Hammond Elementary

The Hammond Elementary School PTA will hold a yard sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at the school, 8110 Aladdin Drive, in North Laurel. About 100 families are expected to participate in the sale, which will feature concessions. Selling space is sold out, but bargain hunters are welcome. Proceeds will benefit PTA-sponsored programs at the school. The rain date is Sunday. Information: 301-776-3169. Montpelier Spring Festival is scheduled Sunday The South Laurel Recreation Council will hold the 32nd Montpelier Spring Festival from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday on the grounds of Montpelier Mansion, Route 197 at Montpelier Drive, Laurel.

" 'Picture Not So Perfect' is a mystery about a weird antique camera that only kids could see. The characters are very different; one plays sports and the others solve mysteries. Those are reasons why this is my favorite story." -- Ashley Johnson Powhatan Elementary "I think 'Three Up A Tree' by James Marshall is the best story. I like the part when the chicken and doll are bank robbers. I also like what a little boy named Spider is wearing." -- Craig Morgan Hammond Elementary

Some children in Howard County may be heading to the classroom earlier -- or later -- if the school board approves adjustments to next year's school schedules.The school system is anticipating tweaking opening and closing times for some schools to accommodate the opening of a new school and expansion of the county's Technology Magnet program, and to save money.According to a report presented to the board last night, the school system would need $231,000 for seven more buses if the proposals are rejected.

IF DECEMBER fast approaches, can the delights of the season be far behind?Having begun a new area tradition, the congregation at South Columbia Baptist Church will hold a Christmas Open House, as it has done for the past six years.Under the theme "Christmas Spoken Here," the congregation offers a five-day series on Christmas, then and now.From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 10-12, the church will welcome everyone to its tour of the Road to Bethlehem.At 8 p.m., the choir is to offer a brief holiday concert, followed by refreshments at 8: 30 p.m.The refreshment area will feature a garden of decorated trees, a puppet show, crafts and a photo center, where members of the congregation will take photos.

COLUMBIA PRO Cantare, a nonprofit musical group, celebrates its 20th anniversary this season.The opening concert, "Serenade to Music," features guest vocalists Kishna Davis, Marianna Busching, Charles Reid and Lester Lynch.The program includes works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Handel, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin.The performance begins at 7: 30 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theater for the Performing Arts.Tickets for the Nov. 1 performance are $20. The audience may join the performers at a reception after the concert.

WITH THE opening of school only two weeks away, teachers and staff members are busy preparing classrooms, while students rush to fill the last of summer with fun.At Hammond Elementary, returning staff members are glad to find that an addition has been finished. No longer will students and staff members have to walk to temporary classrooms.The sloping courtyard that separates Hammond Elementary School from Hammond Middle School has been repaired. The steep, grassy slope had been supported by huge timber retaining walls.

Howard County schools Superintendent Michael E. Hickey announced the transfers and promotions of 31 school administrators last night, including the principals of Atholton, Glenelg and Wilde Lake high schools.Hickey also revealed that County Executive Charles I. Ecker has agreed to set aside about $2.8 million in extra school construction funds for next year -- enough for the school board to complete some, but not all, of its planned construction for next year.In announcing the administrative transfers, Hickey acknowledged that they can be "disruptive and upsetting" but said his "ultimate responsibility is to consider the needs of the system as a whole."

HAMMOND ELEMENTARY is pleased to announce its roster of volunteers serving on the PTA committees. Donna Merson, Dottie Balaban, Gail Brown, Dee Levi, Nancy Trudel, Darla Trigger, Pat Baker, Frank Tesoriero, and Janet Moore are officers of the organization.Eydie Hammers, Barb Costa, Kathy Mattos, Bonnie Miller and Joyce Pope raise the money that lets the PTA operate.They sell books, run the gift wrap sales and hold a garage sale.Others are involved in collecting soup labels and grocery store receipts.

IT'S THAT WONDERFUL TIME of the year when all good scholars trudge unwittingly to school and the rest of us get a respite from the summer's whine. No more do we hear "I'm bored." Now all we hear is how awful the teachers are and how mean the principals can be. The fall whine is, "I have too much homework."The new school year brings many changes. Last year's classmates have grown taller, better-looking and wiser. Teachers retire, move on or change classrooms. New teachers arrive.Arriving at Hammond Elementary are Suzan Ulgar and Nancy Regotti in first grade, Colleen DeJordy in second, Edwin Saunders in fourth, Amy Rappaport in fifth, Doug Lea in instrumental music and Cynthia Jennings in speech andlanguage.

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.