Apex Middle School
The following students participated in the Geography Bee on Jan. 13: eighth-graders Marco Valencia, Gabe DeCaro, Patrick McCrimmon, Camby Abell, seventh-graders John Foulkes, Jimmy Bailey, Rahel Pullen, and sixth-graders Kyle Higgins, Davis Dupree, Bryson Blater.
Marco Valencia from the Mountaineers was the school winner. He will now take a placement test to see if he qualifies for the state competition. David Dupree from the Jaguar team finished second and Gabe DeCaro from the Seahawks finished third.

Davis Drive Middle
• New principal Mrs. Summers will host a meeting for parents each month, titled “Katching up with Karen.” The first meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.
• Jan 21, Basketball (Apex at DDMS); Spanish field trip; Fantasy Book Club Meeting.
• Jan 22, Basketball (DDMS at Lufkin); Spanish field trip.
• Jan 26, No school, teacher workday.
• Jan 29, Basketball (DDMS at West Cary).
• Jan. 30, Report cards go home.
• On Saturday, Jan. 10, the following 12 seventh- and eighth- grade band students auditioned for and were selected to the 2009 All-District Honor Band: Anthony Benavente (8), Jacob Best (8), Ellen Emmerson (7), Jane Kim (8), Rose Kim (8), Michelle Ko (8), Nicole Lu (8), Adarsh Rao (7), Callum Reid (8), Will Schoeffler (8), Jared Tippens (8), Tina Xiang (8). They will participate in a two-day clinic, Feb. 6-7 where two honor bands will prepare a full concert program.

East Cary Middle
East Cary Year-Round Middle School will host a session for parents and students interested in seeking information regarding the school in the auditorium Feb. 3 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Hopewell Academy
• First semester exams and parent conferences will be held Jan. 20-23.
• A homework information sharing Web site was recently launched. Parents can view their student’s homework assignments online daily. Parent training sessions will be upcoming.
• Open House for prospective parents is Monday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. RSVP by calling 607-6339 or visit hopewellacademy.org.

Lufkin Road Middle
• National Geography Bee, Jan. 26, 2:30-3:30. The winner of the Lufkin Road Middle School’s Bee will advance to the next level competition, a written examination to determine state competitors. All school winners are eligible to win the national championship and its first prize, a $25,000 college scholarship, at the national competition May 19-20 in Washington, D.C.
• Open House will be Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m.

Northwoods Elementary
A winter food drive was kicked off at Family Fun and Reading Night in November. Students, faculty and families were able to donate nonperishable food items to help families less fortunate than those in our Northwoods community. The food drive continued into December. PTA members gathered all the donated items and delivered them to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Students and faculty donated more than 230 pounds of food. This was enough food to provide 194 meals to needy families. The PTA hopes to challenge Northwoods at its next food drive to triple that amount.

Olive Chapel Elementary
• There will be a Chick-Fil-A Night at Beaver Creek Commons on Thursday, Jan. 22, starting at 5 p.m. Part of the profits from the evening will help support programs at the school.
• Friday, Jan. 23, will be “Hawaiian Shirt Day,” sponsored by the Student Council. Students and staff are encouraged to participate in this school-wide spirit day.
• The Improvement Team will meet on Friday, Jan. 23, at 8 a.m., in the media center. This meeting is open to all interested parents. The team is made up of representatives from each grade level and team in the school.
• The third-grade staff invites everyone to attend McDonald’s Night on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 5-8 p.m., at the McDonald’s on the corner of Hwy. 64 and Lake Pine.
• The PTA will host Kim Johnson, Writer in Residence, Feb. 3-5, for fourth-grade students on Tracks 1 and 2. She will return Feb. 24-26, to work with fourth graders on Tracks 3 and 4.
• Wednesday, Feb. 4, is “Walk to School Wednesday.” Students are encouraged to participate in this activity to promote physical fitness.
• Kindergarten registration will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the media center. Parents should bring the following items when they register their child: the child’s Social Security card, a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, an updated immunization record, a completed Kindergarten Health Assessment, and proof of residence (utility bill, housing contract or rental agreement).
• Student Council will meet Friday, Feb. 6, at 8:10 a.m. Friday will also be a spirit day and all students are encouraged to wear their spirit wear or school colors of blue and white. Interims and Progress Update Reports will go home with all students in grades 1-5, on Tracks 1 and 2, on that day as well.

Penny Road Elementary
• Jan. 21: The school will host an educational program by Sean Driscoll titled, “The Circus King.” The show focuses on reading, writing and character education.
• The Annual Talent Show will be on Jan. 30 from 5:30-9 p.m.

Raleigh School
• The following students’ work was selected for the Wake County Young Authors publication: Sydney Anderson, Eliana Buckner, Lauren Ducoste, Olivia Hair, John Hodges, Alexandra Matthews and Lila Olson.
• Jan Schnurr’s first-grade class will visit Macaroni Grill in Cary on Jan. 28. The students will be given a tour of the kitchen, learn about restaurant jobs, and will then make their own pizzas using money they earned at home. This learning experience ties into their current study of economics.

Southern Wake Montessori
• Open house and information session will be on Thursday, Jan. 15, 6-8 p.m. For information, call 577-0081.
• Parent Education Evening is rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. Dr. Kim Ramsdell, a local pediatrician, will speak on the topic, “Nutrition for Families and Children.” Childcare is available; contact the office to reserve a space as soon as possible.

Sterling Montessori
• Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m. Open House for all new families wishing to enroll for next year.
• Progress reports for the 3-6 level, lower elementary and upper elementary will be mailed on Friday, Jan. 30. Middle school reports became available on Friday, Jan. 16.
• The next meeting of the recycling committee is Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 8 a.m. in C12.
• On Monday, Jan. 5, all upper elementary classes and the middle school participated in the National Geographic Geography Bee. Congratulations to everyone who participated and to the school winner, Sally Johnson (H2).

Yates Mill Elementary
School tours are scheduled for Jan. 22 and 29 at 10 a.m. The tours are designed for parents whose kindergartner may be attending Yates Mill for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year. Call 233-4244 if you plan to attend. For additional information contact Joe Caldwell, school counselor, at 233-4244.