Glen Burnie West: Oakwood Honor Society students boost food collection [Maryland Gazette (MD)]

Students at Oakwood Elementary School increased the number of canned goods they collected this fall for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools' annual Harvest for the Hungry food drive by about 38 percent.

School principal Donna Usewick attributes the increase to work by members of the school's new chapter of the National Elementary School Honor Society.

Each day as students arrived and departed, they were greeted by a sign and a student dressed as a can of soup to encouraged participation. The students also created a poster and composed a theme song which they sang on the morning announcements to help publicize the food drive.

They planned spirit days for the food drive to provide an incentive for the classmates to participate. On Hats for Hunger Day, students were allowed to wear a hat in school if they brought in a can of food. On Put Hunger to Bed Day, students who brought in a canned good could wear their pajamas to school and, on Cheer for Children Sports Day, they wore their favorite team jersey or uniform to school.

Usewick said their efforts paid off. "We've seen great success with this concept," she said.

Within the first two days, approximately 350 nonperishable food items were collected. While the school's population hovers around 300 students, Usewick said by the beginning of this week, the students had collected almost 900 items. Last year, the school collect 650 items.

"For a school that only has about 307 kids, that's not bad," Usewick said. "They did it all themselves."

Only a handful of National Elementary School Honor Society chapters have been installed in county elementary schools. The Oakwood chapter was installed last year.

For details, call the school at 410-222-6420.

Super Slades

Monsignor Slade Catholic School announced its Super Slades for the month of November. The award is given to students at the school who demonstrate exemplary respect, spirituality and responsibility.

November Super Slades include Alyssa Bashford, Andrew Baublitz, Adam Browne, Jacob Camp, Harrison Crapster, Jake Donovan, Joshua Driver, Danica Dunevant, Jacob Dunn, Iwinosa Ede-Osifo, Shelby Elburn, Gabe Henstrand, Isaac Kappus, Ella Lawson, Anna Lenzenweger, Matthew Lenzenweger, Christian Long, Gianna Markey, Aubreauna May, Alexander Melendez, Abbigail Nevin, Kate Oravec, Ronak Patel, Nissa Rab, Sophia Randall, Artie Randour, Maddie Redding, Colin Shepherd, Evan Stevers, Camryn Stolar, Brendan Syme, Brooke Urbas, Gwyneth Wagner, Daniel Walsh, Elijah Wilkins, Jennna Wright, Molly Youngblood and Jodi Zheng.

For details, call the school at 410-766-7130.

Football viewing

Youth at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church gather in the youth house on the church grounds, 308 Oak Manor Drive, to watch the Ravens play every game day Sunday.

This Sunday's game is at 1 p.m. against the Cincinnati Bengals. All youth are welcome to attend.

For details, contact youth director Jake Bidwell at 410-766-2283 or [email protected].

Military freebies

- Mission BBQ

- , 7748 Ritchie Highway, will once again offer free sandwiches to military veterans and active duty personnel on Monday in honor of Veterans Day. In addition,

- Charm City Cakes

- will create a special cake to commemorate the holiday. Free cake will be served until it runs out. For details, call 410-773- 9888.

- Local veterinarian

- Oluwaseyi Sobowale

- , the chief of staff at

- Croydon Pet Hospital

- , 7746 Ritchie Highway, will offer free care to the pets of active duty military members and veterans on Monday. Services offered include office visit exams, microchips, anal gland expressing and pet pedicures. For details, call 410-760-1746.

Parish meeting

Holy Trinity Catholic Church will hold a gathering to explain and discuss recent changes in the Catholic Church of Glen Burnie. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 7436 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for seating.

The Rev. C. Lou Martin said the purpose of the gathering is to identify important issues and questions for ongoing growth and a keener awareness of the parish's mission.

"These meetings are important to me as we build a future together," Martin wrote. "As we continue our parish leadership transition and as I begin my new pastorate with you, I invite you to join me and participate in an evening of conversation and discernment with your fellow parishioners."

For details, call the church at 410-766-5070.

Health care forum

The District 32 Democratic Club will host a health care reform forum from 7 to 8:30 p.m.Nov. 14 at the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department, 4 S Broadview Blvd.

Information on health care reform and how to enroll in the Maryland Health Care Connection will be provided by Martin Smith, the special assistant to the county health officer.

Smith's presentation will include a video, PowerPoint presentation and a question-and-answer session. Other county agencies have been invited to participate.

The public is invited to attend this nonpartisan event, which is hosted by the club as a community service to help spread information about the health care exchanges.

For details, contact Tom Dixon at 410-672-2837 or [email protected].

Uniform sale

The Baltimore Washington Medical Center Auxiliary will sponsor a uniform sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.Nov. 15 in the hospital's Dr. Constantine Padussis Conference Center, 301 Hospital Drive.

Auxiliary member Yvonne Peregoy has organized the sale, which includes scrubs and other hospital uniform items. BWMC employees can make arrangements to pay for their purchases via a payroll deduction.

For details, call the auxiliary at 410-787-4504.

Parent's night out

North Arundel Aquatic Center, 7888 Crain Highway, will offer a parent's night out from 5 to 7:45 p.m.Nov. 15.

Children ages 6 to 11 can enjoy swimming, games, movies and pizza. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a swimsuit and towel.

Children may be dropped off at 4:45 p.m. and must be picked up by 7:45 p.m.

Advance registration is required. Space is limited. The cost is $10 for those who sign up by Nov. 14 and $12 for those who sign up later.

Call 410-222-0090.

Meetings next week

- Young At Heart Seniors -- 11:30 a.m. Monday at Glen Burnie United Methodist Church, 5 Second Ave. S.E.

- Leon Hubbard

- will talk about the World War II Liberty Ship

- John W. Brown

- . Participants should bring a lunch. Assorted pies and beverages will be served. Contact 410-761-4381.

- Glen Burnie Chapter 606 of the AARP -- noon Monday at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association hall, 19 Crain Highway S.E., for a brown bag lunch gathering. Beverages and dessert will be provided. A business meeting will follow at 12:30 p.m. and will include a presentation by the Animal Control section of the county Police Department on pets, wild animals and rabies. Reservations and payment for the club's Christmas luncheon will be accepted. Contact president

- Judy Litke

- at 410-760-6253.

- Pasadena Sportfishing Group -- 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Glen Burnie Moose Lodge 1456, 1911 Crain Highway S. Capt.

- Tom Hughes

- from Bay Bridge Tunnel Fishing will be the speaker. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a fried shrimp dinner. The cost is $7 for the meal. Contact [email protected] or 410-439-3474.

- Glen Burnie Chapter 1519 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association -- 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church hall, 7436 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd.

- Ann Healy

- from the Federal Employees Plan administered by Blue Cross- Blue Shield will be the guest speaker. Contact publicity chairman

- Diane Shreves

- at 410-760-3750.

- The Eternal Quilters -- 10 a.m.Nov. 14 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 105 First Ave. S.W. Guest speaker

- Poly Mellow

- , an award-winning quilt maker, designer and antique quilt collector, will present "Crib Quilts 170-1930." She will talk about how crib quilts and other small quilts reflect a change in attitudes toward children and share stories and a display of some of her extensive small quilt collection. Contact

- Carol Cluster

- at 410-247-7395.

- Fall Cluster meeting of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Anne Arundel County -- 8:30 to noonNov. 16 at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 7606 Quarterfield Road. The program includes a breakfast tea. Registration cost is $5. Contact

- Louise Houck

- at 410-987-1194.

To share your news in the 21061 ZIP code, contact Kathleen Shatt at 410-766-8547 or [email protected] or fax her at 410-766- 1520.