education Notes

To help parents learn what's happening with their childrenonline, the Calvert County school system is hosting Internet safetyprograms at Patuxent High School, 12485 Rousby Hall Rd., Lusby. Thediscussions will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Feb. 11. Parents areasked not to take children.

Members of the Calvert sheriff's department, the Maryland StatePolice and the state's attorney's office will talk about what'shappening in the county and how parents can become more involvedwith their children's online activities.

The school system is also using a program called NetSmartz, inwhich students can learn about cyberbullying, Internet safety andhow what they e-mail or post online can affect them in the future.

For information, contact Mark Taeschner atTaeschnerM@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

The Calvert County high school oratorical contest will be heldJan. 25 at the Arick L. Lore American Legion Post 274 in Lusby.

Participants must be younger than 20 and enrolled in middle orhigh school in Calvert. Each contestant should prepare a speech, upto 10 minutes, focusing on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution withan emphasis on citizens' obligations to the government. A secondspeech of up to five minutes will be assigned during thecompetition. The list of possible topics will be posted before thecontest at www.legion.org.

Details about the contest are available from principals andguidance counselors at Calvert schools.

The Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative is offering $1,500college scholarships to four high school seniors who live and attendschool in SMECO's service area. Applications are due March 2.

To be eligible, students must have a minimum grade-point averageof 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarships will be awarded based onscholastic achievement, financial need, and community and schoolinvolvement. Applicants must submit an essay answering the question,"Why is a college education important to completing my lifetimegoals?"

Applications are available through school counselors; by callingSMECO at 888-440-3311, Ext. 4340; at any SMECO office; orwww.smeco.coop. Completed applications can be submitted at any localSMECO office or mailed to SMECO headquarters, Attn: BernadetteLewis, P.O. Box 1937, Hughesville, Md. 20637.

Del. Sally Y. Jameson (D-Charles) is accepting applications fromCharles County students for this year's Delegate Scholarship Awards.The deadline is April 15.

All students, including graduate students, who are attending orplanning to attend a Maryland college are eligible. To request anapplication, contact Jameson at 301-858-3229 orsally.jameson@house.state.md.us.

Students planning to attend an out-of-state school may also beeligible but need to contact the Maryland Higher EducationCommission for approval.

The Charles County public school system is looking for volunteersto participate in its job-shadowing program, which helps studentsexplore jobs and careers.

The program runs Feb. 2 to March 13. Students participate between8:30 a.m. and noon, although other arrangements can be made. Lastyear, 9,702 students participated in job-shadowing activities.

The Boston Private Industry Council started Job Shadow Day in1996. In 1998, a coalition including Colin Powell's America'sPromise Alliance was formed to encourage national participation.Charles schools joined the effort in 1999.

For information or to volunteer, contact 301-934-7245 orcmouton@ccboe.com. The deadline sign up to volunteer is Jan. 16.