Gerstell Academy junior earns tennis ranking
Mattey Zabetakis, a leader in his class at Gerstell Academy, recently took his skills to the tennis courts at the Suburban Club, where he advanced to the finals of the Maryland State Clay Court Championship tournament and won the final match 6-4, 6-1. As a result of his success at the tournament, Mattey currently holds a Mid-Atlantic ranking of 179.
According to Gerstell administrators, “Mattey truly exemplifies the leadership mission of the school through his perseverance, dedication, and commitment to the sport of tennis.”
Immaculate Heart of Mary awarded grant
Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Towson has big plans for expanding its use of technology and the France-Merrick Foundation is helping to make them a reality. This summer IHM was awarded a 1:2 challenge grant for use in integrating technology into every aspect of the curriculum. The challenge means the $25,000 will be paid by the Foundation when IHM School has raised $50,000 in new, private sector funds for this project.
Principal Amy Belz expects to reach the goal before the end of the 2011-12 school year. “The school board and I expect that we will reach this goal rather quickly through funds we will raise in our upcoming third annual Race for Education and in our inaugural annual appeal this fall,” said Mrs. Belz.
The $25,000 grant and the soon-to-be-raised $50,000 in private donations will be combined to expand IHM’s technology in four separate areas and professional development in the use of that technology for IHM faculty. Laptops, digital microscopes and a projection microscope/camera will enhance the school’s green initiatives and science laboratory and additional tablets will augment the Resource Center where the needs of diverse learners (students with special needs and learning differences) are addressed. Smart Boards for every classroom and tablet computers (iPads) will be purchased for general classroom use as audio and video broadcasting equipment, lighting and cabling will be added for use by the school’s Center for Leadership in Communications Arts (CLCA).
Montessori marks 50 years with speaker series
The Montessori School in Lutherville will begin celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall with a speaker series featuring noted professionals in the field of Montessori education and child development.
International speaker Trevor Eissler, the author of “Montessori Madness,” will give the first presentation on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. His book explores how Montessori education prepares children for the real world. Tickets for Mr. Eissler’s presentation are $15 per person. (Entrance fee includes a complimentary copy of his book, “Montessori Madness!” for the first 100 tickets sold.)
The second speaker, scheduled to appear on Wednesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m., is international speaker Elisabeth (Betsy) Coe, Ph.D. A leader in Montessori education for over 40 years, Dr. Coe developed the middle and high school Montessori programs at School of the Woods in Houston, Texas, where she also serves as principal. Dr. Coe will speak about the benefits of Montessori education from preschool through middle school. In addition, she will also discuss how recent research regarding brain development supports the tenets of Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy and curriculum. Tickets for Dr. Coe’s presentation are $10 per person.
The Montessori speaker series will be held at The Montessori School, 10807 Tony Drive, Lutherville, MD 21093. For tickets and more information, call 410-321-8555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 410-321-8555 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, ext. 116 or visit the school’s website at www.montessorischool.net.
