion.

The events are as follows:

-Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. — "Polar Express" story time with activities and snacks.

-Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. — Educator Appreciation Day. Teachers will receive 25 percent off books and 10 percent off music.

-Dec. 5, 11 a.m. — Costume character and story time.

-Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m. — Reading and book signing with Shawn K. Stout, author of "Fiona Finkelstein, Big-Time Ballerina!!"

The MCPS Educational Foundation in a nonprofit organization that provides funds for programs that the annual school budget cannot support, including funding for special equipment, technology grants and programs for at-risk students.

For more information, visit www.mcpsfoundation.org.

Reading volunteers needed

The Ruth Rales Comcast Kids Reading Network is seeking volunteers to tutor second grade students in reading at public elementary schools throughout Montgomery County.

Volunteers will work with the same student for one hour each week. Training and all materials are provided.

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, call 301-279-3890 or visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

readingnetwork.

Parent advisory

council meetings set

Montgomery County Public Schools' Parent Advisory Council has set its meeting schedule for the 2009-2010 school year.

The council provides input on communication and parent involvement and holds parent advocacy trainings.

All meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at the Department of Family and Community Partnerships, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Remaining meeting dates are Jan. 11, Feb. 24, April 12 and May 12.

For more information, call 301-279-3100.

School-closing

procedures outlined

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, the 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 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 There is a fee for the service, but emergency information is available by e-mail without a fee at http://www.schoolsout.com.

Education Notebook is compiled by Staff Writer Melissa J. Brachfeld. Items appropriate for this column should be sent to mbrachfeld@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183, or by mail to Education Notebook, The Olney Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items are used on a space-available basis.