Schools to open 15 minutes earlier
Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, all Harford County public high schools and one of the school system's middle schools will begin and end 15 minutes earlier.
The change -- moving starting and ending times to 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., from the previous 7:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. -- will allow buses that transport high school students to complete those runs in time to pick up middle school students.
The county school board approved the change last fall on the recommendation of Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas.
The change is based on information from the school system's transportation department that showed the "window" between the high school and middle school runs is becoming increasingly problematic.
Middle schools (except for North Harford Middle, which follows North Harford High's schedule) begin at 8:15 a.m. and dismiss at 2:45 p.m.
Complete revised bus schedules will be released in the summer.
Information: 410-588-5203.
Students honored for achievement
The 23 students of Team 7-D at Southampton Middle School in Bel Air recently celebrated winning a Marathon of Achievement at a banquet with the reigning Miss Maryland, courtesy of HAR-CO Maryland Federal Credit Union.
The marathon was a challenge to complete 26 activities in academics, service learning and character education.
The marathon is a way for the students to excel outside of their regular studies. Students are given a list of 30 possible activities from which they must choose and complete 26 in six months.
The 23 marathon winners were: Josh Addicks, Sushmitha Balram, Grant Caspero, Dana Christopher, Hannah Clipp, Christina Corson, Emily Crocker, Samantha Hartig, Brittney Horseman, Charlee Lanphear, Kamini Mallick, Ruba Mateen, Luzella Morton, Michael Natoli, Abbey Neuberger, Brittany Pitzer, Stephen Rappe, Allison Redman, Reed Roberts, Shelby Stange, Amie Stephens, Amanda Weerasooriya and Leslie White.
Elkton student wins SkillsUSA award
An Elkton student was among the winners at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Kansas City, Mo., on July 2.
Matt Holmes, a student at the Cecil County School of Technology in North East, was awarded the secondary silver medal in Computer Maintenance Technology.
Industry leaders representing more than 1,100 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions recognized the students for excellence in 87 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as robotics, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.
All student winners received medallions. Many also received other prizes such as tools of their trades and scholarships.
The SkillsUSA Championships is for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA.
Burgess wins college scholarship
Abingdon resident Danielle A. Burgess has been awarded a scholarship to the College of Notre Dame of Maryland for $9,500 per year.
She is a graduate of Edgewood High School.
College of Notre Dame of Maryland is the first Catholic college for women in the United States to award the four-year baccalaureate degree.