 Parents, teachers, and administrators working together 
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Administration
Dear SHS Community,
We hope you are warm and well. First, we want to congratulate Springbrook’s Team
ExperiWOMENal - Kera Talsania, Colin Page, Cameron Reed and Angie DeMarco – for
winning Microsoft’s Games for Good Challenge. It is a great accomplishment for them
and an honor to our school (https://innovation.nfte.com/projects/experiwomental).
We also want to welcome our new varsity head football coach Jason Lomax. He comes
to The Brook from Rockville High School where he served as a varsity assistant coach
as well as their junior varsity head football coach. We look forward to his successful
tenure here at Springbrook.
As you may know, Springbrook will be offering Wrestling as a P.E. course next year. If
your child is interested in registering for this course, please have them visit their
counselor by Monday, February 23.
It is time to look forward to warmer weather, spring and yearbooks! Now is the time to
reserve your copy of the yearbook. Last year, we sold all available copies, so we are
giving you notice so that you do not miss this opportunity. Go to our online ordering site
at www.jostensyearbooks.com to place your order as soon as possible.
Parents of seniors, speaking of yearbooks, time is running out to reserve your space in
the book for your child’s senior recognition ad. This is a terrific high school tradition that
students all over the country look forward to. It is a simple way to congratulate your child
on his/her impending graduation. You may reserve your space at the same online site
that you use to order a yearbook. Please email Mr. Hibberd if you have any questions:
[email protected].
LOTS OF
information in this issue: After-Prom Online Auction has begun,
Counseling News with LOTS of college scholarship information, AOIT, Journalism,
Science, Athletic Department, CCRD, Student Achievements, and Community Tidbits
with many opportunities for students and their families.
And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for daily news and information:
@Springbrook_HS
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Garcίa, Assistant Principal
Calendar
Fri., February 27
o Blue Devil Alumni Career Day
o Early Release Day
Sun., March 1
o Spring Sports begin
Tues., March 3
o Music Boosters Meeting – 7pm
Wed., March 4
o Athletic Boosters Meeting – 7pm
Thurs., March 5
o ASVAB Testing
o Senior Parent Meeting – 7pm
Mon., March 9 & Tues.,
March 10
o Spring Sports Team Photos
Fri., March 13 & Sat.,
March 14
o Spring Play - “High School Musical” – 7pm –
Auditorium
Sun., March 15
o Spring Play – “High School Musical” - 3pm –
Auditorium
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News from the PTSA
Should you have any PTSA related questions or concerns, please feel free to contact its
president, Antoinette (Toni) Hinds by email: [email protected].
The After-Prom Online Auction is NOW OPEN!
The After Prom Auction is now open as of 8:00 am, Friday, February 13 and we have
something for everyone!
Is your student in need of Driver’s Ed? Check out the iDriveSmart package.
Are you a foodie? You can bid on a made-to-order, homemade Smith Island Cake,
Panera Bread for a Year, or a $50 Whole Foods gift card!
Ravens or Redskins? Check out the two hand-made mosaics of each mascot made
by our local artist, Arturo Ho. We also have an autographed picture of #71 Redskins
offensive tackle, Trent Williams.
And of course, our Blue Devil Specials: High School Musical Tickets from our Drama
Department, Spirit Wear from our Athletic Boosters, a fabulous pineapple boat from our
own Hospitality/Culinary art Instructor, Ms. Seid, or 2 hours of video editing from our
own Mr. Carpency. This service could also be used to record two events for your
athlete to send to potential colleges.
Please check out all these items and many, many more at:
www.biddingforgood.com/springbrook.
Proceeds from the auction benefit the 2015 After-Prom celebration for our Springbrook
students to keep them all safe during the hours between midnight and 5am.
Points of contact: Bessy Cabrera at [email protected] & Nora Robles at
[email protected].
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Counseling Department
It is course registration time for the 2015 – 2016 school year and counselors have
been very busy meeting with our current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students. We are
reviewing transcripts as well as recommendations and student course selections.
Counselors have also visited with all of our 8th grade students who will be entering
Springbrook as the Class of 2019! On February 11 we hosted our Parent Registration
Information Night. It was wonderful meeting the newest additions to our Springbrook
family!
The Springbrook High School Course Bulletin is available on our website. The Bulletin
has a great deal of information in it including graduation and promotion requirements,
course descriptions and sequences, contact information for resource teachers and
administrators, and important information regarding the timeline for registering for
classes for the 2015-2016 school year.
We continue to meet with our seniors and are helping them with their post-graduation
plans. We are also talking with our seniors who have not fulfilled all of their graduation
requirements. It is important that our seniors do not wait to complete and submit their
student service learning hours. Please remember, you cannot graduate and walk
across the stage unless ALL of your graduation requirements are met. Springbrook’s
Class of 2015 Graduation is Monday, June 1 at 10am at DAR Constitution Hall.
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Online FAFSA applications are now available. The online application deadline is
March 1. Please visit www.FAFSA.gov.
Please mark your calendars for the HBCU College Fair at Einstein High School
on Wednesday, February 18 at 7pm.
The College and Career Center continues to have many scholarships available. Juniors
and seniors should be visiting the College & Career Center on a regular basis to hear
from college representatives and to learn about the many scholarships that are
available. Here are some wonderful scholarship programs available to our students
through the College & Career Center:
February
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25 - Simon Youth Community Scholarships - $1,500; senior; legal U.S.
res.; attend full-time; applicants will be evaluated based on academic promise,
financial need, essay response, work experience, and community/extracurricular
involvement.
27 - B'Nai B'Rith Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge - $500 - $5,000; 9-12
grade; write and illustrate a children's book that discusses the topics of tolerance,
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diversity and inclusion; 16-24 pages; students can work individually or up
to groups of four (teams would split scholarship award).
27 - Mont. Co. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc - up to $5,000; senior; Mont. Co.
resident.; min 2.5 GPA; must enter a four-year school full-time fall; community
service; 2 letters of rec; 2 essays; SAT/ACT scores.
27 - Buick Achievers Scholarship Program - up to $25,000 (renewable); senior;
interest in pursuing career in auto. industry; enroll full-time at 4 yr. college; plan
to major in a course of study that focuses on Engineering/Technology or select
Design and Business related programs of study (see the list of eligible majors);
fin. need; good grades; citizen or perm. res.
28 - AFCEA NOVA Scholarship Program - $2,000 for full-time study, $1,000 for
part-time; major in IT, Comp. Sci., Engineering, Math or other tech field; min 3.0
GPA, fin. need.
March
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01 - Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships - $5,000 (potential for annual renewal for
up to four years $20,000); senior; must be of African descent (ex. - African
American, Ethiopian, African, or Black); attend a four year college in the fall;
major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or
declare a major in business that is approved by BAM; demonstrate a passion for
technology; demonstrate leadership at school and/or in the community; min 3.3
GPA; financial need; 2 letters of rec; 2 essays.
02 - The Xi Sigma Omega HBCU Scholarship - $4,000 (renewable, paid in
$1,000 annual installments provided that you continue to meet the criteria);
senior; plan to attend an HBCU; must be able to document exceptional number
of service learning hours with outstanding community service; demonstrated
leadership; min 3.0 GPA; 3 letters of rec; 2 essays; official transcript; submit ACT
or SAT test scores.
02 - The Golden Soror Scholarship - $1,000; senior; plan to attend an HBCU; 3
letters of rec; essay; official transcript; submit ACT or SAT test scores.
02 - The Ola Carter Berry Scholarship - $1,000; senior; financial need (must be
able to document); may attend any college or university; 3 letters of rec; essay;
official transcript; submit ACT or SAT test scores.
02 - The Bernadine M. Pindell Scholarship - $1,000; senior; plan to major in
mathematics or engineering at any college or university; 3 letters of rec; essay;
official transcript; submit ACT or SAT test scores.
02 - The Patricia Moore-Batten Scholarship - $1,000; senior; plan to major
in education at any college or university; 3 letters of rec; essay; official transcript;
submit ACT or SAT test scores.
03 - Frame My Future Scholarship Contest - 5-$1,000 awards; seniors; intend to
enroll full-time at a college or university in 2015-16 year; legal resident; submit an
original creative image that expresses what you hope to achieve in your personal
and professional life after college; must relate to the theme: This is how I want to
frame my future; see website for examples and/or ideas.
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05 - Paul Robeson Scholarship - min $1,000 awards; seniors; African American
males; 500 word essay; 200 word biography; submit a high school transcript; 3
letters of reference; must describe leadership; semi-finalist will be invited to a
personal interview with the evaluation committee; provide a statement of financial
need.
06 - Religious Liberty Essay Scholarship - $2,000, $1,000, and $250 awards;
juniors or seniors; 800 - 1,200 word essay question: discuss whether and to what
extent an employer should be able to dictate an employee's attire - such as
denying an employee's request to wear religious garb; no requirements regarding
GPA, faith, after-school activities or clubs!
09 - Washington, DC Beat the Odds Scholarship Program - $10,000, laptop,
guidance, mentoring and more; sophomores; min 3.0 GPA and potential for
post-secondary success; limited support and/or income; for students who are
working hard to overcome tremendous obstacles in their personal lives,
demonstrate academic achievement, and give back to their community
(community service); must be nominated or seek nomination.
13 - Bruce Lee Scholarship - $2,500 - $5,000 award; senior; citizen or legal U.S.
resident; enroll full-time at an accredited post-secondary school in Fall 2015; able
to attend CelebrAsian Procurement conference (June 3 - 5) in Bethesda; min 3.3
GPA; leadership in extracurricular activities; involvement in community service;
financial need; download application on this website.
13 - USPAACC Scholarships (9 to choose from) - $2,500 $5,000 awards; senior; citizen or legal U.S. resident; must be of Asian Pacific
Island Heritage; enroll full-time at an accredited post-secondary school in Fall
2015; able to attend CelebrAsian Procurement conference (June 3 - 5) in
Bethesda; min 3.3 GPA; leadership in extracurricular activities; involvement in
community service; financial need; download applications on this website.
16 - Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge - $15,000, $10,000, $7,500, and
$5,000 awards (plus prizes!); 9-12 grade; legal U.S. resident; create a video that
highlights the importance of safer teen driving.
16 - The Women's Board Scholarship Program - $500 - $4,500 (may be
renewable); senior; citizen; interest in pursuing a degree in health care field; fin.
need; good grades; exper.; comm. service
26 - Flag House Scholarship - $1,812 award toward college of your choice;
seniors; answer essay question (listed on website) - no more than 250 words,
must be submitted through form on link (no mail or e-mail submissions!), winner
must travel to Baltimore to read essay aloud at Flag House on Flag Day (June
14, 2015).
27 - Army Officers' Wives' Club Greater Washington Area Scholarship - seniors;
children of active duty, retired or deceased US ARMY PERSONNEL, officers or
enlisted; min 3.0 GPA; ACT/SAT scores; awards; community involvement; essay;
letter or rec.
31 - Legacy of Life Essay & Video Scholarships - $1000, $2000, & $3000
awards; senior; write an essay or produce a video that will convince a selected
community to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors.
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31 - Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium Scholarship - unspecified
award; senior; plan to enroll full-time at a 2 or 4 yr college or an ASE/NATEF
certified post secondary automotive, collision repair, or heavy duty program; 1
letter of rec.; 250 word essay on why you believe you deserve to win the
scholarship; by applying, you are automatically applying for multiple
automotive scholarships on this website you would be eligible for!
31 - SuretyBonds.com Scholarship Program - 3-$1,500 awards; senior; citizen
and/or legal resident; must be enrolled at an institution of higher learning full-time
in Fall 2015; submit an essay (500-1,000 words) about how small business
ownership (personal, parent, grandparent, or legal guardian) has shaped you into
the person you are today.
31 - National WWII Museum High School Essay Contest - 1st place - $1,000,
2nd place - $750, & 3rd place - $500 awards; open to all high school students; in
1,000 words or less, answer this essay question: How Do You Define A Hero?;
see website for formatting requirements; act fast because only the first 500
submitted essays will be accepted!
April
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01 - Printing and Graphics Scholarship Foundation - avg $2,000 or
$5,000; senior; pursuing a career in graphic communication, printing technology,
printing management or publishing; attend 2 or 4 yr accredited graphic or printing
program at a technical school, college or univ; must enroll full-time; be able to
maintain a 3.0 GPA; must join the PGSF Facebook page and maintain active.
01 - Central Scholarship General Application - various awards; senior; US
Citizen/Perm Resident; min 2.8 GPA; family income of less than $90,000. Fill out
this one application to be considered for more than 40 scholarship programs!
01 - Project Yellow Light Scholarship - $5,000, $2,000, & $1,000 awards; juniors
and seniors; legal residents planning to entering an accredited school in the Fall
after their senior year; create a :25 to :55 second video discouraging distracted
drivers; winner has a chance to have their video aired.
01 - American Fire Sprinkler Assoc. High School Schol. - 10-$2,000
awards; seniors; U.S. citizen or legal res.; attend 2yr, 4yr or vocational/trade
school in the U.S. in the Fall; read an essay about automatic fire sprinklers, take
10-question (open book) multiple-choice test; for each question answered
correctly, student gets 1 entry into a drawing for one of the ten $2,000
scholarships; answer all ten questions correctly, you get ten entries for a
possibility at winning $2,000.
10 - Create Real Impact Your Ideas Driving Challenge - $500 - $5,000
awards; ages 14 - 22; legal residents; create an original work showcasing your
idea for a SOLUTION to the very real problem of reckless & distracted driving;
original works can fall into 1 of the 4 following categories: video, music, creative
writing, or artwork.
13 - Federal Water Quality Assoc. Scholarship - $2,000; senior; must plan on and
be accepted into a 4yr program studying a field associated with environmental
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protection (see application for acceptable areas of study); essay; extra curricular
activities; reference letter(s).
15 - College JumpStart Scholarship Program - $1,500; 10-12 grade; U.S. citizen
or legal res.; attend 2yr, 4yr or vocational/trade school in the U.S.; be committed
to using education to better your life and that of your family and/or community.
30 - E-waste Scholarship - $1,000; 9-12 grade; U.S. citizen or legal res.; no age
limit; complete online application including a 140-character message about ewaste; top 10 applications will be chosen as finalists and will be asked to write a
500 to 1,000 word essay about e-waste; winner will be awarded $1,000.
May
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01 - Ira Dorsey Scholarship - one-time or renewable $1,500 award; male;
senior; min 2.5 GPA; financial need; character; extra curricular activities;
community involvement; must attend 4 yr school; must complete the FAFSA;
essay; 2 letters of rec.
01 - DutchCrafters Heritage Scholarship - 3-$500 awards; senior; citizen or legal
resident; min 3.0 GPA; financial need; must apply for FAFSA; 750 word essay;
see application for details.
01 - WyzAnt College Scholarships - $10,000, $3,000, & $2,000 awards; 10-12
grade; plan to be enrolled in a college or university; 300 word essay: "Describe
one way in which your education has empowered you."
15 - Mont. Co. Chapter Bowie St. U. Alumni Assoc. Scholarship - $500 award
per semester of freshman year based in their academic success in high
school; must attend Bowie State University; min 2.5 GPA; 2 letters of rec.; essay;
read all requirements carefully before applying.
June
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15 - Global Lift Equipment Scholarship - $1,000; senior; min 2.5 GPA; resident
of the U.S.; create a short story of no more than 2000 words; see link for details.
30 - Automotive Hall of Fame Scholarships - (Application opens Feb. 1st!)
senior; min 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizen or on a Student Visa; complete application
indicating a sincere interest in an automotive career; must be accepted to
college, univ., or trade school; must enroll full-time; 2 letters of recommendation.
Class of 2015 Tee Shirts Available
Senior year is a whirlwind of activity, from college and career planning to SAT/ ACT
testing, to working hard to complete graduation requirements. For many seniors, it
seems as though the year cannot possibly end quickly enough. Then, as June rapidly
approaches, it seems that the end of the high school years comes all too quickly.
Consider commemorating those years with the purchase of a Class of 2015 Tee shirt,
which bears the name of all members of the senior class. They can be purchased from
Ms. Greger or Mr. Overton in the Counseling Services Office for $10.00. Proceeds
support the Senior Class. (Point of Contact: Eileen Lisker, [email protected])
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Academy of Information Technology
Springbrook Team Wins Microsoft Worldwide Competition!
Congratulations to Angie DeMarco, Colin Page, Cameron Reed and Kera Talsania
who won the “People’s Choice Award” and was one of the top 3 finalists for the
“Microsoft Games for Good Challenge” as part of the Microsoft World Series of
Innovation, for their app ExperiWOMENtal, an app designed to increase girls’ interest in
STEM. This Springbrook team was among the top 3 teams out of 750 teams worldwide.
What a fantastic accomplishment! See the Student Achievements Section for the
Gazette news article about our winning students.
Another Springbrook team, Team Hannah, made up of Emily Koudry, Hannah Lithgow,
Jocelyn Dazzo and Keren Herran, was one of the top 10 semi-finalists in the “Microsoft
School Improvement Challenge”, also part of the Microsoft World Series of Innovation,
with their app called “Reset School Stress.” Their app is designed to help students
manage school stress by teaching students to approach tests differently, develop
healthy study habits, and learn how to release anxiety.
Congratulations to all of these winning and successful Springbrook student app
designers! We are so proud of you and proud to have 2 teams go so far in these very
competitive, very difficult competitions!
Journalism Department
Parents and Guardians – The Blueprint Needs You!
Springbrook Parents and Guardians,
We have a deal for you! The staff of The Blueprint newspaper has announced the
beginning of its Spring Subscription sale. For only $10, the staff will send home the final
3 issues of the school year along with the 3 issues from the fall semester.
The latest issue, published on February 13, focuses on a variety of topics such as
school funding, varsity girls’ basketball, AP exam fees and gift giving for Valentine’s
Day. We have a small staff of 14 compared to staff sizes of 25-35 at nearby schools,
but we are growing in confidence!
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Why do we need your support? The Blueprint, along with other student newspapers, is
struggling to meet rising printing costs. With an annual budget of almost $4,000, the
staff raises funds by hosting annual events such as the Holiday Bazaar and the
Community yard sale. It also sells patron ads and business ads. Despite these
efforts, the staff still needs your support.
Please consider purchasing a spring subscription for only $10. This is a great way to
keep in touch with important (and fun) issues involving the Springbrook community.
Thank You.
Timothy Hibberd, Adviser, The Blueprint
Please copy, paste in a new document, fill out and print (or print and write out),
then mail this small form to subscribe:
*****
Name ________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________
__X___ Yes, I would like to purchase a subscription. Please send me the next 3 issues
of the school year along with the 3 issues from the fall semester. I have enclosed a
check in the amount of $10 made out to “Springbrook High School.”
Return this order form to: Springbrook High School
201 Valley Brook Dr.
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Attn: Tim Hibberd
*****
Point of Contact: Tim Hibberd, [email protected]
Science Department
Register Now for the X-STEM Symposium on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
The USA Science & Engineering Festival, the largest celebration of science and
engineering in the United States, is excited to announce that registration for the
upcoming X-STEM Symposium is NOW OPEN!
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Join them on April 28 in Washington D.C. for the next X-STEM Symposium, a special
conference for kids featuring some of our nation's leading STEM innovators! View this
year's AGENDA and REGISTER TODAY to reserve your seats.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Time: 9:30am-2:30pm
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.
About: The X-STEM "Extreme" STEM Symposium - presented by MedImmune - is a
unique conference for kids where some of our nation's most respected professionals in
science and engineering will speak to middle through high school students in a "TEDstyle" format. X-STEM is a one of a kind opportunity to get your students up close and
personal with leading STEM role models while inspiring them about careers in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This all day event will feature
multiple presentation sessions and workshops covering a wide array of subject areas
including space exploration, paleontology, bio-inspired robotics, marine biology,
mathematics of origami, eco-friendly vehicle innovation, computer programming and
much, much more!
Who Should Attend: Middle and high school level students (grades 6-12) with a strong
interest in STEM, educators and parents.
We have lined up an amazing group of speakers for X-STEM 2015 including:
Reginald Brothers, Ph.D. - From detecting and responding to national security matters
such as cyber hacking and bioterrorism, discover how this leader as Under Secretary
for Science and Technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is using the
latest in science to keep America safe!
Alyssa Carson - This 13-year-old and her dream to become the first person on Mars,
will both amaze and inspire you! Learn how she is preparing and how her quest is
capturing national attention!
Anthony Fauci, M.D. - Learn how this eminent physician-scientist, as Director of the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, is on the front lines of the U.S.
government's fight against the Ebola crisis!
Irwin Jacobs, Ph.D. - Meet this mild-mannered former MIT engineering professor who
co-founded the telecommunications giant Qualcomm. Learn how its technology (born
from his single idea) is used on cell phones worldwide and is revolutionizing the next
generation of digital devices!
Dean Kamen - He's sometimes called a modern-day Edison for the sheer number and
impact of his inventions -- which range from the Segway human transporter and
revolutionary robotic prosthetic arm to the iBOT battery-powered wheelchair. But in
addition to his creations, get to know the man who founded FIRST, the amazing
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outreach movement which is inspiring kids in robotics and other STEM areas like never
before!
Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, M.D. - This eminent neurosurgeon and researcher at
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine says: "My hands used to pick weeds as an
immigrant in this country. Now they perform brain surgery." Hear his amazing story!
And many, many more! Learn more about the 2015 X-STEM Symposium here.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register to attend. Advanced registration
is required! There will be no onsite registration
http://www.usasciencefestival.org/schoolprograms/x-stem-extreme-stem-symposium/xstem-registration-form.html
Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter and like us on Facebook to stay up to date on
Festival announcements. We hope to see you at X-STEM!
Nancy van Dillen Director of Programs USA Science & Engineering Festival,
[email protected]
High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) – Paid
Internship
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Intramural Training & Education and
Office of Scientific Workforce Diversity announce the new High School Scientific
Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP). The goal of HiSTEP is to expand the
pipeline of students interested in biomedical and healthcare careers by expanding
opportunities for high school students from schools with a large population of financiallydisadvantaged students. We encourage current high school sophomores, juniors, and
seniors interested in STEM-M (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and
medically-related) fields to apply.
HiSTEP students will take part in a 5-week, full-time summer internship. The internship
will be located on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. It begins July 6 and ends
August 7. HiSTEP students will explore the breadth of the scientific enterprise, the
importance of biomedical research and many STEM-M careers. They will complete
workshops, lectures and hands-on activities. Students will receive Transhare
benefits to cover the cost of public transportation and a stipend of $2150 for the
5-week internship.
The HiSTEP Program includes: § A week-long orientation and science skills boot
camp. These activities will focus on the scientific, professional and personal skills
required for success in STEM-M careers. § An exploration of the scientific
enterprise and the role played by scientists, health care workers and science
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policy experts. Students will complete case studies and examine current hot topics in
human health. § Leadership training to help students develop self-awareness,
assertiveness and interpersonal and resiliency skills. Success in college and in
STEM-M careers depends on these skills. § College advising. Topics will include
applying, finding scholarships and mentors and successful transitions to college.
§ Career advising. Interns will discuss finding careers, finding internships, writing
resumes and cover letters, interviewing and professionalism.
Eligibility Criteria: HiSTEP welcomes applications from high school sophomores, juniors
and seniors eager to explore science and health-related careers. We encourage
students from diverse backgrounds to apply. Applicants must commit to complete the
entire 5-week internship experience. HiSTEP applicants must also: § Be a U.S. citizen
or permanent resident of the U.S. § Be 16 years or older on July 5, 2015. § Have a
cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale.) Students with a GPA between 2.75
and 3.0 should apply if their grades have shown steady improvement. § Attend a
school where more than 30% of the student body participates in the Federal
Free/Reduced Lunch Program. § Live in Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC within
commuting distance of the main NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Students should
talk with their principal or guidance counselor to make certain they are eligible.
Application Process: Applicants should complete the standard NIH Summer Internship
Program (SIP) application online. They should choose NIH-HiSTEP from the drop-down
menu in Item 8. In the cover letter, HiSTEP applicants should discuss their science and
math coursework. They should also explain why they are applying to HiSTEP and
discuss any activities that show their leadership potential and commitment to selfimprovement and learning. These activities might be work experiences or
extracurricular activities. For help preparing your application, please read our
"Instructions for Completing the Application for HiSTEP"
(https://www.training.nih.gov/histep_application_guidelines) and all of the HiSTEP FAQs
(https://www.training.nih.gov/histep_faqs). Potential applicants, high school teachers
and guidance counselors are also welcome to contact us at ([email protected]) with
questions. The HiSTEP application deadline is 11:59 pm, March 1, 2015. Letters of
reference must be submitted by 11:59 pm, March 15, 2015. The selection
committee will review applications in March. Potential program participants will be
interviewed by phone. We will notify applicants of the committee's final decisions in
early April. We will invite program participants and a parent/guardian to visit NIH.
During the visit they will learn more about the program. They will also complete
internship paperwork and required training. All NIH-HiSTEP interns must be on campus
from 9am-3pm, Monday through Friday, from July 6 through August 7, 2015.
The HiSTEP Internship Experience: During their first week, NIH HiSTEP students will
participate in an in-depth orientation workshops. Orientation will cover laboratory
safety, the scientific method, science writing and communication. It will also address
data management and analysis, ethics, professionalism, self-awareness, time
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management and finding careers. Each HiSTEP student will identify 3 goals for their
summer internship and work with NIH mentors to make an individual development plan
to work toward those goals. After orientation, interns will study 2 important health
topics: (1) infectious diseases (for example, HPV, HIV and Ebola) and (2) obesity and
its complications (diabetes and heart disease.) HiSTEP students will meet with
scientists, policy experts, bioethicists and community activists. HiSTEP students will
also visit NIH research laboratories and the NIH Clinical Center. They will participate in
journal clubs to improve their problem solving and critical thinking skills. Finally,
HiSTEP students will explore the STEM-M careers via informational interviews,
independent research and shadowing experiences.
For further information you can view a Table
(https://www.training.nih.gov/summer_programs_comparison) comparing HiSTEP and
other summer programs at the NIH.
Springbrook Students and Parents/Guardians Attend Women in
Engineering (WIE) Dream Conference at University of Maryland on Saturday,
February 14
At least 10 Springbrook students and their parents/guardians attended the UMD WIE
Dream Conference at UMD this past Saturday, Febuary 14. Our school had one of the
larger groups attending. The conference introduced students to various types of
engineering such as bio, aerospace, fire protection; gave details about how to apply for
financial aid, obtain scholarships and how to apply to colleges in general and UMD in
particular; and provided information on how to get internships and jobs after graduation.
This conference is held yearly at this time and is open to all high school students,
women and men. If you were unable to make it this year, you should plan to attend in
the coming years if you have an interest in engineering or science in general as your
future field of study. It is most helpful for sophomores and juniors, but freshman get a
taste of the field of engineering to help them make decisions going forward too. For
seniors the discussions on engineering fields and internship and job information are
very useful, even if the other information may be behind you.
Springbrook Science Students Headed to the Amazon in Peru This Summer!
Springbrook students and staff will be traveling to the AMAZON in Peru this
summer! Staff, chaperones and students are super excited about this scientific
research expedition! However, this trip costs money. We are asking for your
participation in supporting our CHIPOTLE FUNDRAISER on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
17 at the Cherry Hill Location (by the Target and Babies R Us.) We will receive a
donation based on every purchase. Springbrook's varsity basketball teams play at
Wheaton on Feb 17th at 5:15 and 7pm, so you can spend the entire evening supporting
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Springbrook...on a full tummy of course! Team Amazon Peru thanks you for your
support in advance. FEEL FREE TO SPREAD THE WORD.
Music Department / Music Boosters
On to Memphis in Late March!
The music program students are traveling to Memphis in late March to participate in a
musical festival competition and go on fun and educational tours of Graceland, the
Gibson Guitar Factory and other music venues. The first trip deposits were due by
January 15; the second by February 1. Medical forms and permission slips were due in
January as well. If your child is going on this trip, please make sure to submit all forms
and payments timely. Thank you!
Swing into Spring
Swing into Spring is a big annual event of the music department and is on the horizon.
We need volunteers to make it a success for the music department and all who attend
this fun evening of music, dancing and dinner. Please contact us (details below) if you
can help out in any way.
Music Boosters Next Meeting
Please plan to attend the Music Boosters meetings on the 1st Tuesday of every month
at 7pm in the Band Room. The next one is Tuesday, March 3. We are gearing up for
Swing into Spring and the trip to Memphis in late March!
Point of Contact: Wyman Jones, [email protected] and Scott Brock,
President, Springbrook Music Boosters, [email protected].
Follow us on Twitter: @SHSMusicBoosters
See us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringbrookHsMusic
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Athletic Department /Athletic Boosters
*News from Springbrook’s Athletic Director and Department and Athletic
Boosters*
Winter Sports Wrap Up
Basketball: Congratulations to our varsity boy's basketball team who beat Sherwood in
a thrilling overtime victory to win the division championship! The boosters arranged and
paid for a school bus to transport 54 enthusiastic Springbrook fans wearing matching
Springbrook t-shirts to cheer on both the varsity girls and boys teams Friday evening,
February 6. Our fans and cheering squad did a fabulous job showing our Springbrook
spirit! See photo below. Then, the boy’s basketball team beat Wootton by 6 points in
the February 13 game!
Swim and Dive: Congratulations also to our swim and dive team which had 4 top 10
finishes and 3 top 20 finishes in metros. Our team also broke 2 records: senior James
Hisnanick broke his own previous record in the 200 free, and senior Mica Ho broke the
4 Dives and the 11 Dives school records. This past weekend the team competed in
Regionals. Diving for Regionals was Friday night, February 13 at Kennedy Shriver
Aquatic Center and relay swimming was on Saturday, February 14. The swim and dive
team will wrap up its season with a potluck dinner on Tuesday, February 17 from 7-9pm
in the school cafeteria.
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Indoor Track: The indoor track team has been burning up the track this winter. The
boys team finished 6th overall in the County meet. Jayden Purnell took 2nd in the high
jump and 6th in the long jump. Tamir Jacobs took the bronze medal in the triple jump
at the County meet. Congratulations to Jayden Purnell, Derick Appiah, Corey
Young, Mayen McLain, Jacari Ramsey and Hayli Johnson – who qualified for the
Maryland Indoor State Championships. The boys team was 8th overall in the
region. The team qualified in the boys 4X400 relay, the 4X200 relay, the high jump and
the girls 55m dash.
Wrestling: Wrestling finished the season with a 9-5 record. The team was 5th out of
14 teams at the Grapple @ The Brook. Loussouba Toufda was the 182LB Champion,
and Aaron Robertson was a runner-up.
Bocce: Springbrook earned the 1st Bocce Division Championship ever this year and
took 6th place in the County. They competed in the Maryland State Bocce
Championships on Wednesday, February 11.
Spring Sports Tryouts
Tryouts for spring sports begin Saturday, February 28. Anyone interested in playing
must be academically eligible, have an updated physical (within the last 12 months) and
have their parent's written permission. Make doctors’ appointments now! Baseline
concussion screening tests will be given to students who have not received one this
school year. Spring sports include boys and girls lacrosse, girls gymnastics, softball,
baseball, boys volleyball, coed volleyball, and – new this year – an allied softball team.
Check the athletic website http://springbrookathletics.org for tryout dates and locations.
Announcements
The Hall of Fame Committee is excited to announce that we are now accepting
nominations for the second ever class. To nominate a former athlete, coach,
administrator or community member Visit
http://springbrookathletics.org/main/otherad/contentID/31673506.
Springbrook Poms competed in the MCPS Poms competition at Richard Montgomery
High School on Saturday, February 14. See photo below.
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Fundraising Efforts
Concessions: Thank you to all of our volunteers who have helped to run our indoor
concession stand during our winter sports. The stand generates on average $300 per
game, with some games as high as $600. Your purchase of drinks and food from our
stand helps to support our athletic program.
Winter Team Donations: A special thanks to the Swim and Dive team which collected
donations totaling almost $300 to help with our scoreboard fund!
Mulch Sale: One of our biggest fundraisers will be held Saturday, May 2. Your support
will help Springbrook raise much needed money for its new scoreboard while also
sprucing up your yard! The Boosters Club is looking for volunteers to help with this
important fundraiser; if interested, please contact Rachel Spangenberg at
[email protected] or Tina Errigo at [email protected]. Look for more
information to be posted soon in the school and on the website.
Volunteer of the Month
Congratulations to parent Monica Velasquez for being selected our volunteer of the
month in January. We appreciate your time and your talents!
Springbrook Cares – Food and Essentials Drive
Thanks to all who donated food, toiletries and money for our food and essentials drive.
The Athletic Boosters Club collected approximately 6 large bins of food and toiletries
and almost $100 in donations to support A Wider Circle, which serves the needy in
Montgomery County. Look for an article about this event in the next Blueprint issue.
Check our website for upcoming games and events – www.springbrookathletics.org.
The next Boosters meeting is Wednesday, March 4 from 7-8pm in the cafeteria.
For more information on Boosters activities visit our webpage on the Springbrook
Athletics page, click on “Boosters”, or by clicking on this link:
http://springbrookathletics.org/index.cfm?action=main.boosters
Please join our boosters listserv by clicking on the following link:
[email protected] or contact Rachel
Spangenberg at [email protected] to be added to our email list.
Questions? Contact co-Presidents Rachel Spangenberg at [email protected] or
Tina Errigo at [email protected]. GO BLUE DEVILS!!!
Point of Contact: Sarah Kestner, [email protected]
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College Career Research Department
2015 College Goal Maryland, Thursday, February 26
Learn about College and Financial Aid among other things! It will be held on February
26, 4-6 p.m. (Snow date: March 5) at the Montgomery College Germantown Campus
20200 Observation Drive, Germantown, High Technology and Science Center (HT
Building.) Visit the College Goal Maryland website for more information:
http://collegegoalsundaymd.org/locations.htm
2nd Annual Career Expo to Be Held Friday, February 27
Our 2nd Career Expo is coming up soon, on Friday, February 27! We have invited
alumni to come back to Springbrook and speak to current students about their careers,
schooling, challenges and everything in between. Please wear Brookwear or shades
blue in a show of unity and Blue Devil Pride.
Security Team
Ride-On Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® Card
As of January 1 students are no longer be able to ride Metro or Ride-On buses for free
by showing a student ID card. They must purchase a Youth Cruiser Card for $2.00.
Students will still be allowed to ride for free from 2-8pm by tapping the fare box with
their new card. Students can also add money to the Youth Cruiser Card and use the
same card during other hours when rides are not free. Springbrook’s security team has
graciously offered to sell Youth Cruiser Passes right here at school. Students can see
Ms. Sutton in the security office during lunch or after school to fill out a quick registration
form and pay $2.00 for a card. For more information about this program, please visit
Montgomery County Department of Transportation webpage:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit/kidsridefree/index.html
Point of contact, Donna Sutton, [email protected]
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Student Achievements
Maryland Community News
Published: Monday, February 9, 2015 ; this story was updated at 6 p.m. Feb. 13, 2015.
Silver Spring students win online vote of worldwide game development contest
by Kevin James Shay Staff writer [email protected]
© 2015 Post Community Media, LLC/Gazette.Net
A team of computer science students at Springbrook High School won the “People’s
Choice” online voting award in an international educational game development contest
sponsored by Microsoft, according to results announced on the high-tech company’s
website Tuesday.
The contest is part of the annual World Series of Innovation, which is organized by the
nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Angie DeMarco, Colin Page, Cameron Reed and Kera Talsania — all juniors at the
Silver Spring high school — developed a game app for the Microsoft Game Challenge
that promotes science, technology, engineering and math programs, particularly getting
girls involved in those subjects.
As one of three finalists, the Springbrook team received 6,609 votes in the online
competition. That was about 450 votes more than a group from Holy Trinity High
School in Chicago. The third finalist, from Nova High School in Florida, received almost
1,000 votes but won the “Adjudicators” award selected by judges.
The winning teams will receive a $2,000 prize, with an additional $500 for their school or
sponsoring organization.
Called “ExperiWOMENtal,” the Springbrook students’ game follows the laboratory
adventures of Dr. ScienMiss. The app opens up a science lab for users to complete
different experiments, such as building a rocket. After putting the experiment’s parts
together, users can print instructions to complete the project in an actual lab.
“It’s a really innovative game,” said Michael Price, a computer science teacher at
Springbrook, who instructs the team. “They had to go through several levels of judging
just to become one of the three finalists.”
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The Springbrook students’ group made the top three from some 750 teams that entered
worldwide.
One of the criteria for the game was to address a prominent issue in the community.
The foursome reviewed statistics showing discrepancies between male and female
students in STEM-related careers and discussed how to best promote interest in the
fields.
“Our conclusion was ‘learning through application,’” said Reed, a member of the
Montgomery County regional student government association. “And our game design
was simulation for the purpose of users learning about STEM through interactive and
interesting experiments that utilize concepts from all STEM-related fields.”
Link to online news story:
http://www.gazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150209/NEWS/150209464&&templ
ate=PrinterFriendlygaz
Community Tidbits
1000 Youth Voices-The African American Youth Opportunity Needs
Assessment
Take part in a great opportunity to get a gift certificate and help your community at the
same time. Student participants who complete the survey receive a $15 Gift Certificate
to Chipotle! The objective is to understand the needs and assets of Black/African
American youth in Montgomery County in order to improve services, systems and
conditions for those ages 14 – 24. The study is being conducted by BETAH Associates,
Inc. with the support from the Community Foundation of Montgomery County and
Montgomery College. Please see the attached flyer and permission slip. The survey
takes about 30 minutes and students need a permission slip. The project got off to a
late start, so the deadline has been extended beyond what’s stated in the attached
fliers. The survey schedule will be announced in the coming days. Please listen to the
morning announcements and get started by getting your consent forms signed. Please
contact JoAnn Burl to get a survey schedule.
Point of Contact: JoAnn Burl, SHS PTSA : [email protected]
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Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades and Information
Technology Foundations 2nd Annual Refurbished Car and Computer Sale
Saturday, February 21, 9-11am at Damascus High School, 25921 Ridge Road,
Damascus, MD 20872.
Attend a Screening of FED UP, Friday, March 6, 7pm
Please join us for a fantastic evening in support of healthier food for young people in
Montgomery County. On Friday, March 6 at 7pm, Real Food for Kids – Montgomery
(RFKM) will be screening the documentary FED UP at the beautiful Discovery
Communications Building in downtown Silver Spring.
FED UP was produced by Katie Couric and Laurie David (Oscar-winning producer of
“An Inconvenient Truth”) and directed by Stephanie Soechtig. Described as “the movie
the food industry doesn’t want you to see”, FED UP exposes the truth behind one of the
largest health epidemics in US history and promises to change the way you eat forever.
Immediately after the screening, local celebrity Aviva Goldfarb, founder of the Six
O’Clock Scramble, will lead a Q&A, along with RFKM co-founders Lindsey Parsons and
Karen Devitt. Attendees are invited to a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception afterwards,
featuring State Delegates David Moon, Jeff Waldstreicher and Will Smith, who are
currently sponsoring bills for our coalition Healthy School Food Maryland, and
Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal.
Click here to get your ticket. (All tickets must be purchased in advance.) Real Food for
Kids - Montgomery - FED UP Screening & Reception.
Than you so much. We look forward to seeing you at the show!
Karen Devitt, Director, Real Food for Kids – Montgomery
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The Montgomery County GreenFest
Save the date for the Montgomery County GreenFest, held on the Montgomery College
Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus on Saturday, March 28. Hear from national and
local speakers, explore exhibits and talk to nonprofits, participate in “How to” workshops
and more. Participants can also visit an electric vehicle display, listen to music or watch
an environmental film as a part of the Environmental Film Festival. This free event will
be held rain or shine! See more details about attending or participating as a
presenter/exhibitor at www.montgomerycountygreenfest.org.
Earn SSL Hours with The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless has an immediate need for
volunteers to prepare and/or serve meals at the Home Builders Care Assessment
Center (HBCAC) in Rockville. The contact is Naira Hirz at [email protected] or 301-9176658. As a reminder, the MCPS SSL plan has made an exception for students to earn
SSL hours for meal preparation in a private residence for delivery to homeless shelters.
Here is a link to formula that should be followed for awarding SSL hours:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/pages/faq.aspx#191.
Short Story Contest For High School Students
High school students from across the Washington Metropolitan Area are invited to
submit short stories to the Gaithersburg Book Festival Short Story Contest. Deadline:
February 20 by midnight ET. Author must be a high school student (public, private or
homeschooled, grades 9-12, in the 2014-2015 school year) at time of entry. Author
must live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. Only one submission per author.
Read more at: http://gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/short-story-contest/
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Storm Drain Art Contest Still Open
Join Montgomery County Department of Environment Protection and Rock Creek
Conservancy as we paint our way to cleaner water. County residents ages 13 and
above, who are artistic and want to help educate the public about water quality issues in
the County are invited to submit entries. The contest is designed to use art to educate
residents about the connection between local storm drains, streams and the
Chesapeake Bay. Designs will be accepted through Monday, February 23 at 2 p.m. To
learn more, visit: www.mygreenmontgomery.org/art
Ben’s Run
Ben’s Run’s kickoff fundraiser is on Saturday, March 7 from 6-10pm at the Mid-County
Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring, MD (off of Layhill Road, just
south of Bonifant / Bel Pre Roads). Bring your family and friends for a fun evening of
great food and music to raise funds to support kids with cancer at Children's National
Medical Center! For more info call 240-777-6820 or please visit this link:
http://groupspaces.com/BensRun/e/512259?s=0b10fd1d&utm_medium=email&utm_sou
rce=group-mail&utm_term=group-mail-38528
The 5th Annual Ben's Run will be held on Saturday, April 25. They have some special
things planned, since it's their 5th anniversary, including their first 5 mile run (spots
limited). SIGN UP BY MARCH 7 TO REGISTER FOR THE SAME PRICE AS LAST
YEAR! For more info, visit: http://www.bensrun.org/
News from the Brook - Upcoming Publication Schedule
Publication Date
Submission Due Date/
Deadline for Submission
Friday, February 27
Friday, February 20/
Monday, February 23
Friday, March 13
Friday, March 6/ Monday,
March 9
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 20/
Monday, March 23
News from the Brook, point of contact: [email protected]
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