The carpeted classrooms of Chesapeake Bay Middle School are far removed from the selling floor of Wall Street, but try telling that to Ryan Moore and 53 other eighth-grade math students.
For eight weeks last fall, they were buyers on a mission: Make the most profit playing the market and compete for a prize in "The Investment Game," sponsored by The Sun.
Ryan, with a net profit of $2,003, came out a big winner, placingsecond in the middle-school level of the contest, which involved hisfellow Chesapeake Bay students and those at 11 other middle schools in the Baltimore area.
Debi Albright, their algebra teacher, said students playing the game were given $20,000 in imaginary dollars; $10,000 to invest in the stock market, with the other half invested in a banking product with a guaranteed interest rate.
Students checked The Sun's business pages once a week and plotted their rising or falling fortunes.
"Students are always asking 'What am I ever going to need this for?' " she said. "They did not realize that the fraction and decimal conversion they computed weekly to play the game only increased their math skills."
Along with learning how to invest, these young teens also learned how current events and trends have an impact on investments and the economy overall.
Has success changed Ryan much? Not really, he's still interested in the things most eighth-grade boys are, but now he has added another interest -- the stock market.
"I used to think that reading the stock market reports in the business section was just for adults, but not now," said Ryan, sonof Robert and Sandra Moore. "I had fun playing the game and learned a lot."
Round two of the Investment Game will begin Feb. 19, said Nancy Hauswald, Sun program coordinator. "The program was developed so that students could get the feel of a portfolio, balancing stocks with other investments," she said.
"Ryan did very well considering his total profit was higher than $2,003, since paying a 1 percent broker commission was a part of the game," Hauswald said. "We try to make the game like real life, with no free lunch."
If you would like more details about the Investment Game, call Hauswald at 332-6078.
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The Chesapeake Women's Club extends an invitation to women of any age to attend a special evening introductory meeting at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, at the Eastern District Police Station on Mountain Road.
"Our club has always had daytime meetings, but with more women in thework force, we decided to have a special evening session just for them," said Jean Tate, club president.
Not just a "let's get together for lunch" bunch, the Chesapeake Women's Club has been involved in supporting a wide array of community projects over the past 14 years.
"We support the arts, education, conservation, home life, international and public affairs," Tate said.
"Many people know about ourannual art show for local students of Northeast, Chesapeake senior and middle schools and the scholarships given to graduating seniors atboth schools. This year, we added a new dimension to our traditionalscholarship program by sponsoring a client of the YWCA Battered Spouse program at Anne Arundel Community College.
"We also included gas and clothing allowance and baby-sitting fees to this young woman togive her a chance at making a new life."
Club members also pushedfor a store-front library to serve the Mountain Road area. Although they haven't been successful, club members have not given up hope.
The CWC would like to expand involvement in the community, but to dothat they need more members.
For more details about the CWC, callTate at 255-1552.
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The Northeast High School guidance department and PTSA are co-sponsoring a Fine Arts and Practical Arts Festival on Feb. 12 at the school on Duvall Highway.
Freshmen will attendthe event during sixth and seventh periods. Their parents and incoming ninth-graders and their parents are invited to attend the event starting at 7 p.m.
"We have a small school -- under 1,000 -- but ourstudents still have a wide range of educational options for course selections," said Anne Kleinman, counselor.
Fine arts courses will be the subject of displays and demonstrations that will showcase the talents of Northeast students in wood working, ceramics, painting anddrawing.
Practical arts course displays will focus on business, computers and vocational-technical training offered at the school and at the Center of Applied Technology North.
Sue Carroll will present information for parents and students interested in the gifted and talented program at the school.
"We offer a wide range of AP and honors course selections for students to choose from," Kleinman said. "With so many different certificate programs available, with varying credit requirements for graduation, current eighth- and ninth-grade students and their parents should plan on attending."
For more information, call the school at 437-6400.
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Mountain Road Kiwanis invite you to attend a bull and oyster roast from 1 to 6 p.m. March 8 at Earleigh Heights VFD hall on Ritchie Highway.
Tickets are $20 and feature a full menu, beer and set-ups. In case you are on a diet, the Kiwanis have a low-cal option for you.
Food will be served from1 to 5 p.m.
Music for dancing will be provided by a disc jockey.
Proceeds will benefit community projects and the under-privileged.
Take a chance and maybe you'll win two 13-week terrace box seats at the new Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Chances are $1 each and are available by phone or at the roast.
To order roast or raffle tickets, call 255-2252 or 255-4037.
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Chesapeake High School AthleticBoosters invite the community and area businesses to participate in a new program to help support athletic programming at the school.
John Perrone, club president, says the group will be printing programbooklets that will be distributed at Chesapeake's spring sports events. Additional books will be distributed during the fall 1992 season and 1993 winter and spring seasons.
If you would like more detailsabout this program, give Perrone a call at 647-1740.
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Last Saturday, Downs Park honored volunteers at its annual banquet at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church on Mountain Road.
More than 120 people were on hand to receive their awards and rewards for dedicated service to the park.
Special awards were given for individual achievement at the park.
Ranger Dennis Cloutier and Ranger Rick Holt presented the awards.
* In recognition of the love and dedication to the Mother's Garden, Virginia Garrett and L.J. Meeks were presented with the Golden Trowel award given to the Gardener of the Year.
* The William Wilson Award was won by Betty Glasgow.
* Most Improved Plot Award was shared by Estelle Herpel and Matt Hieatzman.
* MikeMcLaren was recognized for his contribution of almost 3,000 volunteer hours with a special award for dedicated volunteering.
* John Quasney was given a special plaque honoring his years of service to theyoungsters who visit the face-painting booths at special park events.
* Bill Stiener and Harold Autry received special friend awards.
* Cadette Girl Scout Troop 786 received a special organized group award for its outstanding puppet performance during the year. If you or your pre-schooler has attended a Puppets in the Woods production, you've seen those shy but dedicated young girls in action.
* The Brescia family and the Harris family were honored for dedicated service to Downs Park.
* The Golden Hammer Award was given to the Lewandowski family for outstanding constructive hammering.
* The Volunteer of the Year Award went to artist and wildflower expert extraordinare Marie Bailey.
To the cooks at Mount Carmel UMC, the food was great.
The music was sublime, but we have to do something about those Downs Park rangers. You can't have that much fun working or maybe I'm wrong.
I think these guys have been out in the woods too long.