Elementary School

On Dec. 14, Old Forge Elementary School held its annual school-level geography bee. Twelve rounds of competition were held in order to narrow the field to two contestants. Nick Bono and Jakob Keller then answered questions for an additional six rounds before Keller was declared the winner. He will take a written exam to determine if he will continue competition at the state level.

No one was injured when a school bus carrying 48 children struck a car Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Antietam Street and Summit Avenue in Hagerstown, a Washington County Public Schools official said. Randy Mills, assistant superintendent of transportation for Washington County Public Schools, said the bus was returning to Emma K. Doub Elementary School after a field trip to The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown when the accident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. “It was just like a bump,” Mills said.

Hagerstown resident Darren Covington, 41, offered a simple and specific suggestion on how to help prevent mass shootings in schools such as what happened inside the Connecticut elementary school Friday while also giving his take on whether principals in schools should have guns. “I don't mind police officers trained to use guns, but for the principal to have one, that's a bit extreme,” said Covington, who was picking up his 10-year-old fifth-grade daughter, Lucy, on Monday from Fountaindale Elementary School.

A shooting at a Connecticut elementary school Friday left 27 people dead, including 18 children, an official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still under way. Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity for the same reason, said the gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown was killed and apparently had two guns. Stephen Delgiadice said his 8-year-old daughter heard two big bangs and teachers told her to get in a corner.

Burke Street Elementary and Martinsburg High schools again finished on top in fundraising activities in the 2011-12 American Cancer Society Relay for Life campaign, Berkeley County Schools announced Friday.   The small elementary school at the intersection of Burke and Raleigh streets in Martinsburg raised $5,700 in donations, which was more per capita than any of the county's 30 schools, according to  school district spokesperson Leah Daniel. Martinsburg High School, which raised $13,023.42, was recognized by American Cancer Society Community Manager Barbara Henry for raising the most donations, according to Daniel.

Students at Hickory Elementary School performed a musical tribute to veterans Nov. 7, under the direction of Christa Stout, music teacher.  Guests were welcomed by Monica Bowers, principal at Hickory.   A photo presentation opened the evening as guests were seated.  The presentation included pictures of veterans who are family members of the Hickory Elementary School staff.   Students invited family members, friends and neighbors who...

The Washington County Board of Education in September approved $18.3 million in construction contracts for the new Bester Elementary School. According to school system documents and the facilities department, the contractors for the construction of the new Bester Elementary School, with their total contract values, are: Waynesboro Construction of Frederick, Md., for the site work, $3,219,500 Chevy Chase Contractors of Silver Spring, Md.,...

West Virginia education officials are honoring 58 schools across the state, including four in the Eastern Panhandle, for the highest level of recognition. Officials with the Office of Education Performance Audits say the exemplary status given to the schools is the gold standard of educational achievement. The schools honored Thursday, which included Inwood Primary School in Berkeley County and C.W. Shipley Elementary, Driswood Elementary and Shepherdstown Elementary schools in Jefferson County, met a set of rigorous standards on proficiency tests, student attendance and other measures.

Addison Hurley is getting an early start to learning about the world around her through reading. Her parents, Ben and Christine, read to Addison, and her big brother, Connor, every chance they get. They have been reading to Addison every day since she came home from the hospital. As a fifth-grade teacher and a media specialist with Washington County Public Schools, Addison's parents understand the importance of reading to her every chance they get. “It is never too late to instill a love of reading in children,” Ben and Christine said.