Families and Communities Together with Schools, or the FACTS program, at Running Brook Elementary School is a success, thanks to the efforts of an outstanding planning committee and the help of some local businesses.
The purpose of the program is to provide activities to strengthen family-community-school interaction by increasing student success, improving school attendance and enhancing parent participation in education.
The planning committee is composed of school officials, parents and members of other groups. Committee members include Principal Debbie Drown; Assistant Principal Corita Oduyoye; guidance counselor Charlotte Bridges; MaryBeth Dugan of the Department of Recreation and Parks; Jean Lewis, Black Student Achievement Program coordinator; and parents Sue Bartholomew, Julie Berla, Nancy Berla (actually a grandparent), Sue Feldman, Kathy Leatherwood, Pat Lopiano, Vera Rodriguez, Helen Ruther and Linda Tomlinson.
Two local businesses have lent their support to the FACTS program.
The Annapolis Design Group in Columbia, which is owned by Running Brook parents Bob and Ruth Eichelberger, participates in the Business Partners in Education program. Mrs. Eichelberger designed the FACTS logo and letterhead used on the FACTS newsletter, fliers, information sheets and other correspondence.
Mail Boxes Inc. in Wilde Lake Village Center is providing a discount for copying and mailing services to aid distribution of FACTS correspondence to students and parents.
Parents interested in additional information about the FACTS program may call 313-6762.
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FISH, which provides emergency food to Howard County residents, needs volunteers to handle telephone calls requesting assistance.
Volunteers are asked to give one day or evening each month, which may be done from the volunteer's home. The normal load is four to 10 calls during duty time.
If you would like to volunteer a little of your time to help others, please call Joan Chiarenza at 730-5480 or Judy Morrison at 922-7194.
All volunteers will be trained and will have access to experienced helpers while on duty.
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The ninth annual Miss Howard County Scholarship Pageant will be held Feb. 18 at Slayton House in Wilde Lake Village Center.
The pageant is open to contestants ages 17 to 24 who will compete in four categories: talent, interview, evening gown and swimsuit.
Those interested in entering the pageant should call Barbara Bogart at 465-4076.
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Serious ballet students will want to attend the Ballet Master Class on Jan. 14 at Linden Hall in Dorsey's Search Village Center.
June Smart, who teaches ballet at Linden Hall and the Columbia School of Theatrical Arts, has invited Hugues Magen, a principal dancer for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, to instruct dance sessions for intermediate and advanced students.
Mr. Magen, who has been a guest artist with other dance companies and has appeared on television, has been with the Dance Theatre of Harlem since 1984.
There will be two dance sessions. Session I, for intermediate students, will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Session II, for advanced students, will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Open registration will be held at Linden Hall beginning Jan. 3. There will be no telephone reservations. The cost is $20 per person. For additional information, call Linden Hall at 730-4005, or June Smart at 761-2959.
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Teen-agers who are planning to earn extra money baby-sitting should plan to attend "Essentials of Baby-sitting," a class sponsored by Howard County General Hospital and Health Quest Inc.
The class will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the hospital's Health Education Center.
Subjects include strategies for effective child management, emergency techniques and how to develop and maintain a safe environment for children. A certificate of completion will be awarded to all participants.
The course fee is $25. Lunch will be provided.
For additional information or to register, call 740-7600.