This year, the Reservoir High School music department's spring trip landed them in Virginia Beach, Va., participating in the Festival of Music competition. The trip down and back was uneventful although the venue changed once they arrived. From all accounts, everyone had a great time.

Rob Dice, who went along as the trip nurse and provided lots of e-mail updates throughout the trip, concluded one of his last e-mails with "it's good when the trip nurse is bored and has time to send these (e-mail) messages."

So, without further ado, here is the list of awards that the Reservoir music department received at the competition: Concert Band, first place - Superior Rating; Symphonic Band, first place - Superior Rating; Jazz Band, first place - Superior Rating; Orchestra, first place - Superior Rating; Concert Choir, first place - Superior Rating; Madrigals, first place - Superior Rating; Women's Choir, first place - Superior Rating; Men's Choir, first place - Superior Rating.

The following outstanding achievements were also awarded: Best Overall Jazz Ensemble Brass Section and Jazz Ensemble Rhythm Section; Best Choral Accompaniment -- Daniel Brennan and Ryan Dorson; Most Outstanding Orchestra Soloist -- Rachelle Martino and Morgan Dice; Most Outstanding Band Soloist -- Christina Han, Kristin Chamberlin and Saya Higuchi; and Most Outstanding Choral Soloist -- Matt Hill and Matt Summers.

The following were awarded regardless of group size or division: Best Overall Concert Band -- Symphonic Band; Best Overall Jazz Band -- Jazz Band; Best Overall Orchestra -- Orchestra; and Best Overall Choir -- Concert Choir.

Finally, grand champion awards were presented to the choir, band and orchestra for receiving the highest overall score of two performances averaged together. This award also came with a plaque presented to Greg Knauf, Matthew Dubbs and Colin O'Bryan for "Notable Distinction in Music Education."

Thanks to Knauf for the list of awards which Dice forwarded to me.

"It was an awesome weekend with the kids and staff. They continue to amaze and impress me each year," Reservoir High School Principal Addie Kaufman said.

In other school happenings, I want to pass on congratulations to the following students and staff from Reservoir High: Leo Carelle Garcia, who accepted a National Merit Scholarship for Johnson & Wales University.

This is a very prestigious scholarship sponsored by the Lord & Taylor Foundation, and it was based on Leo's 2006 PSAT scores. Congratulations to Reservoir High School student member of the county school board, Andrew Gavelek, who was accepted into the Coast Guard. Congratulations to Russell Huang who was selected as one of 560 semifinalists to advance to the final round of competition for the 2008 Presidential Scholars competition. Good luck, Russell.

Congratulations to Gina Epps, Gary Wilson and Michelle Gadson-Pusey on their election for the 2008-2009 Gifted and Talentent program executive board. The following students are presenting at the HCPSS GT Student Learning Conference: Anuli Akanegbu: If You've Got the Looks, Then They've Got the Money: The Correlation Between Attractiveness and Success; Kelly Klein: Emotions and Stress and Hormones, Oh My: An Investigation of Psychological Stress and the Heart; Aminah Zaghab: The World as You know It: Teenage Battles with Sex; Krysta Howell: Is that REALLY What You Saw? A Study of How Witness Testimony Is Affected, Altered, and Distorted Through Law Enforcement; and Ian Raugh: Bats on the Brain: Why People Sink Their Teeth into Vampire Myths.

Congratulations are also in order for math teacher Susan Duenas. She was selected as a finalist for the New Math Teacher of the Year and now moves into the next round of interviews and videotapes. Please join me in wishing her luck in this endeavor.

Let's hear it for Knauf and Keedra Brown on directing and choreographing "Jekyll & Hyde." The show was superb! The following students all participated and should be recognized for their hard work and dedication: Matt Hill, Garth Taylor, Colin Parker, Matt Summers, Sarah Landy, Mark Kelly, Matt Seiger, Ryan Dorson, Sam Dooley, Liz Savopoulos, Jackie Higdon, Sha'Neisha Brown, Pat Jenkins, Kevin Hoover, Heather Connor, Daniel Gardner, Lise Harbom, Renee Higdon, Nicole Jolly, Becky Lamich, Fred Odom, Stephanie Odom, Jennifer Schiller and Julia Zeroth.

You should also congratulate Allie Alexander (stage manager), Krysta Howell (stage crew), Christine Jubinski (stage crew), Kristina Lerman (stage crew), Amanda Palmer (stage crew) Jake Sherry and Matt Donnelly (lighting technicians). The following staff members, adults and students were in the orchestra: Knauf, Ann Prizzi, Veronica Son, Christina Han, Rachel Sweeton, Jeff Kirkpatrick, Kristin Chamberlin, Daniel Meiners, Derek Shaw, Erin KeLong and Jason Mastroianni.

Then, there are the staff members, parent and students involved in creating the outstanding bridge set: John Lee, Knauf, Luke Rhine, Brian Donnelly, Stephanie Donnelly, Chet Higdon, Katie Lee, Brad Dowser, Kristin Chamberlin, Ronnie Collins, Matt Donnelly, Sarah Gordon, Christina Han, Kevin Hoover, Christine Jubinski, Thomas Lardner, Anne Lee, Kristine Lerman, Jason Mastroianni, Colin Parker, Liz Savopoulos, Jennifer Schiller, Susannah Schiller and Jake Sherry.

Finally, let's hear it for the parents and businesses that supported our drama production: Suzie Lenowitz, of Long & Foster Realtors, and Toby Orenstein, of Toby's Dinner Theatre.

Well, that's all for now. Look after your neighbors. Remember our troops who are serving in harm's way and their families. Commit a random act of kindness.

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