Run Elementary School

Students at Deep Run Elementary School in Elkridge collected books, digital video discs and stuffed animals to give to patients in the Howard County General Hospital pediatric ward. Second-graders collected money and gathered the books and DVDs, while members of the school's Student Council collected stuffed animals.

Students at Deep Run Elementary School in Elkridge collected books, digital video discs and stuffed animals to give to patients in the Howard County General Hospital pediatric ward. Second-graders collected money and gathered the books and DVDs, while members of the school's Student Council collected stuffed animals.

Pointers Run Elementary School was honored by the Maryland Senate this week for being named a Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.The Senate resolution was sponsored by Martin G. Madden -- the Republican senator whose district includes the school -- and recognizes Pointers Run for "the outstanding and tireless efforts of the principal, faculty, PTA and community member."Pointers Run was one of 11 Maryland elementaries recognized by the state Department of Education in November for quality in instructional programs, teacher development and community involvement.

Clay Griffiths, a fifth-grader at Guilford Elementary School, could see that his friend, Malik Davis, was enjoying himself. So, he asked school counselor Leslie Farmer if he could be part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, too. "It looked like they had lots of fun," Clay said. "I wanted to have lots of fun." Farmer told Clay not to get his hopes up. Malik had been with his mentor, Dennis W. Miller, for three years, but finding male volunteers to pair with pupils can be difficult, she said.

KUDOS TO all the folks at Pointers Run Elementary School.State School Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick recently named Pointers Run a Blue Ribbon School for its excellence in instructional programs, staff development for teachers, climate for learning and parent and community involvement.As a winner of this award, Pointers Run will compete in the National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Program.Six Pointers Run Elementary School students who made relief masks have their work on display at the Savage Mill Casting Building.

FOLKS AT Pointers Run Elementary School are celebrating. Pointers Run is one of 11 schools in the state to receive the 1997 Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.Two staff members also received significant awards this year for their outstanding work.On April 29, Pointers Run supporters may attend a "Tribute to the Blue Ribbon Schools" at Martin's West in Woodlawn.Gov. Parris N. Glendening and State School Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick will lead the accolades, which begin at 5: 30 p.m.Eighty tickets are available for Pointers Run supporters who wish to attend the banquet.

At least half a dozen Howard County schools were damaged when pipes that froze in last week's sub-zero temperatures thawed and burst, flooding classrooms.Much of the damage was minor and involved drenched carpets and wet furniture, said Thomas Kierzkowski, school facilities director.But three schools -- Mayfield Woods and Burleigh Manor middle schools and Pointers Run Elementary School -- suffered more substantial damage.School officials say they have no cost estimates on the damage, which occurred last week when students and staff were off because of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and bad weather.

CONGRATULATIONS to two of the community's students, whose entries in the PTA Reflections Arts Competition have won state awards.Having won awards at schoolwide and countywide competitions, their artworks will be forwarded to national competition.Christina Donohue of Ellicott Mills Middle School created a photograph titled "The Phone Locket" as an assignment for Suzanne Van Wey's sixth-grade English class."I never thought my photograph would make it this far," she said.Matthew Sachs, a second-grader at Deep Run Elementary School, created an original musical composition that will compete nationally.

County school board to meet tomorrow in Ellicott City The Howard County Board of Education will meet at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the boardroom of the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City. Both sessions will begin with a public forum, when members of the public can address the board on any topic. Speakers are asked to sign up in advance. A public meeting to approve the fiscal year 2003 operating and capital budgets and the 2004-2008 Capital Improvement Program will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Howard County education officials spent about $200,700 last school year to repair damage caused by the severe winter.More than half of the county's elementary, middle and high schools suffered damage, according to a recently released Board of Education report.Most of the repairs were at the county's newer schools, a fact one school official attributed to a "shake-out" period for new buildings.In addition, there was $92,700 in damage from vandalism and theft in the 1993-1994 school year, down from $126,300 in the previous school year.

County school board to meet tomorrow in Ellicott City The Howard County Board of Education will meet at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the boardroom of the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City. Both sessions will begin with a public forum, when members of the public can address the board on any topic. Speakers are asked to sign up in advance. A public meeting to approve the fiscal year 2003 operating and capital budgets and the 2004-2008 Capital Improvement Program will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Deep Run Elementary School children have been sorting through pencils, safety pins, paper plates, old jeans and many other household items during the past few weeks, but their activity has nothing to do with spring cleaning. The items will be used today at the Elkridge school for Peaceful Ways to Play Night, which will highlight the theme of peace. It's one of many activities at the school this year seeking to demonstrate ways to get along and avoid violence. It is widely believed that children learn through play and example, and the Peaceful Ways event builds on that concept.

At Deep Run Elementary School, the room where pupils eat their lunches and fidget through assemblies is affectionately called the "cafetorium," a term that accurately describes the dual use of space common in many primary school buildings.But as the Elkridge school's population has grown over the years, Deep Run staff members have had to become even more creative with the building's space, putting virtually every nook and cranny to good use.An 11-by-12-foot conference room has become a classroom for children who are learning to speak English and for others who need help with reading.

CONGRATULATIONS to two of the community's students, whose entries in the PTA Reflections Arts Competition have won state awards.Having won awards at schoolwide and countywide competitions, their artworks will be forwarded to national competition.Christina Donohue of Ellicott Mills Middle School created a photograph titled "The Phone Locket" as an assignment for Suzanne Van Wey's sixth-grade English class."I never thought my photograph would make it this far," she said.Matthew Sachs, a second-grader at Deep Run Elementary School, created an original musical composition that will compete nationally.

FOLKS AT Pointers Run Elementary School are celebrating. Pointers Run is one of 11 schools in the state to receive the 1997 Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.Two staff members also received significant awards this year for their outstanding work.On April 29, Pointers Run supporters may attend a "Tribute to the Blue Ribbon Schools" at Martin's West in Woodlawn.Gov. Parris N. Glendening and State School Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick will lead the accolades, which begin at 5: 30 p.m.Eighty tickets are available for Pointers Run supporters who wish to attend the banquet.

Pointers Run Elementary School was honored by the Maryland Senate this week for being named a Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.The Senate resolution was sponsored by Martin G. Madden -- the Republican senator whose district includes the school -- and recognizes Pointers Run for "the outstanding and tireless efforts of the principal, faculty, PTA and community member."Pointers Run was one of 11 Maryland elementaries recognized by the state Department of Education in November for quality in instructional programs, teacher development and community involvement.

The staff, students and parents of Mount View Middle School have enthusiastically embraced the challenges a new school brings. Many programs are "up and running," according to principal Marion Payne.The school's PTA has received its charter from the national PTA. Its officers send thanks to the PTAs at Glenwood Middle School, Patapsco Middle School, Waverly Elementary School and West Friendship Elementary School for their start-up donations.Mount View band director Shelley Williams announces over 100 members in its concert band and wind ensemble.

When Joanne W. Ferguson was growing up in the small Pennsylvania town of Dunmore, she had no doubt of what she would do after high school."I don't even remember being given a choice. It wasn't, 'Are you going to go to college or not?' it was, 'What are you going to do when you finish college?' "Infected with her parents' love of learning, Mrs. Ferguson followed her father, a truck driver who became a teacher when she was in junior high school, into education.Last week Mrs. Ferguson, assistant principal at Pointer's Run Elementary School, was named Educator of the Year by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

KUDOS TO all the folks at Pointers Run Elementary School.State School Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick recently named Pointers Run a Blue Ribbon School for its excellence in instructional programs, staff development for teachers, climate for learning and parent and community involvement.As a winner of this award, Pointers Run will compete in the National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Program.Six Pointers Run Elementary School students who made relief masks have their work on display at the Savage Mill Casting Building.

DEEP RUN Elementary School opens its senior tutoring program with its first tutor, Marcella Faulkner. Ms. Faulkner comes to the school twice a week for a morning one-on-one with several students.New to our area and not a retired teacher, Ms. Faulkner was a bit apprehensive the first day she tutored the children. But she fits into school routines beautifully and is a great asset to the program.Deep Run also has recruited three student volunteers from Howard High School, who will begin tutoring soon.