Highlighted Events Next Week In Wicomico Schools

Oct. 4-14
HSA Testing
All Wicomico County High Schools

The High School Assessment (HSA) tests will be administered for students who previously took but did not pass one or more assessments. Students should speak with the high school guidance office to sign up.

Tuesday, Oct. 5
Unified Tennis Season Opens
Wicomico High at James M. Bennett High

Wicomico’s second Unified Sports season will open Tuesday, Oct. 5 when players from Wicomico High School and James M. Bennett High meet in the first competition of the season at JMB at 3:30 p.m. Mardela High will play at Parkside High on Thursday, Oct. 7, 3:30 p.m. All four teams will also play on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Wicomico is partnering with Special Olympics Maryland to field Unified athletic teams on which students both with and without intellectual disabilities can play and compete together. The inaugural Unified Sports season of bocce last spring was a big success.

Thursday, Oct. 7, 10:50-11:42 a.m.
Wicomico Band Welcomes “Sesame Street” Musician
Wicomico High School

This fall, the theme of Wicomico High School Marching Band’s program is the music of “Sesame Street,” and on Thursday from 10:50-11:42 a.m. the band will welcome a renowned musician from that famous children’s show. Jim Mitchell, a Salisbury guitarist who spent years commuting to New York to record music for “Sesame Street,” will visit the Wicomico High band room to talk with students about his experiences as a professional musician and to play some guitar. Mitchell played music for “Sesame Street” from 1969-1996, playing guitar on all the recordings of Sesame Street episodes during that time.

Thursday, Oct. 7, 6-8 p.m.
Gang Awareness Training
Offered at James M. Bennett High School

The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention and Maryland Del. Jim Mathias are sponsoring a special Gang Awareness Training event from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at James M. Bennett High School. This training is designed to expand the knowledge of gang activity, awareness and prevention in and around our community. This initiative is open to all interested community members. If you would like more information about this Gang Awareness Training, please see Wicomico County Public Schools web page at www.wcboe.org for a flier and agenda for that evening.

Saturday, Oct. 9
STEM Saturday
Salisbury Middle School

The first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Saturday of the 2010-11 school year will be held at Salisbury Middle School from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Oct. 9, with students in grades 4-5 exploring the stars and the universe in “It’s a Starry, Starry Night” and middle schoolers building a bridge for competition in “Bridge Design and Fabrication.” The elementary offerings are new to the STEM Saturdays schedule this year. Anyone interested in attending a STEM Saturday event must pre-register, and early registration is recommended as the courses fill up early. STEM Saturdays will also be held in November and each month from January to April. For a detailed schedule and registration form, visit www.wcboe.org and click on the STEM Saturdays Top Story. For information contact Gretchen Boggs at 410-677-5149 or gboggs@wcboe.org.

Up with People Seeks Host Families
Cast to Perform in Salisbury Oct. 12; Host Families Needed Oct. 10-14

Families in Salisbury will have the unique opportunity to bring a bit of the world into their own homes between October 10 and 14 when an international cast of Up with People arrives in Salisbury, a stop on their 2010 world tour. The Salisbury visit of Up with People is sponsored by the Wicomico County Board of Education.

Local families in the Salisbury area are being sought now to sign up to host the cast members between Sunday, Oct. 10 and Thursday, Oct. 14. Those interested in hosting are encouraged to contact Liz Davis on the Salisbury Advance Team at ldavis@upwithpeople.org or by calling 410-677-4400 and asking for Up with People, or 505-850-3113.

Host families are being sought to keep one or more students from Cast B 2010, the 90-member Up with People cast and staff which represents 17 countries and more than 25 states. The opportunity to stay with local families during their stay in each community is a centerpiece of Up with People’s 22-week program. The giving goes both ways…while families share their traditions and local attractions; the cast members share their experiences and cultures. Those with smaller children or young teens in their home often find that the Up with People cast members are wonderful role models and provide a glimpse into other countries, cultures and traditions they might not often experience in Salisbury.

Local host families are asked to provide a bed, local transportation at the beginning and end of each day, as well as breakfast and most dinners. While gone during the day, participating in regional learning, community service and show preparation, most evenings cast members will be home with the family to participate in their activities and interests.

In addition to many wonderful experiences with their new “son” or “daughter,” each host family will receive two complimentary tickets to the Up with People Show which will be held at Wicomico High School on Tuesday, October 12 at 7 p.m.