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Sept. 2 Bulletin—8/22/08
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The first graduating class from the reopened Northwood High School gathers for ceremonies at DAR Constitution Hall.
About 10,300 Montgomery County Public Schools students are celebrating their graduation from high school at ceremonies that continue through June 11. Students at 25 high schools and six special schools and programs are attending commencement ceremonies at a range of venues, from DAR Constitution Hall to Strathmore Music Center to their own schools.
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Kathryn Schaus says the reopened Northwood High School has built a vibrant community from the ground up, with its own traditions. |
On June 2, Northwood High School honored its first graduating class since the school reopened in August 2004. Clarksburg High School, which opened its doors in August 2006, is set to graduate its first class on June 11 at Mount St. Mary’s College.
As they waited in line at DAR Constitution Hall for graduation ceremonies to begin, Northwood students shared some typical emotions. “I’m nervous, excited, happy,” said Soraia Seo. “I can’t believe four years passed by so fast. We’re the first graduating class, and I couldn’t be happier.” “It’s a new chapter in my life, as cliché as that sounds,” Kathryn Schaus said. “It’s our last time being together.” Schaus is looking forward to moving to Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend college. Fellow student Tyler Moulton is heading in the opposite direction, to McGill University in Montreal.
The next day, on June 3, graduating seniors at Quince Orchard High School formed a similar line at DAR for their graduation. Alicia Vincenty was excited about moving on to college. “I’m going to Towson University,” she said. “I’m going to be an elementary school teacher.” Students had messages for those who are coming along behind them—work hard, play hard and take advantage of all the opportunities high school offers. “I suggest that underclassmen try to take Honors courses, AP courses,” said Matthew Ito. “They’re not as hard as they look. They’re really nice classes with nice people. Also try to take some extracurricular activities. Make sure you make the most of your school years.”
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Matthew Ito encourages Quince Orchard High School students to take Honors and AP courses and to make the most of their high school years. |
If this year’s graduating class is similar to last year’s, about 75 percent of graduates will be heading off to college. Last year, 61 percent of graduating MCPS students who responded to a statewide survey said they planned to attend a four-year college, and another 14 percent said they would attend a two-year college. A growing number of high school students take challenging Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses that prepare them for college success. In 2007, MCPS students took a historic high of 24,208 AP exams. Forty-six percent of MCPS graduates earned at least one AP score of 3 or higher, more than twice the rate for public school graduates in Maryland and three times the national rate. In 2007, the percentage of both Latino and African American students in MCPS earning scores of 3 or higher was above the national average of 15.2 percent for all students. Students also continue to do well on the SAT. In 2007, the average combined SAT score of 1624 was 113 and 126 points above national and state averages, respectively.
These successful performances have netted a growing number of scholarships for MCPS graduates. Last year, graduates entering college were awarded $91 million in scholarships. This year, graduates will receive almost $150 million in scholarships.
A new study published by Education Week on June 4 finds that the graduation rate in Montgomery County Public Schools ranks third in the nation. Last year MCPS was among the nation’s top six in graduation rate. The MCPS graduation rate of 81.7 percent surpasses the national average of 71 percent and the Maryland average of 73.6 percent. The Education Week study, Diplomas Count 2008, used 2005 data, the most recent available for this nationwide analysis.
Two school systems had higher graduation rates than MCPS— Cypress-Fairbanks, Texas (89.6 percent; number 38 in school system size), and Jordan, Utah (82.6 percent; number 40 in size). Both of these school systems are considerably smaller than MCPS, which is number 16 in size nationally, and both are districts that do not have as great a level of diversity as Montgomery County.
The report highlights a continuing significant disparity in graduation rates across racial and ethnic groups nationwide. While 71 percent of ninth grade students in the United States graduate four years later, the rate for Latino students is 58 percent and the rate for African American students is 55 percent. Native American students’ graduation rate is 51 percent.
Education Week article
This is the last issue of the Bulletin for the school year. In September, we’ll be launching a new web-based Bulletin that will provide greater possibilities for sharing information and offering news you can use. The Bulletin will appear every two weeks on the web. Look for a notice about the new web-based Bulletin in your e-mail in early September.
 Rock View Elementary School has been named one of 10 model schools in the nation for improvements in closing the achievement gap. Rock View will be showcased at the International Center for Leadership in Education’s Model Schools Conference June 22–25. A June 2 celebration at the school included Congressman Chris Van Hollen, members of the County Council, and representatives of the Montgomery County and state boards of education. Here, fifth grade students in teacher Jennifer Wamble’s class read “Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?”
Rock View Elementary School
The new Online Curriculum Archive is up and running. All of the available current curriculum documents, which include at least 40,000 pages previously in notebooks, are housed centrally in the new archive for professional use. Staff can find documents from any location with Internet access. All documents will be in PDF format and, where available, in Microsoft Word to allow for adaptation of student resources.
Online Curriculum Archive
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Retired MCPS media specialist and part-time library assistant Toni Negro and Professional Library staff members Vickie Lee and Janet Biggs prepare for the Professional Library move July 14. |
A new resource for MCPS staff will be soon be available, as the school system moves the contents of the Professional Library from the basement of the Carver Educational Services Center to the new library facility at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). The collections of the two libraries will be merged to provide expanded access to information and resources for MCPS staff and USG students and faculty.
The Department of Materials Management will begin moving the 18,000-volume Professional Library to USG on July 14. The new collection will reside in the USG library in Building III on the Shady Grove Campus, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville. The MCPS professional librarian and assistant will cross-train with the USG librarians and staff to provide enhanced information resources and research assistance to library patrons in the school system and the eight universities served by USG.
The merger—the result of a partnership among MCPS, USG and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP)—means that MCPS staff will have expanded access to information resources, including the online information databases that are part of the Maryland Digital Library, and expanded hours. Users of the combined collection can take advantage of a new facility with ample space for books, journals and other documents, as well as meeting rooms and study and computer labs for training and hands-on experience with electronic resources. Borrowing privileges, which begin in September, will be extended to all MCPS staff, as well as USG students and faculty.
“This partnership is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our relationship with USG in promoting advanced study and research,” said Gail Bailey, director of School Library Media Programs with MCPS.
To prepare for the move, MCPS staff members are asked to return overdue materials to the Professional Library by July 1. If books are needed beyond that date, special arrangements may be made with Professional Library staff. Reference and research assistance will not be available after June 15. Immediately following the collection transfer in July, staff from the MCPS School Library Media Programs will begin work with USG staff to prepare the collection for use in fall 2008. The current Professional Library phone number, fax, e-mail and web site will remain the same.
Shady Grove service hours
Professional Library
Sixteen students have been named in the first round of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships. The students are among 39 winners in Maryland of scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities throughout the nation. Each sponsor college selected scholarship winners from among finalists in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.
The winners, their intended career fields and scholarship sponsors are:
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School: John R. Stevens, economics, New York University
- Montgomery Blair High School: Andrew W. Kannan, computer science, University of Maryland; Kun Li, engineering, University of Maryland; Seth S. Reeker, law, Arizona State University
- Winston Churchill High School: Michael W. Groeneman, economics, Carleton College; Kevin M. Levine, medical science, Washington University in St. Louis
- Clarksburg High School: John T. Garvey, electrical engineering, University of Maryland
- John F. Kennedy High School: Claire E. Crabtree, education (music), Florida State University
- Richard Montgomery High School: Jane Y. Chen, journalism, University of Southern California; Daniel P. Daly, sports journalism, Northwestern University; Ian M. Muir, economics, University of Chicago
- Walt Whitman High School: Shantanu Jha, medicine, University of Chicago; Eliza S. Kern, historic preservation, University of North Carolina; Michael S. Lee, biomedical research, Washington University in St. Louis
- Thomas S. Wootton High School: Sha Luo, international business, New York University; Sean C. Weerakkody, engineering, University of Maryland
So far this year, MCPS has had 46 Merit Scholars, including 19 winners of $2,500 National Merit Scholarships and 11 students who won corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships. Another group of college-sponsored Merit Scholars will be announced July 14.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
MCPS staff members have received honors recently, along with students, in several awards ceremonies. Six staff members and 318 students were honored at the annual English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Awards Day. Educators, programs, students and parents were honored at MCCPTA’s annual Special Education Recognition Ceremony. In History Day competitions, a Montgomery County teacher was honored, and several students won national awards.
Read more about the honors:
ESOL awards (PDF)
Special education awards (PDF)
History Day winners (PDF)
Spread the word—MCPS will kick off the 2008–2009 school year with a first-ever Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug.16, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., on the grounds of Carver Educational Services Center. Coordinated by the Department of Communications’ Division of Family and Community Partnerships (DFCP), the fair will feature something for everyone—from information and resources for parents to activities and entertainment for children.
The fair is a great opportunity for staff to learn about ways the school system is supporting students and families, and to have fun at the same time. Plan to stop by on Aug. 16 to eat great food from different countries, enjoy live music and entertainment, and bring the kids to enjoy learning activities, storytelling, a moon bounce and more.
For more information, contact DFCP at 301-279-3100. Rain date is Saturday, Aug. 23. Updates will be posted throughout the summer on the DFCP web site.
As of May 16, 497 employees have notified the Office of Human Resources and the Employee
and Retiree Service Center of their pending retirements. Last year, 585 retirees were
listed in the Bulletin.
This year’s list includes employees’ names, last assignments and years of service
with MCPS. The list includes some retirees from June 2007. The Board of Education will
honor retirees at a retirement reception on Thursday, June 12, at 5 p.m. at Woodmont
Country Club in Rockville. Certificates of appreciation will be presented at the reception.
View the complete
list of retirees (PDF).
 Division of Family and Community Partnerships (DFCP) director Eric Davis gathers with Gaithersburg Elementary School volunteers and staff. Schools that recorded the most volunteer hours from July 2007 to March 2008 were honored with certificates from Superintendent Jerry D. Weast and Board of Education President Nancy Navarro at an event hosted by DFCP, part of the Department of Communications. Gaithersburg Elementary logged 22,085 volunteer hours, the most of any school in the county. Other schools honored were Maryvale and Woodfield elementary schools; Thomas W. Pyle, Redland and Ridgeview middle schools; Montgomery Blair, Damascus and Richard Montgomery high schools; and Mark Twain School.
Rock View Elementary School
All MCPS schools can participate in Drive for Supplies, which encourages students to donate used, but usable, school supplies. Throughout June, participating schools collect the school supplies, which are sorted at a central location by student volunteers during the summer.
Nonprofit organizations that benefit children, schools or individual families may pick up the supplies after the Drive for Supplies celebration and press conference July 28, 10 a.m., at Richard Montgomery High School.
For more information, call the Student Affairs Office at 301-670-1419 or visit the Drive for Supplies web site.
This fall, MCPS will continue a partnership with the University of Maryland (pending budget approval) designed to provide 10 teachers a unique professional development experience. Through Seminars for Teachers, MCPS teachers from prekindergarten through grade 12 can partner with university and college faculty to immerse themselves in scholarly topics and issues.
Seminars for Teachers is a collaborative project among the University of Maryland and several Maryland school districts. Starting in the fall and continuing through the spring, small group seminars led by professors will be held at the University of Maryland, College Park. Classroom substitutes will be provided for participants. The University of Maryland and MCPS provide funding for the program. The application deadline is June 13.
For more information, visit the web site or call Russ Fazio, Office of Organizational Development, at 301-353-8556.
Seminars for Teachers
Cheryl Burwell, a mathematics teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, has been named the State Teacher of the Year by the Maryland MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) organization. She was selected from more than 150 teachers for her outstanding work with students.
ESOL teachers Rachna Rikhye of Piney Branch Elementary School and Dana Frye of Pine Crest Elementary School were awarded the "Best of" award for their poster session presentation, “Building Creative, Communicative and Collaborative Partnerships,” at the 42nd Annual TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) Convention in New York. Frye and Rikhye were recognized for the visual display, which included a Peace and Friendship quilt, and the content of their presentation, which described the process of building successful partnerships with parents, students, staff and community to showcase the creative and academic talents of ESOL students.
Matilde Vallejos, pupil personnel worker with the Upcounty Field Office, presented her doctoral proposal at the TESOL Convention. One of six proposals accepted, it profiled the “Effectiveness of Spanish Speaking Study Circles” being implemented in MCPS. Walt Whitman High School ESOL teacher and literacy coach Linda Galloway and ESOL resource teacher Sonja Maroni also gave presentations.
Eden Reff-Presco of Northwood High School, Stephanie Lee of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and Kenneth Seat of Montgomery Blair High School were selected to participate in a summer study tour to Japan sponsored by the National Consortium on Teaching about Asia (NCTA), which is funded by the Freeman Foundation. Organized by the Asian Center at the University of Pittsburgh, 20 educators from the metropolitan Washington area and Pennsylvania will examine artistic productions and the history of Japan for curriculum and course development.
Three MCPS staff members presented at the 27th National Conference for Paraeducators in Hartford, Conn. Ellie Giles, instructional specialist in the Division of School-based Special Education Services; Betty Montgomery, staff development specialist in the Office of Organizational Development; and Sally Murek, paraeducator coordinator in the Office of Organizational Development, shared information on “Multicultural Paraprofessional Retention: A Culture of Respect” with participants from across America and five other nations. The session focused on the MCPS professional development program, support strategies for new and veteran paraeducators and advancement opportunities within MCPS.
Joan Mory, instructional specialist for the Professional Learning Communities Institute, submitted questions and participated in a live Education Week web chat. The session was titled, “Moving Beyond the Classroom: The Growing Role of Teacher Leaders.” To view the transcript, visit teachermagazine.org.
Georgene Fountain, general/choral music teacher at Capt. James Daly Elementary School, won first place in Baltimore’s Billie Holiday vocal competition, sponsored by the city of Baltimore. As a result, NHK TV (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) asked Fountain to be part of a documentary it is doing on Billie Holiday. The film crew came to Daly in May to film Fountain teaching students.
Takoma Park Elementary School reading teacher Michelle Koopman participated in the International Reading Association Conference in Atlanta. She co-presented on the topic of having students in primary grades read and write nonfiction. More than 100 teachers attended the session on working with struggling readers, teaching vocabulary and choosing books for ESOL students.
Lauren Lette, special education resource teacher at Julius West Middle School, recently had a children’s book published. Kiwi's First Day of School s the first book in a series about Lette’s dog Kiwi and her animal friends as they learn to appreciate each other’s differences. The book is available on Amazon.com and through Publish America.
Sharon Minor King, art teacher at Glen Haven and Maryvale elementary schools, participated in a workshop sponsored by the Lab School of Washington and the Robert Rauschenburg Foundation in New York. Thirty-two art educators were selected from 26 different states including the District of Columbia in a national competition. King received $550 to be used for her special art classes at the two schools. Also, five works of art by King’s third grade students at Maryvale will be on display at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The exhibit is sponsored by International Paint Pals. The students are Cheyenne Hancock, Mfon Kpaete, Thomas Hughes, Beth Rendely and Elise Steenburgh.
Alicia Muhammad, assistant principal of Redland Middle School, has been appointed by James M. Turner, acting director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to the 2008 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. As an examiner, Muhammad is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and government.
Fred Smith, energy management supervisor, will be honored with a retirement celebration June 20, 7–10 a.m., at the Shady Grove Maintenance Depot conference room. Contributions can be sent to Debbie Lowman or Ginger McLelland, c/o Shady Grove Maintenance Depot. For more information, call them at 301-840-8107.
Rae White, English resource teacher at Gaithersburg High School, is retiring July 1. White has worked with MCPS for 24 years and has spent the last 16 years at Gaithersburg High School. Cards and good wishes may be sent to her at the school or on Outlook.
Michael J. Kirschbaum, a third shift computer operator with the Division of Systems Architecture and Operations, died May 14. He worked in the CESC data center for 24 years and was employed with MCPS for more than 29 years.
Jeffrey Michael Purdum, who retired as a carpenter with Division of Maintenance in 2002, died May 12. He had worked with the school system for more than 30 years.
My second grade class was quietly working at their seats. One precocious little boy was wandering around, talking to his classmates. When I said, "Don't you see that everyone else is where they belong?" he replied, "Mrs. Rubinstein, do you want me to be a leader or a follower?"
Eileen Rubinstein, second grade teacher, Flower Hill Elementary School
As part of the second grade MCPS reading curriculum, second grade students at Strawberry Knoll Elementary School wrote persuasive letters. A letter from one of teacher Stacy Zepnick’s students persuaded Principal Frank Kaplan that Mayor Sidney Katz would be a great speaker to visit Strawberry Knoll because “…it would be educational. Also it would be free.” Katz graciously agreed to come, and spoke with second graders on May 15.
Susan Zimmerman-Orozco, principal intern, Strawberry Knoll Elementary School
My two reading and language arts classes had to orally present the poem that they chose to memorize for their monthly assignment. One of the poems was “Paul Revere” by Jean B. McKinney. Part of the poem is “and the silversmith's voice rang clarion clear.” One child from each class said, instead, “and the silversmith's voice rang Claritin clear.” I guess it really is allergy season!
Jackie Moore, fourth grade teacher, North Chevy Chase Elementary School
$150 million: The amount of scholarship money expected to be awarded to MCPS graduates entering college this fall.
The Grammy Foundation honored Springbrook High School as one of the top 14 public high schools across the country for outstanding commitment to its music education program. Springbrook received a GRAMMY Signature Schools Gibson Grant of $5,000. The school’s instrumental music program is directed by Wyman Jones. Springbrook was the only Washington-area school to receive the award this year.
Michael Boulter, an eighth grader in the International Baccalaureate program at Westland Middle School, was one of two runners-up for the Aspiring Young Journalist Award, sponsored annually by the Middle School/Junior High Commission of the Journalism Education Association. The award recognizes the work of eighth grade students who show promise for continuing media studies in high school.
During the Maryland Green School Awards Program, sponsored by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, the organization welcomed 36 new Green Schools, including seven from MCPS. The addition of Chevy Chase, Clarksburg, East Silver Spring, Oakland Terrace and Piney Branch elementary schools, Takoma Park Middle School and Poolesville High School brings the total number of MCPS Green Schools to 19. John Poole Middle School was recertified as a Green School.
In celebration of Europe Day, Polish Ambassador Wojciech Flera visited Thomas S. Wootton High School to speak to AP government and politics, European history, world history, comparative government and economics students. His visit was part of an outreach program by the European Commission to educate students about the European Union.
Col. Zadok Magruder High School senior Margaret Ellen Johnson and Walter Johnson High School senior Keith Stakes were recognized for exceptional service to the community at a dinner reception hosted by State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick and the Maryland State Department of Education. The two join the ranks of other MSDE “service stars” from across the state.
Galway Elementary School students came to school in pajamas with flashlights and stuffed animals for the school’s Camp Read-a-Thon. More than 225 parents and 230 students attended the celebration of reading. Students filled five large tents in the courtyard as guests read favorite stories by lantern light. Parents participated in several teacher-led workshops.
As a part of Cabin John Middle School’s participation in Autism Awareness Month, the school’s Learning for Independence, School Community Based and Autism programs sold puzzle pieces to raise money for autism research. Students, staff and parents donated $1,100.
Rock Creek Forest Elementary School raised more than $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients Campaign this year. Their inspiration was student Jamey Sultan, who has leukemia.
Herbert Hoover Middle School raised more than $8,000 this year to support the American Heart Association through its participation in Hoops for Heart. This was the most money raised by any middle school in Montgomery County. Hoops for Heart is a basketball special event program that helps engage middle school students in raising funds for research and educational programs about heart disease.
Sherwood High School students Alan Bradshaw, Loren Plaxen and Joseph Bascomb participated in the Howard County Qualifier for Special Olympics. Bradshaw won a gold medal in the javelin throw, silver in the softball throw and bronze in the 50M throw. Plaxen won gold in the 400M race, silver in the 200M and bronze in the relay and softball throw. Bascomb won bronze in the 50M run, softball throw and standing long jump. All are School Community Based students at Sherwood.
Three sophomores in the Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School have made the USACO (Computer Olympiad) training camp this year—Scott Zimmerman, Jacob Hurwitz and Michael Cohen. Blair netted three of the 14 slots at the training camp for the best high school programmers in the country. From the pool of 14, four students will be chosen to represent the USA at the IOI (International Olympiad in Informatics) in Mubarrak City, Egypt, in August. Another Blair Magnet student, Jonathan Gootenberg, was among the top 20 students in the nation selected for this year's USABO (Biology Olympiad) training.
Paint Branch High School senior Sehar Sabir was named a national finalist for the Principal’s Leadership Award Scholarship, cosponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Herff Jones, Inc. As a regional winner and national finalist, Sabor was awarded scholarships totaling $8,500.
The North Bethesda Middle School chorus, under the direction of Jason McFeaters, is the only mixed choir in the state to receive a rating of straight 1's (Superior) at the State Choral Festival for four consecutive years. The chorus received this rating most recently at the Maryland State Choral Festival held at Clarksburg High School in May. Earlier this year, the chorus was the featured performing choral group at the Maryland Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Baltimore.
Earle B. Wood Middle School’s recreation-sponsored step team placed first in the Upper County Steppers “Steppin Into Spring” competition, held at the University of Maryland. This is the second time the team has placed first in this annual event.
Artist and educator Arturo Ho was at Eastern Middle School in May for the official kickoff of his third artist-in-residence project at the school. The celebration was incorporated into the schoolwide Arts Alive event, a celebration of performing, visual and media arts presented by Eastern students. Fourteen large mosaic panels—products of Ho’s collaboration with Eastern students last year—already line the main hallway. The upcoming project will have students creating original stepping stones to be used in the school’s interior courtyard.
Thomas W. Pyle Middle School celebrated its second annual Chesapeake Bay Extravaganza May 22. The public viewed student reflections about issues facing the Chesapeake Bay and their efforts to restore it. The school recognized its 460 sixth grade students for their commitment to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Each student devoted a minimum of 10 hours outside of school researching issues affecting the Bay and its watershed, planning and then following through on actions to improve the watershed ecosystem.
Northwood High School hosted its first art exhibition reception May 30. The school’s first mural, made possible through a Washington Post grant, was presented to the school community. Lead artist Cindy Orellana, a 10th grade student and citizen of Chile, was recognized for her dedication to the project. Dignitaries from the Chilean Embassy attended the event.
Four classes at Westbrook Elementary School participated in an online pod cast with NASA scientist Robert Sharrow, one of the scientists involved with the development and launch of the Spirit and Opportunity Land Rover now on Mars. Special education teacher Kimberly Bedell’s students in grades 1–3 discovered the Imagine Mars project online and shared the information with fourth and fifth graders, resulting in the student-created Mars Community Project System, which was honored by NASA.
Seven Locks Elementary School third and fourth graders and their families enjoyed a Japanese cultural arts night in May. As third grade choral students performed a musical based on the modern day Japanese folk tale, "The Cherry Tree," fourth graders and their families participated in Gyotaku (the art of fish printing) and Sumie (the art of ink and brush painting). The fourth grade chorus then performed a musical based on the classic Japanese folk tale, "Stonecutter," while third graders created Japanese art. Music specialist Janet Frank, who adapted the literature for musical presentation, and art specialist Adrienne Torrey, who incorporated her experiences from the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program last summer, collaborated on the event.
Lakelands Park Middle School student Davey Steinberg will represent MCPS as the winner of the Character Education essay contest sponsored by the AFRO American Newspapers. The contest was open to all eighth grade students in Maryland. This is the second year in a row that a Lakelands Park student has received the award.
WETA TV honored East Silver Spring Elementary School second graders for submitting the most entries in the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest in the metropolitan Washington area. With the help of classroom teachers Mary Dillon and Sarah Hais, reading specialist Robin Kokolis and art teacher Danielle Shuey, students developed creative stories and illustrations. As a reward, Clifford the Big Red Dog paid the students a visit and served them ice cream.
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