Talented Program

HCC program plans its third conference on disabled students Project Access of Howard Community College will hold its third conference on students with disabilities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 15. "Transitioning the High School Student with Disabilities ... Success on the Postsecondary Level and Beyond," a program for parents and professionals, will be held on the campus, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Kristen Cox, secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, will speak.

CENTENNIAL LANE Elementary School held its Career Day on Jan. 31 as adults from the community visited classes to describe their careers.According to my sources -- press releases written by student reporters from the school's Gifted and Talented Program -- the day was totally successful.For example, according to Emi DiStefano, computer graphics Professor Russell Turner explained to the children how the movie "Toy Story" was created."A person was connected to wires which were connected to the computer.

Bonnie Branch Middle School students David Friedman, Jake Miller and Tim Reagan share a love of baseball. The three friends not only play together, they also created a documentary on Jackie Robinson that will advance to the national level of the National History Day Competition, June 10-14, at the University of Maryland, College Park. The students presented their winning project Friday at Howard County's Middle School Student Achievement Expo. "We all have an interest in sports, and we've all played baseball, and we wanted a topic that we could relate to," Jake said.

It's not every child, especially at the age of 12, who finds herself teacher to people six decades her senior and relishing every single minute of it.But Lara Haase has the enviable position of teaching her favorite pastime -- crochet -- to a small group whose company she has found she just plain enjoys.Three afternoons a week you'll find the Harper's Choice Middle School student at the Lorien Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center leading a small group of the residents in a crochet project.

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.

School Superintendent Carol S. Parham did not recommend last night bringing back the middle school gifted and talented program.But she did urge the school board to eliminate the unpopular music and athletic fees, reinstate middle school activity buses and turn on the heat or air conditioning during after-school functions.Those were her suggestions to the board, which was considering what to do with the $5.8 million that the County Council took from the contingency fund and gave to the schools Monday night.

Sandra Erickson left her old job and office last week.Ms. Erickson, the former Howard County schools staff development coordinator, took down her pictures at her office at the Faulker Ridge Staff Development Center. She finished filling cardboard boxes full of memorabilia, awards and degrees.All the shuffling did not ruffle the 40-year-old educator, who is taking over as the school system's newest associate superintendent.Although it was close to quitting time, she looked fresh, charged, ready to tackle anything -- just like the children she has taught.

If he has his druthers, Superintendent Charles I. Ecker would like to nearly quadruple the number of math resource teachers in elementary and middle school classrooms, expand the gifted and talented program, and pay all employees - from teachers to custodians - enough to keep them from leaving for higher-paying positions in neighboring counties. "We need to provide intervention services to help those kids [who are struggling academically] get up to par," Ecker said in an interview last week.