Drop by Glenwood Middle School and you may see a stylish woman stride by quickly and greet you with a broad smile. She'll stop in midstep to make a running child go back and walk, never saying a word, just pointing. Albertha Caldwell, assistant principal at Glenwood for the past 9 1/2 years, is a dynamo -- a woman in charge. She's constantly on the go, she says, because middle school kids are never still, and "I keep up with them."
Beginning Jan. 31, Mrs. Caldwell will be keeping up with the students of Wilde Lake Middle School as their new principal. How does she feel about leaving Glenwood?
"This is home. I love this school and these kids, but I am looking forward to having the time, as principal, to reawaken my creative side. I'm looking forward to being at the helm and trying new things at Wilde Lake," she said. "I'll miss [Principal Vincent] Catania, the staff, the community, and most of all the kids here at Glenwood."
Mrs. Caldwell's job at Glenwood includes disciplining youngsters, and she does this swiftly, respectfully and fairly. Mr. Catania says: "Mrs. Caldwell is a model of dealing with students with respect. She is a talented, able administrator -- one of the best I've ever met. She is always concerned with the welfare of each child. When a professional is as good as she is, you can't really appreciate her until she's gone. She makes being an assistant principal look so easy."
Teacher Priscilla Geisler speaks for many faculty members when she says: "Working with Mrs. Caldwell has been wonderful. I could depend on her when I had a problem with a student, and together we were always able to motivate the student to do better. She's become a personal friend, and I will miss her very much."
Glenwood Parent Teacher Student Association President Sheila Nixon characterizes Mrs. Caldwell as a person who cares about the children and the school, an administrator who tries to connect with parents and the whole community.
"We appreciate her work and effort in our community for all these years. Mrs. Caldwell and her late husband, Walter, who was a principal at Glenelg High School, became a part of us, and we hope we became a part of both of them," she said.
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Tickets are still available to the Count Basie Orchestra Concert at Glenelg High School at 8 p.m. Jan. 26. The award-winning Glenelg High School Jazz Ensemble will open the concert. This is a wonderful chance to hear great music close to home at a
very reasonable price. If you need tickets, buy them in the school office or send a check for $15 per ticket made out to Glenelg High School to Barry P. Enzman, Glenelg High School, 14025 Burnt Woods Road, Glenelg 21737.
Your tickets will be held at the will-call window at the auditorium. Tickets at the door, if available, will cost $18 each. Phone 313-5533.
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Who cares for the care-givers? People who provide long-term care for someone ill, dying, or disabled need support themselves, and Calvary Lutheran Church of Woodbine has a group that can help.
The Caregiver's Support Group meets at the church at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Community members who have a loved one in a nursing home, but who take primary responsibility for them, nurses or nurses assistants who are constant care-givers, or people who have someone at home for whom they give continuous supervision are invited to join.
Call Ann Rinker at (301)-829-1999.
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Three dedicated Calvary Lutheran Church members received "Just Say Thanks" awards recently for their outstanding service to the church for many years. The congregation recognized Marie Sanner for counting the offering for Calvary, Mark Moser for being treasurer of the congregation and Nancy Stockdale for teaching Sunday School.
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Congratulations to talented music students from Clarksville Middle School who successfully auditioned for chairs in the 1994-1995 Howard County Middle School Gifted and Talented Symphonic Band. Clarinetist Jerome Fleg, flutists Shannon Curtin and Regan Miller and French horn player Stephanie Grutsmacher will perform with the band, which begins rehearsals this week. Christina Bonebreak, who plays trumpet, is an alternate to the band. Jerome is also a member if the 1995 Maryland All State Junior Concert Band.
Eight Clarksville Middle School students won chairs in the 1994-1995 Howard County Middle School Gifted and Talented Orchestra. Cellist Ethan Montgomery, violinists Sebastian Cherng, Taylor Davis-Van Atta, Ann Miller -- who is also a member of the 1995 Maryland All State Junior Orchestra -- Laura Steil, Eric Tung, and Carl Zimmerman, and violist Kelly McBeth are members of this elite ensemble.
Elementary School students may audition for an opportunity to play in the Howard County Elementary Enrichment Orchestra. From Clarksville Elementary School, cellist Thomas Mehoke, violist Tommy Long and violinist Fana Walcott earned chairs in the orchestra. Cellist Megha Rajagopalan from Manor Woods Elementary School was also awarded an orchestra chair.
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Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville invites seniors to join them for a covered dish luncheon and game party Sunday after church service, which begins at 11 a.m. Bring a covered dish, your cards or games, and stay for fun, food, fellowship and laughs.
Call Jeannette Bowen at 730-5178.
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Randall Bradford, first vice president of the Clarksville Lions Club says tickets are on sale for the Lions March 11 Bull and Oyster Roast.
The Lions offer a buffet dinner of pit beef, oysters on the half-shell, oyster stew, and more, with beer and setups provided from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Starting at 8 p.m. you can dance or just enjoy live music. The Reasons will provide music in great variety, from contemporary to Top 40 to Country to oldies.
You are invited to enjoy a good time with the Lions for just $23 per person. It all happens at the American Legion Post 60 at 2 Main St. in Laurel.
To purchase tickets, call Hollis Shenk at (301) 854-0126. All proceeds from the Bull and Oyster Roast benefit the Lions Clubs charities.
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If you'd like to win a whole wagonload of goodies, then buy some raffle tickets from the Clarksville Lions Club. Club members are filling a red wagon with gifts, which all go to a lucky winner.
Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
Call Hollis Shenk at (301) 854-0126 or watch for a Lions Club member selling the tickets.
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This weekend Glenwood Middle School's new after-school Drama Club will present "Snoopy," a musical based on the Peanuts cartoon characters.
The club will also present a variety show. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, 1 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets, available at the door, are $3. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.
Phone 313-5520.
Glenwood's fledgling drama group welcomes your help. The young group needs material and volunteers to make backdrop curtains for the stage. The all-volunteer group welcomes all Glenwood Middle School students to participate in the group at very low cost.
In March, new students will join the Drama Club to produce a spring show which they will present in May. Backdrops for the stage would be a great boost for the young thespians.
If you can help, call sponsor Donna Duke at 313-5528.
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Teens can dance all evening at tomorrow's St. Louis Catholic Youth Ministry dance for students in grades six through 12. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and continues until 10:30 p.m.
The group invites teens to join them for the dance and for their weekly baking session, which they hold every Thursday from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. They send all the results of their baking to the Grassroots shelter. Call Maureen at 531-6668 for more information.
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If a Mount View Middle School student calls you and asks to go to work with you Monday, he isn't just trying to get out of school for a day.
Monday is Shadow Day for eighth graders at Mount View. Eighth-grade students may spend a day at work with a parent, neighbor, relative or friend. They will share their knowledge about the work world with other students in advisory class Tuesday.
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Bushy Park Elementary School will hold its Annual Gym Show and Ice Cream Social at Glenwood Middle School at 7 p.m. Monday.
This is a spirited exhibit in which boys and girls display their skills in gymnastics and jumping rope. Many excited fourth and fifth grade students participate in the fast-paced fun.
Phone 313-5500.