Decked out in costumes, a group of dancers gathered backstage between performances at Hammond High School's dance concert May 16 to take some time to reflect on their program and teacher, Brooke Kuhl-McClelland.

"Ms. Kuhl is cool. Her name says it all," sophomore Ashly LeGrant said.

Called a "dance goddess" by freshman Natalie Lopez, "awesome" by junior Dominique Davis and a "genius" by Ashly, it is easy to see the lasting impact Kuhl-McClelland has had on her students, both past and present.

Melanie Enslow Facchiano, a 1994 graduate of Hammond and one of the many alumni who returned to the school for the May 16 concert, credits Kuhl-McClelland with lifting students up and boosting their confidence.

Facchiano, who went on to study dance in college, said: "Even if you didn't pursue (dance), you walked away with so much."

The spring concert marked the 20th year for the school's dance program, which has been under the direction of Kuhl-McClelland since its inception in the late 1980s. She teaches dance technique in a variety of disciplines including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, African and hip-hop in what have become some of the most popular classes at the Columbia school, ranging from beginner level to her audition-only dance company.

County school officials named Kuhl-McClelland teacher of the year for the 2005-2006 school year.

Kuhl-McClelland said she believes some of the success of her department lies in the idea that her students need a break from mainstream academia.

"They need a little bit of fun time, too," she said.

It is a sentiment with which her students tend to agree.

"It's a bit of a refuge," former student Kelsey Girard, 19, who now attends Wake Forest University, said of Kuhl-McClelland's classes.

"I do it for the kids -- to give them the opportunity to express themselves ... perform onstage. Their self-esteem rises," Kuhl-McClelland added of why she loves her job.

The celebration on May 16 went much better than anticipated, Kuhl-McClelland said.

The program was filled with performances she has choreographed through the years. For example, the "Latin Flair" number from 2001 featured music from Marc Anthony and Latin-infused dance steps, while "I Think She Knows" was a hip-hop piece set to Justin Timberlake's "LoveStoned."

At the end of the show Kuhl-McClelland invited the more than 120 alumni in attendance, many of whom had tears in their eyes, to join her on the stage.

"Emotions were running high," Kuhl-McClelland said.

As for the future, Kuhl-McClelland hopes for continued success for her program.

"I'd like to see it continue to grow," she said.

* Harper's Choice Middle School sixth-graders Colin Murray, Shane Nelson, Conor Shimabukuro and Brandon Williams won second place in the Central Region Stock Market Game's spring session. Through simulated stock market investments, they added $15,510 to their initial $100,000 in investments. The game is organized by the Maryland Council on Economic Education. The students will attend an awards ceremony Thursday, May 21 at Micros Systems Inc., in Columbia.

* Patuxent Valley Middle School sixth-grader Mon Yi Lwin, of Jessup, earned first place in Giant Food's third-annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. The theme was "Making A Difference -- What Can I Do to Make a Difference in My Community?" Mon Yi's essay was about being more environmentally friendly. Her essay was one of 197 that Giant received from middle school-aged students in Maryland, Washington, Virginia and Delaware. Prize money was given to the top two essayists from each grade level (6, 7 and 8) and ranged from $250 to $1,000.

* Mayfield Woods Middle School will hold its annual Mayfest, an arts festival, May 30 at 1-4 p.m. The school is located at 7950 Red Barn Way, in Elkridge. Call 410-313-5022 for more information.

* Reservoir High School's football teams will hold their third-annual "Huge Yard Sale" June 27 (rain date June 28). Spaces may be purchased for $15 for the first space and $5 for each space after that. E-mail RHSyardsale@comcast.net for registration forms. The school is located at 11550 Scaggsville Road, in Fulton.

Send school-related items to School Days, Flier/Times, 10750 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, MD 21044. Fax items to 410-997-4564 or e-mail mroshan@patuxent.com.

This article has been updated.

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