Sue Beer, an adapted physical education teacher at Ridge Ruxton School, will be honored as the Teacher of the Year at the Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities' 21st annual awards ceremony and luncheon, held Oct. 9 at the Hunt Valley Marriott Inn.
According to Baltimore County Public Schools, Beer has served as a mentor to student teachers from Towson University and shared strategies with fellow physical education teachers.
She has built and maintained community and business organizational relationships through the League of Dreams program and others, and has gathered support and volunteer help from St. Paul's Schools, the Gilman School and Boy's Latin schools, as well as through cultural exchange groups.
Beer was one of three county representatives honored at the ceremony. Also, Amber Joy Miller of Kenwood High School was named Student of the Year, and Kirsten Merashoff, special education chair at Perry Hall Middle School, was given the Disability Education Award.
The ceremony recognizes individuals, agencies, families and businesses in the county for achievements and contributions by and for citizens with disabilities. Awards are given in a variety of categories, such as education, employment, legislation, public information and the media. Winners are chosen by members of the commission and its work groups.
St. Paul's School for Girls student nets achievement honor
St. Paul's School for Girls senior Carina Thunell, has been named a semifinalist in the 2012 National Achievement Scholarship Program. Thunell will now compete for a portion of some 800 scholarship awards worth more than $2.4 million.
She was also named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program, which places her among 43,000 Commended Students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
Thunell is also a St. Paul's School for Girls' Wagley Scholar, and is the recipient of the school's Wagley Scholarship, a full, four-year merit scholarship given to an incoming ninth grader.
SPSG is accepting applications for the 2012-13 Wagley Scholarship. For more information, contact Susan Hasler, director of admission, at 443-63-.1046, or shasler@spsfg.org.
Student-run credit union branch opens at Calvert Hall
First Financial of Maryland Federal Credit Union will open a student-run branch of the credit union on Oct. 18 at Calvert Hall College High School.
The Cardinal Branch, named for the school's mascot, will serve students, faculty and staff of the school, and will be run by student interns and a faculty advisor.
Company officials said that in addition to teaching young adults how to manage money, the branch is designed to help provide a business experience for students considering a career in the financial industry.
The branch is the fifth in local schools run by students for First Financial FCU. Others are at Dundalk, Lansdowne, Eastern Technical and Chesapeake high schools.
Padonia Elementary hosts Central Area pre-budget meeting
Baltimore County Public Schools' Central Area Educational Advisory Council of will host a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m., to solicit public input about operating budget priorities for the school system.
The meeting will be held at Padonia International Elementary School, 9834 Greenside Drive, Cockeysville. Sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.
Feedback will go to school officials as they craft a fiscal year 2013 operating budget proposal. Future pre-budget hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18, at New Town High School for the Northwest Area, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Meadowood Education Center for the Southwest Area.
Annual Fall Festival set for Oct. 14-15 at St. Paul's schools
The St. Paul's Schools, in Brooklandville, will host their annual Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 14, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event includes carnival rides, food and games, as well as a football game under lights on Friday, when St. Paul's plays Annapolis Area Christian School.
For the festival, advance ticket/bracelet sales for rides benefit the schools' Parents' Associations. Prices are $20 for a one-day bracelet and $35 for a two-day bracelet. For details, go to http://www.spsfg.org.