Class Size

Teacher Lois Schultz's first kindergarten class in Washington County had 64 students - 29 in the morning and 35 in the afternoon. After 29 years, she began September at Fountain Rock Elementary with 52 kids, 26 in each session. cont. from news page While she has fewer students now, large classes make a teacher's job much harder. "When you have so many students, it's hard to reach them," Schultz said. Reducing class size is a common goal among educators, especially for the earlier grades.

Class size, technology focus of budget discussions Class size and technology were the subjects that took center stage at a Washington County Board of Education budget work session on Wednesday. Schools Superintendent Herman G. Bartlett Jr. has proposed a $108 million budget for the fiscal 1998-99 school year. His top priorities are: Competitive salaries for teachers, reading and reducing class size. The proposed budget includes 38 new teachers for the county's overcrowded schools, but Bartlett said class size remains a problem.

 War Memorial Hospital will offer the American Heart Association's CPR for Health Care Providers Course from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in Education Room A at the hospital, 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs.  This course is designed for licensed health care providers who need to obtain or renew their CPR certification.  A $50 fee is charged for the course. Class size is limited so advance registration is required.  For more information or to register, call Deb Unger at 304-258-6525 or Paul Cooper at 304-258-6577.

Elementary jobs could be lost By TARA REILLY tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County public schools could lose 23 full-time and one part-time elementary teaching positions at the end of the school year if the grants that fund those positions are allowed to expire, school officials said Tuesday. John Festerman, director of elementary education, said those teachers could apply for vacancies that are anticipated through retirements or they could transfer to the secondary level if they have the qualifications.

Smoking cessation program RANSON, W.Va. - Jefferson Memorial Hospital and Jefferson County's community health initiative Healthier Jefferson County, will offer the America Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking smoking cessation program beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, in the third-floor classroom of Jefferson Memorial Hospital. The seven-week course is open to anyone interested in quitting smoking. The cost is $35 per person. Class size is limited. Call 1-304-728-1693.

War Memorial Hospital's Center for Rehab & Wellness will offer a free nutrition program, "Snack Attack," at 4:30 p.m.Monday, May 9, at 261 Berkmore Place, Suite 2A, in Berkeley Springs. Sara Kuykendall, a registered and licensed dietitian with Valley Health, will discuss tips for choosing healthy snacks. Class size is limited. For more information or to register, call 304-258-8377.

by Ric Dugan / staff photographer see the enlargement A shark snatches up its prey as five Boonsboro Elementary School fourth-graders watch from the safety of their classroom computer screen. "You can't see that in an encyclopedia," says Principal Richard Reynolds. On Monday, the students demonstrated for Maryland Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick how computer technology lets them see and hear the animals they're studying. "You have to flip through all the pages in books," student Andy Brabson told her. By using a computer program, he quickly can find out an animal's brain size, number of teeth and life span.

Concern over school class size, which has been an issue recently in Washington County, was discussed Thursday when a state teachers organization released a report showing classes are more crowded than state officials suggest. The study by the Maryland State Teachers Assocation showed class sizes across the state ranged from 22 students to 29 students compared to the 15-student to 18-student average reported by the Maryland State Department of Education. Karl Pence, president of the state teachers association, said the study shows that state figures are "too far from reality.

Educators view Clinton's plan with skepticism Washington County would shave its average class size by seven students if President Clinton has his way. In his State of the Union Address Tuesday, Clinton proposed that class sizes in grades one through three be reduced to 18. Tri-State area educators agree that smaller classes would allow teachers to spend more time with students during those critical early learning years. But many are also skeptical about whether Clinton's plan will become a reality.

Applications are now being accepted for next year's Master Gardeners classes. Training will be on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Feb. 11 to April 8 at the Ag Center on Sharpsburg Pike. Master Gardeners answer questions at the farmers market, teach students about vegetables at local schools, plant heirloom plants at the Rural Heritage Museum, offer horticulture therapy to teens and adults and give talks to local garden clubs. Class size is limited. To learn more about the Master Gardeners program and to request an application, contact Annette Ipsan at aipsan@umd.

 War Memorial Hospital will offer the American Heart Association's CPR for Health Care Providers Course from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in Education Room A at the hospital, 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs.  This course is designed for licensed health care providers who need to obtain or renew their CPR certification.  A $50 fee is charged for the course. Class size is limited so advance registration is required.  For more information or to register, call Deb Unger at 304-258-6525 or Paul Cooper at 304-258-6577.

Area residents interested in mastering the practice of composting may register for the Eastern Panhandle's first-ever Master Composter Training Seminar, which is set to be held next week. The certification program will be taught at the Berkeley County administration office building at 400 W. Stephen St. in Martinsburg by Larry Wilhelm of the Organic Recycling Institute, according to the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority. Class size is limited for the three-day seminar and reservations must be made by Wednesday.

Indoor Seed Starting - Thursday, Feb. 28, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Penn State Extension Building. Expand your options for plant selections beyond what's available from commercial nurseries and greenhouses. You, too, can jump-start the spring growing season by starting your own plants from seed. Master Gardener Ray Eckhart will teach about the equipment and methods used for starting seeds indoors. As part of the class, attendees will build and take home a frame to support a lighting system suitable for home use. Cost for the class is $25, including the support frame.

 War Memorial Hospital will offer the American Heart Association's Heartsaver First Aid with CPR & AED training course from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, in Education Room A at the hospital, 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs. This course is designed for laypersons, especially those in a workplace setting. Participants will learn general principals of first aid, what to do in a medical emergency, how to handle emergency injuries and environmental injuries as well as learn skills in CPR and how to operate an automated external defibrillator.  After successful completion of the class, individuals will be issued a participation card from the American Heart Association.

Master Gardeners teach safe, effective gardening techniques through plant clinics, talks, demonstration gardens and more. Trained by University of Maryland experts, Master Gardeners grow their gardening know-how through 40 hours of classroom training. They learn about everything from botany to bugs, pruning to propagation and weeds to wildlife. Applications are now being accepted for the Master Gardener Class of 2013. Training will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 14 to April 18 at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center in Boonsboro.

War Memorial Hospital will offer the American Heart Association's Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED training course from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in Education Room B at the hospital located at 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs. This course is designed for laypersons, especially those in a workplace setting.  Participants will learn general principals of first aid, what to do in a medical emergency, how to handle emergency injuries and environmental injuries as well as learn skills in CPR and how to operate an automated external defibrillator (AED)

Is your green thumb itching to try something new? Do you love to learn and share what you know? Then you could be a master gardener.  Master gardeners are volunteer educators. They teach people safe, effective gardening techniques through plant clinics, talks, demonstration gardens and other activities.    Trained by University of Maryland experts, master gardeners grow their gardening know-how through 40 hours of classroom training. They learn about everything from botany to bugs, pruning to propagation and weeds to wildlife.   Applications are being accepted for the Master Gardener Class of 2013.

Annie's Project is a national Cooperative Extension workshop series designed to empower women who are farm owners or partners.  Annie's Project will be offered this winter at Penn State Extension — Adams County in Gettysburg, Pa., on Tuesdays, Jan. 15 to March 19.  The sessions focus on five areas of risk management - production, market, financial, legal and human resources - and combine presentations, class discussion, individual and small...

War Memorial Hospital will offer the American Heart Association's CPR for Healthcare Providers course from noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 10 and 17, in Education Room B at the hospital, 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs.  This course is designed for licensed healthcare providers who need to obtain or renew their CPR certification. A $50 fee is charged for the course. Class size is limited so registration is required. For more information or to register, call Deb Unger at 304-258-6525 or Paul Cooper at 304-258-6577.