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The annual Roberto Clemente Middle School Winter Chorus Concert will feature some holiday songs as well as songs from the late Michael Jackson, said chorus teacher Nichole Abbasi. The free concert, at 7 p.m. Thursday is at the school's cafeteria, 18808 Waring Station Road, Germantown.

The 150 singing students will also sing in Swahili, Abbasi said. For more information on the concert, contact Abbasi at 301-601-0344 or Nichole_

M_Hodges-Abbasi@mcpsmd.org.

Winter concert at Northwest

The Northwest High School Band will host its annual winter concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school's auditorium, 13501 Richter Farm Road, said band director Kevin Rouse. The school is located at 13501 Richter Farm Road. Tickets are free.

The band will play jazz and classical music.

For more information about the concert, contact Rouse at 301-601-4654 or Kevin_Rouse@mcpsmd.org.

Used car/used computer sale

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades and Information Technology Foundations will host a used car/used computer sale from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 12 at Gaithersburg High School, 314 S. Frederick Ave. The snow date is Dec. 19.

All vehicles are Maryland inspected; computers are Dell Pentium IV desktops.

For pricing and details, visit www.autocareers.org or www.itfcareers.org or call 301-929-2197.

All proceeds are returned directly to these nonprofit auto and information technology foundations.

For information about these programs, visit www.foundations

office.org or call 301-929-2190.

December parent

get-togethers planned

Clearspring Elementary School parents are invited to meet with Principal Holly Steel Thursday.

The get-togethers will be held 9-10 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.

Steel plans to ask parent to share what is working this year and to suggest improvements. Light refreshments will be served.

John T. Baker Middle School parents are invited to meet with Principal Louise Worthington 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8 in the school conference room.

Steve Asbacher, assistant school administrator, and math resource teacher Tracy Tomlinson will talk about math assessments.

Piano classes offered

for young children

Montgomery College Workforce Development and Continuing Education Youth Programs will offer piano classes for children in grades kindergarten through 3 at its Rockville campus beginning in January.

For more information and registration, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/youth, e-mail Sharon Wolfgang at sharon.wolfgang@montgomerycollege.edu or call 240-567-7264.

CHS collecting winter clothing

Operation Fly will be collecting gently used winter clothing and blankets for the homeless throughout the month at Clarksburg High School.

Donations of winter coats, gloves, hats and scarves would be appreciated. Drop-off spots will be advertised on posters around the school.

What's new at Monocacy?

Chat with Monocacy Elementary School Principal Cynthia Duranko later this month.

Duranko will host an open forum for parents to learn about what's new at Monocacy and share questions and concerns at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11 at the Dickerson school, 18801 Barnesville Road. Visit www.montgomery

schools.org/schools/monocacyes.

Drama at John Poole

The Drama Club at John Poole Middle School will perform William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Performances start at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the All-Purpose Room at the Poolesville school, 17014 Tom Fox Ave. Tickets cost $3 for children and $5 for adults. For more information, call Dorald Turner at 301-349-5651.

Reading volunteers needed

Help second-graders at Cedar Grove, Germantown, Dr. Sally K. Ride, Stedwick, Summit Hall and Watkins Mill elementary schools improve.

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 tutoring materials will be provided. For details call, 301-279-3890 or www.montgomery

schoolsmd.org/readingnetwork.

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.

-MCPS QuickNotes e-mail news service will send emergency information to subscribers. To sign up visit www.mcpsquicknotes.org.

-MCPS home page 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. www.schoolsout.com/.

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.