Hammond High

CONGRATULATIONS to the staff and faculty adviser of The Bear Press, Hammond High School's monthly newspaper. New York's Columbia University Scholastic Journalism Association awarded them the silver medal rating, honoring them as one of the best high school newspapers in the United States.The paper has also received the "All American" award from University of Minnesota's National Journalism School and last year received a second-place ranking from the Maryland Scholastic Press Association for a medium-sized high school newspaper.

WE HAVE successfully weathered Friday the 13th and a full moon. Can spring be far behind?Looking forward to the end of winter -- and the beginning of spring -- officials at Hammond High School have announced the names of students who have received Teacher's Choice awards for January.The Teacher's Choice Award, which recognizes academic achievement, is a coveted honor.The winners were seniors Stephanie Bloomer, Kim Cole, Erin Eitemiller, Stephanie Forsythe, Lori Hunley and Bart Zwaard.Juniors Vaymond Dennis, Jessica Garvey, Kelley Miller, Nathan Ricklin and Michael Wiles were also selected.

HAMMOND HIGH School's Golden Bears will sport new colors this fall. For 25 years, the school's athletic teams and bands have worn brown and gold, but as Hammond moves into its next quarter-century, its colors will be maroon and gold, Principal Sylvia Patillo said. The Golden Bears include all the school's athletic teams. "Brown was chosen by the original principal 25 years ago," explained Ben Sandler, Booster Club treasurer. "In those days, it was probably more popular. But it has been a long time since brown has been a stock color."

IT'S BEEN a while since this column reported on the plans and achievements of the Hammond High School community.Finals kept staff and students preoccupied, and much too busy for other activities.Now that finals are over and the winter term begun, Hammond's PTSA is selling entertainment books.You can purchase one in time for Valentine's Day. The books, which cost $35, contain two-for-one coupons to restaurants and events.It's a pleasant gift -- especially when backed by a commitment to one's partner to make good use of the coupons.

THE HAMMOND HIGH Boosters gratefully acknowledge the hours of time and the expertise given by parents and friends of the school. Without the dedicated efforts of these many volunteers, the school could not offer as rich an experience to its students.Of course, Hammond is particularly lucky in having parent volunteers. There are so many, their names have to be spread over several columns or the column would read like a phone directory.So here's a tip of the ol' hat to Becky Griffin, Sue Hanson, Maria Kyritsopoulos, Cindy Jones, Peter Jones, Mutsuko Kennerly, Marge Lally and Jeanette Lazarofsky.

Staff and students of Hammond High bade a regretful farewell to JoAnn Sailer, an English teacher who retires this year. She has been at Hammond since it opened in 1977. Karen Dunlop, who taught foreign languages, also leaves the school community. Hammond's loss is the Howard County Education Association's gain. She begins a term as president of that organization.*Two years ago, piano teacher Leslie Goldstein met Cindy Yoo, a young student from Korea. Miss Yoo had given up the piano in her native Korea because her hands were thought to be too small for her ever to play well.

It's not yet August, but it's time to think about back-to-school. Having now declared myself squarely in the parental camp (I never wanted summer to end when I was a kid), I'll point out that Hammond High School wishes to encourage all budding athletes, with tryouts, the official start for fall sports, beginning in mid-August.The 1994 tryouts for cross country and field hockey is Aug. 15 at 8:30 a.m.Varsity football starts the same day at 8 a.m.Junior varsity football begins Aug. 17 at 9 a.m.Boys soccer, girls soccer and volleyball all begin Aug. 22 at 3 p.m.For more information about the start times and tryouts, call Bob Maxey, Hammond High's athletic director at (410)

Hammond High will be a confusing place for returning students this year. The school now goes to a four-period, 90-minute class schedule. One week, students will have a particular class Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; the next week, that class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays.This schedule has been in place at Atholton for a while. Teachers like it because it allows them to really pursue a subject until the students understand it; the usual 50-minute class period is sometimes too short. And students like the new system because it gives them time to take another elective class.

THE DIFFERENCE between school and the real world is that in school, extraordinary achievements are rewarded by grades and gold stars. In the real world, you get money.So what happens when the real world meets academia? The achievements of teachers result in money for schools. Hammond High School is doing well in this department.Jennifer Petering, teacher extraordinaire of environmental science and biology and an avid recycler, has received a grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust to buy science equipment.

About 1,000 Hammond High School students were sent into the cold for an hour Wednesday afternoon after a student set fire to a gym mat, Howard County fire officials said.Officials at the Guilford Road school yesterday blamed a male student for the fire, but the student was not identified and no additional information was available.The state fire marshal's office is deciding whether to file criminal charges in the case, said Patti Caplan, spokeswoman for Howard County schools.No one was injured in the fire, which was confined to the auxiliary gymnasium and caused about $1,500 damage.