The Potomac Almanac welcomes school news and events, as well as notes on the accomplishments of local students. Mail to 10220 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854, fax to 703-917-0991, or e-mail at almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos are encouraged.
Winston Churchill High School performs the comedy “Present Laughter” in the Churchill auditorium, 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac. Showtimes are Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Poetry Slam Bethesda Literary Festival’s Youth Poetry Slam is open to youth in grades 6-12. Individuals and teams may compete in middle school or high school categories. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. Saturday, April 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Bethesda Elementary School, 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda. Contact Emily Aldrich at 301-215-6660 or ealdrich@bethesda.org, or Slammaster Monica Hand at marshaheart@aol.com.
Potomac Elementary will be holding its Kindergarten Orientation on April 24 and 25, for children born before Nov. 30. Call 301-469-1042.
Montgomery County Public Schools holds the 2003 Kindergarten Orientation Program now through Friday, May 30. Special registration orientation and orientation programs are scheduled at elementary schools throughout the county. Children who will be five years old on or before November 30, 2003 are eligible to begin kindergarten in August. Parents who are not certain which elementary school serves their area should call 301-379-3331 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“Truth or Consequences? Maryland’s High School Assessment Testing Program” is the topic of a forum on Saturday, April 26 at the annual meeting of the Partnership for Educational Policy. The event will take place at Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus in Rockville from 8:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. and includes breakfast. Reservations required. RSVP by fax to the Montgomery County Business Roundtable at 301-315-7300. For more information, call Paul Rankin at 301-377-3786 or Said Jahanmir at 301-869-9720.
Dance Scholarship. Area ballet dancers are invited to audition for the American Dance Institute’s annual Philip Jerry Memorial Scholarship on Sunday, April 27. Dancers must be 16 years old by June 1, 2003. Audition is on April 27 at 11 a.m. at the ADI studios, 1570 East Jefferson Street, Rockville. Visit www.americandance.org for registration details.
Walt Whitman High School presents the boisterous comedy “Lend Me a Tenor” May 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Walt Whitman Auditorium, 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda. A freshmen-only production is scheduled for May 7 and 8. Call 301-320-6569 or visit www.whitmantheatre.org.
“Endurance,” the reality competition show on Discovery Kids Channel, comes to the Landon School Azalea Festival 6100 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Between the two shows, boys and girls will have the opportunity to try out for next season’s “Endurance” show. Call 301-320-3200 for more details.
Join Bannockburn Elementary School, 6520 Dalroy Lane, Bethesda, for its annual “Mayfair” on Sunday, May 4, noon to 4 p.m. Offering fun for the young and young at heart, “Mayfair” features an old-fashioned sock hop, food, an obstacle course, used book sale and more. Admission is free, but games and food involve a reasonable charge. Call Michelle Parsky at 301-229-6054 or e-mail ChelleParsky@aol.com.
“The Mikado” Herbert Hoover Middle School revives Gilbert and Sullivan’s topsy-turvy opera, directed by Ms. Pamela Bilik. Hoover is at the intersection of Tuckerman Lane and Postoak Road. Show times are May 8, 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Several local students were named winners of Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarships on April 16. Hao Wu of Walt Whitman High School, Jeffrey Chang of Thomas Wootton High School both won Computer Sciences Corporation Merit Scholarships. Julie Sorenson of Winston Churchill High School won a United Space Alliance Merit Scholarship. The three students were among 1,100 nationwide high school seniors who received Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarships, qualifying by advancing to the Finalist level of the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Winston Churchill High School’s Danielle Zilberstein placed first in the news category in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) competitions for her work in the Churchill Observer. Zilberstein and Lisa Weinstein placed third in the news writing category. In the yearbook category, Jon Minkoff, Allie Rubinoff and Robby Stein took first place in the index category for Finest Hours. The CSPA competitions recognize high school publications and individual achievement, and received 10,642 entries from secondary schools throughout the nation.
Elizabeth Caroline Rogers, daughter of Edward and Patricia Rogers of Rockville, was named to the fall 2002 dean’s list at The Johns Hopkins University. A graduate of Richard Montgomery High School, Elizabeth Caroline Rogers is majoring in Latin American Studies and is expected to graduate in May 2005.