I love Baltimore. And I cannot write my usual upworthy column without first acknowledging the effects of the events which happened just a few miles from our area. Otherwise, I would be a shallow, over-privileged part of the problem.
My family has lived in Baltimore for so many generations I can't trace back far enough to a time we lived anywhere else. My parents and grandparents attended city public schools. My beloved grandfather was a Baltimore City Police officer. My husband and I spent our honeymoon as Baltimore tourists. I love Baltimore. Last week was upsetting, devastating, surreal, inspiring and beautiful. As a fourth-generation fixer, I have a none too revolutionary idea that's been handed down for generations in my family. Let's all treat one another with kindness, compassion and respect. All the time. No matter what. Smile. Exchange pleasantries. We can't control what others think, say or do, but we each have 100 percent control over our responses. So let's all change the world one kind word and thoughtful gesture at a time. All the time. No matter what. Because we all matter.
Dumbarton Middle School had success on the track on April 26. With 10 eastern Baltimore County middle schools competing, it was swift competition. Luke Millard, Graham Kotchick, Henry Sleeman, and Ethan McNary took third place in the Men's 4 by 800 Relay; McKenzie Annis came in fourth in the Women's 1600 Meters; Madeline Till took third in the Women's 400 Meters; Remy Spurrier came in fourth in the Women's 300 Meters; Seth Van Diner finished third in the Men's 200 Meters; Liam Jones, Alex Herndon, Oliver Wolff and Cormac Masters took fourth in the Men's 4 by 400 Relay; and Callie Nagle earned third in the Women's Long Jump. Dumbarton placed fourth overall. Great job!
Congratulations to the Stoneleigh Elementary School Chessmasters!The Chessmasters weekend travel team ended their year with a first place win bringing home the first place plaque for the second year in a row. Stoneleigh students Michael Stamatos and Jake Fey won first and sixth place, respectively, leading the team to win the tournament overall. Additional members of the team included Luke Gutberlet, Oliver Almenter and Filippo Borrello. The team won the first place designation after matches against 15 county elementary school teams.
If you haven't heard the news yet, Deborah Hughey, beloved, adored, and cherished kindergarten teacher at Rodgers Forge Elementary School for the past 20 years, is retiring. It's almost impossible to imagine an RFES without Mrs. Hughey. She plans to travel to sunny and sandy places with Mr. Hughey as well as spend time with her grandchildren. But she plans to stay involved in our community and, as she says, "Until June 19, I remain one lucky kindergarten teacher."
As always, if you have something to shout from the rooftops (new job, promotion, award, personal success, etc.), please send me an email.