Winfield Elementary School

POLLY CAVE, retiring as secretary at Winfield Elementary School, received an unusual but thoughtful honor Monday afternoon.About 700 children gathered outside the school and presented Cave with a tree to be planted in her honor. The star magnolia will be planted outside the school office and will have room to grow, just as Cave did in her role as secretary for 25 years.A plaque will be placed next to the tree to let students and parents know of her years of commitment to the school.Cave, who will finish her duties this month, is looking forward to retirement with "mixed feelings."

Westminster, Winfield students get lesson in energy efficiency Students at Westminster and Winfield elementary schools have been participating in the "BTU Crew" interactive program, conducted by a team of associates from Boland, an office of the Trane company. During this program, students explored how to make the buildings more energy efficient and sustainable. Students participated in hands-on lessons to discover how they can make an impact on energy efficiency and conservation while learning about green career options.

The Carroll County Board of Education appointed a new principal at Carroll Springs School and assistant principals at four elementary schools.The board made the changes yesterday based on the recommendations of William H. Hyde, who becomes superintendent of schools tomorrow.Stephany M. Savar was appointed principal at the Carroll Springs School for special education students. She has been acting principal at the school since spring, when Principal Robin Farinholt became the county's assistant supervisor of special education.

On the sign in Winfield Elementary School's lobby, black and white hands reach for red, purple, yellow, green and blue stars. On the wall in Room 14, a laminated copy of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is hanging. But the children in this fourth- and fifth-grade class - all of whom are black - believe they are still judged by the color of their skin, not the content of their character. These children have studied Brown vs. Board of Education with their teacher, Nadiyah Stowers-Moore.

Winfield Elementary School has been selected as the grand prizewinner in the 1999 "Kids Growing With Dutch Bulbs" project from the Mailorder Gardening Association.The association, with the International Flower Bulb Center of Holland and the Dutch Bulb Exporters Group, presented the school with 252 premium Dutch bulbs to plant around the school.The school's gardening club works with a PTA committee whose main goal is to beautify the grounds while allowing children to have an easy, hands-on gardening experience.

Carroll school officials and Winfield residents, citing health and other concerns, yesterday opposed Cellular One's plans for a 200-foot tower near Winfield Elementary School.Cellular One of Washington and Baltimore has asked the county Board of Zoning Appeals to allow the company to build a 200-foot tower and an equipment building at 4416 Salem Bottom Road. Mobile telephone communications towers are allowed as conditional uses.Cellular One wants to lease the site from Charles and Dianna Coon.

Peter Pan may not really fly through the air, but Winfield Elementary School's production soars along quite nicely.Yesterday, the third-graders gave the rest of the school a sneak preview at the dress rehearsal for "Peter Pan" of what parents will be seeing tonight.Some parents could not wait for their performance."I came out to video for some of the moms who can't be here for the dress rehearsal," said Nancy Moeller, whose daughter Nichol, 8, is playing one of the Lost Boy twins.Debbie McDonald stood clutching her video camera next to Mrs. Moeller.

THE ARRIVAL OF spring often signals the beginning of prom season for many high school students. The opportunity to preview the latest in prom fashions for men and women is the highlight of South Carroll High School's annual Spring Fashion Show. The show begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the school auditorium, 1300 W. Old Liberty Road, Winfield. This is the third year the school's PTSO has sponsored this increasingly popular event. Twenty-nine student models will show prom fashions and casual wear provided by local clothing merchants.

The auditoriums were packed and emotions spilled over at last year's school budget hearings.But the $1.49 million proposed budget for 1997-1998 is not likely to break last year's record attendance when it is unveiled today at the first of three public hearings. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. at Francis Scott Key High School."I think it's going to be a lot less crazy than it was last year, because they're not talking about cutting programs and such," said Patricia Holbert, one of the most vocal parents attending the packed hearings last year.

THERE'S HONEST, caring emotion in the petition drive by some parents to rename Winfield Elementary School for longtime principal Raymond Mathias, who died in an auto accident last month.Mr. Mathias was well-respected for his 19 years at Winfield; his death was widely mourned. He should be honored with a suitable memorial. But naming a new school for a person is a hazardous precedent, as is renaming an established school.Mr. Mathias' memory is fresh in our minds as a symbol of school leadership and personal dedication.

PUPILS AT WINFIELD Elementary School will be exploring the world this month. The school's Geography Club - known as the "Geo Bees" - is sponsoring monthlong activities that will include trivia contests, an explorers' hall of fame, a schoolwide time line and even a daily radio play showcasing fascinating people and places in the world around them. "Geography is the glue that holds all the other subjects together. That's the premise our club was founded on; that geography can be the stepping stone to the world," said Connie Davis, a parent who runs the after-school club.

Arsenic-based pesticides sprayed around Winfield Elementary School appear to be the cause of elevated levels of arsenic in water from one of the school's two wells, Carroll County health and school officials said yesterday. Although the measured level of arsenic fell well below the current federal standard of 50 parts per billion in drinking water, the well was capped this week and is being used only to supplement the school's water supply until a new well can be drilled, said Raymond Prokop, the school system's acting facilities director and construction supervisor.

THE ARRIVAL OF spring often signals the beginning of prom season for many high school students. The opportunity to preview the latest in prom fashions for men and women is the highlight of South Carroll High School's annual Spring Fashion Show. The show begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the school auditorium, 1300 W. Old Liberty Road, Winfield. This is the third year the school's PTSO has sponsored this increasingly popular event. Twenty-nine student models will show prom fashions and casual wear provided by local clothing merchants.

Winfield Elementary School has been selected as the grand prizewinner in the 1999 "Kids Growing With Dutch Bulbs" project from the Mailorder Gardening Association.The association, with the International Flower Bulb Center of Holland and the Dutch Bulb Exporters Group, presented the school with 252 premium Dutch bulbs to plant around the school.The school's gardening club works with a PTA committee whose main goal is to beautify the grounds while allowing children to have an easy, hands-on gardening experience.

In Baltimore CityEx-board member to become president of education groupBonnie Copeland, who recently resigned from the Baltimore school board because she moved out of the city, will become president and executive director of the Fund for Educational Excellence.Copeland, who was executive vice president of the Greater Baltimore Committee, replaces Sister Rosemarie Nassif, who was named president of Holy Names College, a Catholic liberal arts college in Oakland, Calif.The Fund for Educational Excellence is a local nonprofit educational organization that works to improve the city school system.

Despite the support of more than 1,000 people in the Winfield community, the Board of Education rejected yesterday an effort by Winfield Elementary School PTA to rename the school in honor of J. Raymond Mathias, its longtime principal, who was killed last month in a car accident."

With the gate closed on filing for candidacy, voters now must prepare to pare down the 11 school board candidates to four in the Sept. 13 nonpartisan primary.Two seats are open. Incumbent Carolyn L. Scott is running again, but John D. Myers is not.Challengers are Laura E. Albers, Michael R. Baker, Gary V. Bauer, Evelyn E. Butler, Wayne Cogswell, Kathleen P. Hamblet, Thomas G. Hiltz, Deborah J. Paisie, Carole M. "Cyd" Pecoraro and Deborah Jane Winter.Ms. Hamblet of Taylorsville and Ms. Butler of Westminster are the last two to file in the past week.

Despite the support of more than 1,000 people in the Winfield community, the Board of Education rejected yesterday an effort by Winfield Elementary School PTA to rename the school in honor of J. Raymond Mathias, its longtime principal, who was killed last month in a car accident."

The Carroll County Board of Education appointed a new principal at Carroll Springs School and assistant principals at four elementary schools.The board made the changes yesterday based on the recommendations of William H. Hyde, who becomes superintendent of schools tomorrow.Stephany M. Savar was appointed principal at the Carroll Springs School for special education students. She has been acting principal at the school since spring, when Principal Robin Farinholt became the county's assistant supervisor of special education.

THERE'S HONEST, caring emotion in the petition drive by some parents to rename Winfield Elementary School for longtime principal Raymond Mathias, who died in an auto accident last month.Mr. Mathias was well-respected for his 19 years at Winfield; his death was widely mourned. He should be honored with a suitable memorial. But naming a new school for a person is a hazardous precedent, as is renaming an established school.Mr. Mathias' memory is fresh in our minds as a symbol of school leadership and personal dedication.