Bridge Elementary

GIRL SCOUT Junior Troop 1345 started the school year well. Barely a week into the year, the troop presented a small health fair at Bollman Bridge Elementary during a back-to-school picnic Sept. 7. Junior Scouts Alyson Marino, Andrea Hricko, Deborah Firestone, Sharnise Hendrick, Heather Jarrell, Rachel Jones and Olivia Owens had spent the previous evening putting together health packets to distribute at four stations. The girls organized the stations in the cafeteria, with information about dental care, basic first aid, the importance of exercise and proper nutrition.

Students at Brock Bridge Elementary School will start the 2011-2012 academic year one day later than other Anne Arundel County students because of construction projects at the school. Brock Bridge Elementary will open Wednesday, Aug. 24, instead of Tuesday, Aug. 23. Throughout Anne Arundel County, kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and Early Childhood Intervention students, as well as middle and high school students will start the school year on a staggered schedule to allow those starting at a new school to get oriented before the remaining students return the following day. At Brock Bridge Elementary, parent-teacher conferences for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and ECI students will be held starting Aug. 24, with the three-day staggered start schedule beginning Aug. 26. Other elementary schools will start those schedules a day earlier.

BOLLMAN Bridge Elementary School's Parent Teacher Association has a new slate of officers.They include: president Jessica Kemper; second vice president; treasurer Denise Lancaster; corresponding secretary Judy Schemm; recording secretary Chris Traini; delegates to the county PTA and Chris Szalkowski.Funds for animalsDuring the past several months, I've written about some students at Bollman Bridge who, guided by the resource teachers, planned some ways to improve our community. One group, which wanted to raise money to help the Howard County Animal Welfare Society, has raised over $4,500 by selling T-shirts.

Brock Bridge Elementary Brock Bridge Elementary School, 405 Brock Bridge Road, will hold a Trek for Tech: 30K for 30K walk June 7. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m., and the walk starts at 9:30 a.m. Brock Bridge Elementary seeks to raise $30,000 to purchase classroom technologies through donations. Registration is free and can be done by phone, 301-498-6280, or e-mail to Angela Schneider, amschneider@aacps.org , or Patrick LaVelle, plavelle@aacps.org , through June 3.

Pupils read to aid people affected by Sept. 11 attacks SAVAGE - Bollman Bridge Elementary School hopes to raise at least $7,200 - and will receive matching funds from Giant Food Inc. - through the school's "Reading for Relief" program to benefit those affected by the September terrorist attacks. Children at the Howard County school are seeking pledges of at least 1 cent for each minute they read during a six-week period that began Oct. 11. Each participating child has pledged to read a minimum of 60 minutes at home each week, in addition to 100 minutes set aside for reading in school each week.

High winds that accompanied rainstorms yesterday morning caused power outages for approximately 1,400 Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers in Howard County, including Bollman Bridge Elementary and Patuxent Valley Middle schools.Most of the power losses were caused bywinds blowing trees across electrical wires, BG&E spokeswoman Peggy D. Mulloy said. Some 16,000 customers lost power in the company's central Maryland service area, she said, with Carroll County hardest hit.At Patuxent Valley Middle School, the power outage, which lasted from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., caused no disruption in the school program, Assistant Principal Barry Beerman reported through the school system's public information staff.

A FEW weeks ago, signs started appearing in town promoting a pancake breakfast to help the Andrew Morris family.Morris was battling brain cancer and had enrolled in an experimental drug therapy program.The drugs were free, but his hospitalization was not. And the bills were running up to $7,500 a month.So a local group of volunteers organized the breakfast to help the family cover these fees.Morris did not survive, but the pancake breakfast will be held from 7: 30 to 11: 30 a.m. tomorrow at the Savage Volunteer Fire Company Hall to help his family defray the costs of the long illness.

GUILFORD Elementary School is holding an auction this evening at the school.The doors will open at 7 p.m. with the bidding starting promptly at 7: 30 p.m.There are all kinds of goodies on the auction list: tickets to the Washington Bullets and the Capitals, dinners at Ruby Tuesday's and Morgan's Restaurant, tickets to King's Dominion and lots of other stuff.Bring identification, cash or checks, and plan on a fun and profitable evening. The proceeds benefit the Guilford Elementary PTA.Garage salesTomorrow, two local schools will hold garage sales in the morning.

Hammond Elementary School is looking forward to new teachers and staff this year. Terri Trail joins the second-grade team. Robert Roman joins the fourth-grade team and Thomas Mulinazzi joins the fifth-grade team. In addition, Jenni Lewis will be the new guidance counselor and Karen Rakshys the school psychologist. Lucille Harvey, who joined the cafeteria staff as manager in February, takes up her duties again this year.Hammond Elementary PTA leaders this year are Darla Trigger, president; Donna Herson and Dottie Balaban, vice presidents; Maryann Thomas and Gail Brown, corresponding and recording secretaries; and Dee Levi, treasurer.

Youngsters ages 2 through grade six can participate in after-school and Saturday classes sponsored by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks.Classes include:* Computer tots: Kindergarten through first grade, meets from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning April 21 at Atholton High School.* Tot lots: For children age 3, meets at 9 a.m. beginning April 16 at Laurel Woods Elementary School.* Kinder arts and crafts: For ages 4 and 5, meets at 9:30 a.m. beginning April 16 at Hammond High School.

The Savage Volunteer Fire Company Ladies' Auxiliary will hold a ham and cabbage dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 16 at the fire hall, 8925 Lincoln St. Tickets, which may be purchased at the door, are $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children to age 6 will dine free. Information: 301-498-6813 or 301-725-6409. Historical society plans Bollman bridge discussion The Savage Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. March 18 at the Faith and Ministry Center, 9032 Baltimore St., Savage.

JUANITA had never been to school before last week's visit to Bollman Bridge Elementary. She was one of the coolest ones there, despite the lack of a trendy hairstyle or the latest jeans. She is so cool she travels in a picnic cooler. Juanita is an iguana. Juanita is one of dozens of critters that visited pupils through a PTA-sponsored program Jan. 10. Lisa Nowakowski, the "Lisa" in "Lisa's World of Reptiles and Amphibians," toted 10 coolers filled with cold-blooded creatures to the auditorium to show to preschool through fifth-grade children.

Pupils read to aid people affected by Sept. 11 attacks SAVAGE - Bollman Bridge Elementary School hopes to raise at least $7,200 - and will receive matching funds from Giant Food Inc. - through the school's "Reading for Relief" program to benefit those affected by the September terrorist attacks. Children at the Howard County school are seeking pledges of at least 1 cent for each minute they read during a six-week period that began Oct. 11. Each participating child has pledged to read a minimum of 60 minutes at home each week, in addition to 100 minutes set aside for reading in school each week.

GIRL SCOUT Junior Troop 1345 started the school year well. Barely a week into the year, the troop presented a small health fair at Bollman Bridge Elementary during a back-to-school picnic Sept. 7. Junior Scouts Alyson Marino, Andrea Hricko, Deborah Firestone, Sharnise Hendrick, Heather Jarrell, Rachel Jones and Olivia Owens had spent the previous evening putting together health packets to distribute at four stations. The girls organized the stations in the cafeteria, with information about dental care, basic first aid, the importance of exercise and proper nutrition.

IN ALL the fuss about Atholton High School's homecoming, it's nice to remember that a school is also a place for learning. And what better way to learn than by experience? Atholton has a mentoring program in which students can receive credit for time they spend working in a chosen field. The students spend from five to 10 hours a week in the program. It's a good opportunity to explore possible careers. A number of students are considering teaching. Junior Sarah Blackwell is mentoring children at Cedar Lane School in Columbia.

HERE COMES Valentine's Day, when we remember love. We grant -- and receive -- tokens of affection, small bits of cheer in this winter season.It is a brief reminder that spring will come, although February and March seem to be the longest months.Third-graders at Bollman Bridge Elementary are enriching their Valentine's Day observances with philanthropy.Erica Esposito and Katie Skojec are working together to help a child in a foreign country receive medical care.The two girls are selling carnations to fellow students for Valentine's Day. The proceeds go to Operation Smile, a program offering facial reconstruction to children who need the surgery.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 18, the first Patuxent Valley Middle School cleanup day.On that day, volunteers will spread mulch around a nature trail, remove the grasping Japanese honeysuckle as well as other exotic weeds, and in general make the grounds of the school a better place for wildlife and students.After a morning of painting lines on the basketball courts, repainting doors, pulling weeds and spreading mulch, the stalwart crews will sit down to a well-deserved picnic. As many hands make light work, anyone who wishes to participate is welcome.

The Savage Volunteer Fire Company Ladies' Auxiliary will hold a ham and cabbage dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 16 at the fire hall, 8925 Lincoln St. Tickets, which may be purchased at the door, are $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children to age 6 will dine free. Information: 301-498-6813 or 301-725-6409. Historical society plans Bollman bridge discussion The Savage Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. March 18 at the Faith and Ministry Center, 9032 Baltimore St., Savage.

FOR CHILDREN, September marks the beginning of the new year.The Julian calendar's designation of Jan. 1 as New Year's Day may be convenient -- an excuse for a bash on a long winter night -- but September is the time for special beginnings: a new school or grade, new clothes, new books, new friends.So now that the truly best season of the year is upon us, here's some of the news from the neighborhood.Pam Butler, Bollman Bridge Elementary's principal, is pleased that the school's PTA is holding an informal back-to-school picnic.

A FEW weeks ago, signs started appearing in town promoting a pancake breakfast to help the Andrew Morris family.Morris was battling brain cancer and had enrolled in an experimental drug therapy program.The drugs were free, but his hospitalization was not. And the bills were running up to $7,500 a month.So a local group of volunteers organized the breakfast to help the family cover these fees.Morris did not survive, but the pancake breakfast will be held from 7: 30 to 11: 30 a.m. tomorrow at the Savage Volunteer Fire Company Hall to help his family defray the costs of the long illness.