Although they've seen the trick more than once, Tina Bushby and her daughter, Hannah, are still stumped as to how a magician can separate his assistant's midsection from the rest of her body as she stands inside one of the magician's stage props.

"That was my favorite and I still don't know how they did it," said Tina Bushby, who has been attending magic shows at Deep Run Elementary School with her daughter each year.

The PTA-sponsored events, including the most recent show Dec. 11, are a hit with families, organizers said.

"It's good, family-oriented entertainment," magician Rick Walker said of his show.

Walker and his assistants performed a variety of tricks and illusions, including one in which he appeared to saw his arm in half and another in which he made a rabbit vanish.

Students and parents were asked to come up and assist with the various tricks.

"There's a lot of student participation. I think it makes it more interesting for the kids," said parent Susan Shermock, of Columbia, whose daughter, Kate, a second-grader, said she was eager to assist the magician.

Jill Witkin, treasurer of the school's PTA, said the Dec. 11 show was the third magic show at the school in recent years and that the event continues to be popular.

"There's always a really good response," she said, adding that the PTA sold 191 tickets and made $500 to put toward other school programs.

Many of the students had a difficult time pinpointing their favorite part of the show.

"It's hard," fourth-grader Allie Susini said. "I liked all of it."

* The Key Club, Executive SGA, Impact club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Glenelg High School are holding a Toys for Tots drive through Fri., Dec. 18. They are accepting new, unwrapped toys and books appropriate for children through age 14. Toy collection boxes will be available in the main office and the media center. The school is at 14025 Burntwoods Road, in Glenelg. Call 410-313-5528.

* The Student Government Association at Manor Woods Elementary School is sponsoring Food Pantry Fridays, a program in which students are asked to bring nonperishable food products to school each Friday. Community members also may participate by dropping off food items in the school's lobby (11575 Frederick Road, in Ellicott City) on Friday to support the Howard County Food Bank. Call 410-313-7165 for details.

* The Marriotts Ridge High School chapter of the National Honor Society is sponsoring its annual Holiday Toy Drive through the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program through Fri., Dec. 18. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., weekdays, in the school's front office. The school is at 12100 Woodford Drive, in Marriottsville. Call 410-313-5568 for more information.

* The Wilde Lake High School Band Department will host international jazz artist Dave Samuels, along with Alex Brown on piano and Zach Brown on bass, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.instantseats.com/events/JimRouseTheater or at the door. The event will be held at Wilde Lake's Jim Rouse Theatre, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. For more information, call 410-997-2070 or e-mail WildeLakeHighJazz@gmail.com. Snow date is Jan. 24 at 1:30 p.m.

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.

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