Thomas Stone Vice Principal Michael Meiser &
bus driver Dee Shelton.
Lackey Vice Principal Glenn Jones
Board of Education Member, Charles Carrington
Andrew Malherek (left) & Rocket Barner of the
Harlem Wizards play a little one-on-one.

In Focus

Scooby Doo book author James Gelsey visited staff and faculty Oct. 15 at Mary H. Matula Elementary School for a “Write Now” interactive assembly. The assembly was held for all students on how to become a mystery writer. Gelsey focused on specific writing skills for each grade level. He discussed fundamentals of writing with kindergarten and first-grade students, the journey of imagination with second- and third-grade students, and the whodunit element with fourth and fifth graders. Gelsey also autographed “Scooby Doo” books that Matula media specialist Susan Farneth ordered for students to purchase at the school book fair for Gelsey’s visit. 

Thomas Stone High School held a school bus driver social Oct. 22 to recognize National School Bus Safety Week. More than 20 Stone school bus drivers attended the social and were thanked by Vice Principal Michael Meiser for a great start of the 2007-08 school year.

Three Charles County Public Schools instructional employees have been chosen to present at a national conference. Alesha Guechati, an instructional specialist at William B. Wade Elementary School, Tara Mattingly, a title I instructional specialist for technology and Meighan Hungerford, the coordinator of elementary instruction, will present “Don’t Break the Ice, Shatter It!” at the National Staff Development Council’s annual conference held next month. The presentation highlights effective and engaging ways of integrating technology into staff development sessions.

Students and staff at Westlake High School watched the Orionid meteor shower at 5:30 a.m., Oct. 22 at the school. Telescopes were provided by the Southern Maryland Astronomy Society and students were able to view the shower, as well as obtain close views of Saturn and Venus.

Glenn Jones, a vice principal at Henry E. Lackey High School, will be honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Nov. 18. Jones, along with four other Maryland scholastic wrestling coaches, will receive a “Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award,” and will be recognized for serving as a role model for student athletes.

The La Plata High School chapter of the National Art Honor Society received a first-place plaque Oct. 28 for its scarecrow design, featured in the 2007 Town of La Plata Fall Festival. The scarecrow is on display on La Grange Avenue in La Plata until Nov. 12. It was created by La Plata art students under the direction of La Plata art teacher Joseph Troy and includes art history and famous painting references in its design. More than 40 other s