Around Crownsville/Gambrills: South Shore Elementary earns 'Character' title

There's a new flag flying on the pole at South Shore Elementary School in Crownsville, just under the "Green School" banner under the American flag.

This one is bright yellow and proclaims: "Maryland Character Education School."

"It's important in our society that we have students of character," said Dr. Linda Ferrara, the school's principal.

"I think our school can be very proud (of the title)."

The school received the title from the Maryland Center for Character Education in September at Stevenson University, but the application process began last spring.

"It takes some time," Linda said.

The school demonstrated all the different ways they try to instill character in their students - from mottos to working together in class to little "Panda's Eye" certificate honoring particularly good behavior.

"(Character education) is infused in everything," Linda said. "It's just part of our school."

The Maryland Center for Character education works to encourage teachers and administrators ask they teach and model character values.

The school has held the title in the past; while they've kept up the focus, they also let the application process drop.

"I felt it was important to continue that," Linda explained.

She is particularly proud of how the school's parents, faculty and staff have all worked together. Without diligent reinforcement at home, character education at the school would not be nearly as successful.

"I want to stress the parental involvement," she said. "That's what education is about - that partnership."

And teachers do more than teach good character.

"They do a phenomenal job, they model it really well," she said.

Character education is what gives children the ability to make good decisions in the future, Linda said.

"It is very important for children in our society because they're going to be confronted with many challenges."

Congratulations to the Arundel High School students who earned a place on this year's All-County Orchestra after auditions Oct. 13 at South River High School in Edgewater.

Senior bass violinist Nathaniel Atnafu earned All-County honors for his fourth consecutive year; violinists Min Lee and Shane Hill and cellist Sonya Johnson, all juniors, earned their third All-County selections; and senior trombonist Chris Greco and sophomore violists Olivia Ryan and Erin Dickerson earned their second selections.

Six Arundel musicians earned their first All-County Orchestra selection: senior trombonists Sam Boone and Joshua Church, junior french hornist Amanda McHarg, freshman violinist Alison White, freshman cellist Patrick Grandinetti and freshman bass violinist Timothy Stargel.

The All-County Orchestra concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at South River High School.

Two of the string musicians were also selected to perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as part of the orchestra's annual Side-by-Side program. Nathaniel and Min earned positions for the second consecutive year.

The Dec. 3 performance will be at 10:30 a.m. at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Four vocalists earned spots in the All-County Chorus after their auditions Oct. 12 at Northeast High School; seniors Tabitha Brown, alto I, and Kendra Walker, soprano II; and sophomores Kara Hancock, alto I, and Olivia Piasecki, soprano II, will be performing in the All-County Chorus concert at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Northeast High School.

And finally, Arundel's Wildcat Marching Band will perform at halftime in the final regular season football game today versus Southern High School. They will be led on the field by senior drum major Katy Protin and are performing "A Rhapsody in Rhythm" - a tribute to composer George Gershwin.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, and area schools are remembering veterans through various events.

At South Shore Elementary School, the ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler will be the guest speaker, and the students will perform as well.

The ceremony at Rockbridge Academy also begins at 9 a.m., and includes student recitations, special music and the presentation of a memorial wreath at the tomb of a World War II veteran. The keynote speaker is Dr. Mark Plaster, a doctor at Harbor Hospital who served with the Fourth Medical Battalion with the Marines in Iraq.

The theater club at School of the Incarnation in Gambrills is offering a production of "The Wizard of Oz" at 7 p.m. today, tomorrow and Nov. 13 and 14.

Tickets are $5; e-mail Marian Newell at marianenewell@yahoo.com.

The Generals Highway Council of Civic Association will hold their monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the schoolhouse behind Historic Baldwin Hall at Millersville Road and Generals Highway in Millersville.

Del. James King will discuss planned legislation regarding residential drug treatment facilities.

Have a story to share or event to announce? Send your Crownsville and Gambrills news to hroth@capital gazette.com.