KINDERGARTEN SCREENING

Kindergarten screening
YOUNGSTOWN -- Akiva Academy, 505 Gypsy Lane, will screen students for kindergarten June 1. Families interested in participating need to contact the school in advance, as the program will be taking place off-site. Call Susan W. Schonberger, head of schools at (330) 747-0452 for more information, to set up a personal tour or to sign up for kindergarten screening. Registration is now open through grade six.
Scholarship available
SALEM -- A $150 scholarship is available for a college junior or senior majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences or Home Economics or a related field such as dietetics, nutrition, child development, housing, culinary arts or interior design. A student who has completed half of a two-year program in this field also is eligible. The Columbiana County Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is offering this scholarship to students residing in Columbiana county or a bordering county (Mahoning, Jefferson, Stark, Carroll). The application deadline is June 1 and may be obtained from Diana Nordquest, 399 Shelton Road, Salem 44460 or Tina Henceroth, P.O. Box 3, Salem 44460.
Power of the Pen
WARREN -- Howland Middle School eighth-grade Power of the Pen creative-writing team won first place in the regional tournament at Lake Middle School in Hartville in April after previously placing first at the district tournament at Lakeview High School in February. The members of the team are Patrick Antenucci, Amy Fetchko, Katy Merolla, Sarah Snyder, Cameron Ulam and Danielle McFadden. The Power of the Pen interscholastic writing competition requires the writers to produce a narrative based on a prompt in each of three 40-minute rounds. Teams don't advance as a unit to state competition, but Katy, Cameron, Lauren Croyle and Kellie Pasini qualified to compete individually at the May 26 state tournament at the College of Wooster. Lauren and Kellie are seventh-graders.
Contest winner
CANFIELD -- Kara Martin, a junior in the Early Childhood Education program at Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center, won a gold medal with a first-place finish in the state Concept Curriculum Development contest at the annual Family Career and Community Leaders of America convention in April in Columbus. She earned her spot in the state event with a first place finish at the regional contest level in February. She is from the Western Reserve School District.
Local author visits
BOARDMAN -- Pupils at St. Luke School celebrated national Right-To-Read Week with a visit last week by local author Jeanne Ann Macejko who presented a writing workshop for all of the children from preschool through the eighth grade. Macejko, a Youngstown resident, is the author of the children's books "A Million Chameleons" and "A Million Chameleons: Color Your Own Chameleons." She is a graduate of Youngstown State University and a former graphic design instructor and English teacher.
Racing team places first
CANFIELD -- The Formula One racing team at the Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center took first place in the Formula One Technology Challenge state championship in Mansfield in April and will take its winning car to the national competition in Dallas from June 21-24. The racing cars, built to 1/20 scale and propelled by carbon dioxide cartridges, are graded on speed as well as team verbal presentations and displays. Members of the team are seniors Dave Altenhof of West Branch, Brian Filicky of Struthers, Ron Ilich of Boardman and Jim Woodward of Struthers, and junior Grant Walter of Jackson-Milton.
National essay contest
BOARDMAN -- The 2006 Italian American Veterans National Essay Contest is open to all children in grades seven through 12 with cash awards presented to winning essays. For applications, call John Malys at (330) 782-0340. Deadline for entries is May 31.