Glenelg High Teacher Wins National Award

Mary Ann Staley, a Latin teacher at Glenelg High School, was presented the Award for Excellence in Pre-Collegiate Teaching at the annual meeting of the American Philological Association in Chicago in January. Only 17 Latin teachers in the country have received the award since it was created in 1999.

Staley, who has taught Latin in Howard County public schools since 1980, is credited with introducing the language to the curriculum at Glenelg, where she has worked since 1992. The Latin program has since expanded to include more than 200 students and two teachers.

Mulch Sale to Benefit Middle and High Schools

The Patapsco Middle School PTA and the Mount Hebron High School PTSA are taking orders for a mulch sale to benefit both schools. Bags of shredded hardwood, $4.50 each plus tax, must be ordered by March 17 and picked up March 29 at Patapsco Middle School, 8885 Old Frederick Rd., Ellicott City.

Orders of 15 bags or more will be delivered at no charge within the Mount Hebron High School district. Volunteers with trucks are needed to help with deliveries. 410-480-2472 or http://www.mulchsale.net.

Student Recognized For Volunteer Efforts

Jake Brody, a senior at Glenelg Country School, was named one of six Maryland Distinguished Finalists in the national Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program to honor outstanding young volunteers.

In 2006, Brody formed an organization to send diabetic testing and monitoring equipment to children in Africa. A diabetic himself, Brody collected nearly 200 testing kits in the United States and worked with the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to have them flown to a new clinic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Brody raised an additional $18,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Howard County Debaters Win Area Tournaments

Students from several Howard County high schools scored high in two recent debate tournaments. At a statewide tournament at Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, Catherine Thompson and Josh Manley from Howard High School won first place in the junior varsity category. Howard's Jordan Fink and Centennial's Michael Lo placed second in the same category.

Thompson was recognized as the top individual speaker in the category, Manly won fourth place, and fellow Howard High School student Emily Scheerer won fifth. Brady Daniller ranked first in the Lincoln-Douglas debate.

At the tristate Regional Novice Debate Tournament at Pennsbury High School in Pennsylvania, the freshman team from Centennial High School, Dan Li and Jonathan Kowarski, placed first.

Debate teams in the Howard County public school system are assisted by Capitol Debate, a nonprofit organization that promotes educational debate programs. http://www.capitol-debate.com.

An Invitation to Coffee With the School Board

The county Board of Education is inviting residents to participate in Coffee and Conversation at locations throughout the county. The next session will be 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Fulton Elementary, 11600 Scaggsville Rd., Fulton.

Internet Safety Poster Winners Honored

The Howard County Board of Education honored three students for their winning entries in the Students for Safe Schools poster contest, with a theme of Internet safety and avoiding cyber-bullying.

First-place winner was Lara Celtnicks from Oakland Mills Middle School, second place went to Keara Lopez of Guilford Elementary School, and Ashley Harman of Veterans Elementary School received an honorable mention.