<i>To have an item listed mail to 10220 River Road, Suite 303, Potomac, MD 20854, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. If you have any questions, call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6476. </i>
Montgomery Blair, Richard Montgomery, and Walt Whitman high schools surpassed all other schools in the state in number of semifinalists in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship competition. The high schools and the number of semifinalists from each are:
* Montgomery Blair: 48
* Richard Montgomery: 36
* Walt Whitman: 24
* Winston Churchill: 11
* Thomas S. Wootton: 10
* Walter Johnson: 4
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is among several school districts across the United States featured in a new book describing successful approaches to early childhood education. "Building Blocks: Making Children Successful in the Early Years of School" describes the critical role of the primary grades as the foundation for later success. The author, Gene Maeroff, is director of the Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media at Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York. The book highlights the strategic approach embodied in the MCPS Early Success Performance Plan and the data that show that MCPS is closing the achievement gap by race, ethnicity and poverty by improving literacy skills at the very beginning of a child’s education.
Margaret Makris has pledged a $50,000 endowment in memory of her husband, composer Andreas Makris, for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra.
Learn more about area preschools at the 9th annual Preschool Fair sponsored by the MOMS Club of Potomac on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Approximately 30 preschools from Potomac, Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase and surrounding areas will be represented. The fair is at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road. Free and children are welcome. For more information, call Carrie Lee 301-906-2377 or Julie Krieger 301-987-5917, or e-mail momspotomac@gmail.com.
Adventure Theatre introduces a new Book Club for Kids focusing on the best-selling children’s books that inspired each of its plays for the 2006-07 Season. Children experience the journey of reading the books at home to seeing the plays unfold before their eyes on stage at Adventure Theatre. Performances are followed by a "Talk About" session and a fun and creative activity related to the book and the play. Books are available at the Little Falls library. Registration is free. Go to www.adventuretheatre.org for more information about the many benefits members will receive. Special Book Club performances are Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on special dates. Discount tickets will only be given for the designated Book Club performance dates. No substitutions. Adventure Theatre is located at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.
Churchill High School Class of 1996 offers its 10-year reunion Saturday Nov., 25 at 6 p.m. at Union Jack's, 4915 St. Elmo, Bethesda. To receive the e-vite or for more information e-mail Marisa Leshinsky at Marisa_Leshinsky@hotmail.com.
Princeton Review offers an MCAT class at the John Hopkins University-Montgomery County Campus this fall. The MCAT course is on Mondays-Wednesdays 6:30-9:00 p.m. from Oct. 16-April 4, 2007 and some Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for practice tests. Cost of course is $1,699. To sign up for the course, visit www.PrincetonReview.com or call 1-800-2REVIEW
Christopher Higgins from Richard Montgomery High School was the recipient of a Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Maryland, where he will study engineering.
Dora Larson from Richard Montgomery High School was the recipient of a Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Maryland, where she will study law.
Derby Cox from Walter Johnson High School was the recipient of a Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Maryland and will study journalism.
Kevin McCoy from Walter Johnson High School was the recipient of a Merit Scholarship to attend Clemson University, where he will study economics.
Matthew Vaveris of Potomac participated in the UVM/GIV (Governor's Institute of Vermont) Engineering Institute at the University of Vermont's College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. He was part of the group that did an aeronautical prject pertaining to aeronautical sensor probes. He attends St. Andrew's Episcopal High School.
Ana Cunningham, a student at Winston Churchill High School, is attending the Cornell University Summer College program this summer.
Montgomery College offers an array of new, non-credit courses that were formerly offered by Montgomery County Public Schools. These courses, offered primarily during evenings or weekends in public schools and other convenient community locations, are in addition to hundreds of other non-credit courses available through the College’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education unit. A complete schedule of course offerings can be found online at www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce. Also, printed copies of the fall non-credit course schedule can be found at libraries, community centers and other such locations around the county. For questions about continuing education courses or to request a copy call 301-279-5188, visit
www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/mcps/mcps.html.
Lucy Boyce Kennedy, a student in the Connelly School of the Holy Child's class of 2007, has been identified as a Maryland Distinguished Scholar in the achievement category. As a finalist, Lucy Boyce will be offered an annual scholarship of $3,000 to attend a Maryland college or university. Four other Holy Child seniors also received designation in the Distinguished Scholar program. Zeina Boustani and Erika Wright were given honorable mention in the achievement category, and Meredith Hickman and Abigail Holtz received honorable mention in the talent category.