Three teachers have taken new positions at Mount Airy Middle School this winter, joining a corps of staff members who ** are new at the facility this school year.
Blair Reid of Eldersburg began a new career as media specialist Wednesday after working 10 years with the Carroll County Public Library in Westminster as an information specialist. She fills the position of former media specialist Virginia Norwood of Mount Airy, who retired Jan. 31 after more than 30 years at Mount Airy Middle School.
Ms. Reid, who has three grown children, became interested in a career switch to school libraries after giving Book Talks at local middle and elementary schools. She said she is looking forward to "promoting literature" and "helping kids to access information and be successful at it."
Heather Frizzell of Mount Airy is the new Team III seventh-grade reading teacher. She began teaching at Mount Airy Middle as a long-term substitute in reading after graduating from Towson State University in 1993 and was the learning systems teacher until January.
She is the daughter of Sheila and Don Frizzell of Mount Airy. Ms. Frizzell, who graduated from South Carroll High School and attends graduate school at Western Maryland College, is a Mount Airy Middle alumna.
"I think it's kind of neat being back with the same people who taught me," she said. "I like to get the kids excited about books."
Teresa Svincek of Frederick is Mount Airy Middle's new learning systems teacher.
Ms. Svincek, who has worked in Washington and Frederick counties, teaches study skills to sixth-graders and writing, reading and conflict resolution skills to seventh- and eighth-graders.
Ms. Svincek is a 1992 graduate of Shippensburg (Pa.) University and a 1988 graduate of Linganore High School. She said she enjoys the enthusiasm of the students and "summers off." She plans to start graduate school this summer.
Other staff who are new to the school this year are:
* Vocal music teacher Patricia Kelley, who started teaching at Mount Airy Middle in September. Ms. Kelley, who graduated from Notre Dame College, is a 1990 graduate of South Carroll High School.
* Language arts teacher William Price, who transferred to Mount Airy Middle in September from Maryland's Tomorrow Program at Westminster High School. He has been a teacher for two years and changed careers after 15 years in retail management.
* Special education teacher Beth Griffith, who transferred to Mount Airy Middle in September after three years at Westminster East Middle School.
The 1990 graduate of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas teaches learning disabled students in seventh and eighth grade. She attends graduate school at Western Maryland College.
* Social studies teacher Amy DeArmas, who transferred to Mount Airy Middle after three years at North Carroll Middle School. Mrs. DeArmas, who is expecting her first child in July, graduated from Notre Dame College in 1990. She teaches world culture and American history to seventh- and eighth-graders using the theme "The Adventurer's Club," an idea she garnered during her honeymoon in Disney World.
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Did you know that more than one-third of Mount Airy Middle School's 680 students earned all A's or all A's and B's on their most recent report cards?
Kudos to these 263 students, who were recognized yesterday evening at an honors convocation.
Parents are reminded that the next executive meeting of the Mount Airy Middle School Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) will be held at the school at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Information: (301) 829-1314.
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Eric Pickett, 5, is a firm believer in the power of prayer.
A recent press release from Mount Airy's St. James Episcopal Church that was written by Eric's parents and his teacher, Lois Noffsinger Spurrier, explains why.
Adam Pickett, Eric's 6-month-old brother, was seriously ill last month and hospitalized Jan. 11. The diagnosis was bacterial meningitis from a strep infection.
The prognosis was heartbreaking for the boys' parents, Robin (Winkler) and David Pickett. The disease has a 20 percent fatality rate with 50 percent of survivors left with debilitation ranging from hearing loss to mental retardation.
Eric, a student in Mrs. Spurrier's afternoon kindergarten class at Good Shepherd Lutheran Nursery in Frederick, went to school ** Jan. 12 worried about his baby brother. According to his teacher, when Eric's classmates went to wash up for their midafternoon snack, she didn't see him in line.
"I looked around the corner and Eric was down on his little knees with his hands folded in prayer next to a pew at the entrance to the church."
When Good Shepherd's pastor, Ron Reaves, found Eric on his knees, he asked Eric what was wrong. Ms. Spurrier said Eric responded, "I really love my baby brother. He will die if he gets more sicker. I don't want him to die. If I pray hard enough I know he will get better."
According to Mrs. Spurrier, she and Mr. Reaves joined Eric in a prayer for Adam's recovery. Then the entire kindergarten class said a prayer for Adam.
By the end of the day, Adam was on the prayer lists of five different churches. And the number of prayer lists and prayers kept increasing.
Adam is now home from the hospital. A test indicates his hearing is perfect. His mother says he is the "same active and happy baby as he was before the illness."
Adam's pediatricians, who are thrilled with his recovery, call him "a miracle baby."
Eric's prayers and child-like faith, which amassed a bounty of prayers from Frederick to Mount Airy, were answered.
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Aspiring actors are encouraged to audition for the Mount Airy Players spring production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" Monday and Tuesday.
Tryouts will be held both nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Twin Ridge Elementary School, 1106 Leafy Hollow Court, Mount Airy. Five males and three females are needed for the play, which will be directed by Robin Hanselman.
The play will be presented May 5, 6, 12, and 13 at Twin Ridge Elementary. Information: (301) 831-0349.
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Congratulations to Mount Airy Senior Center's new site council officers.
Bob Chambers is president, Chuck Smith is vice president, Viola Meyers is secretary, Ruth Schmidt is treasurer and Mildred McKinney is assistant treasurer.
Council officers, all patrons of Mount Airy Senior Center, serve two-year terms and take care of raising money to help pay for
programming and other center needs.