Prince George's Principals Get Ready For School

Summer Leadership Conference preps county principals for new school year.

Prince George's County principals, administrators and county school officials spent the last four days in a sort of an annual boot-camp designed to give school managers a leg up on the incoming year. Called the Summer Leadership Conference, the four day event helps new and returning principals hit the ground running. This year's conference focused on leadershing in times of change. In training sessions, administrators participated in team-building exercises and development sessions that focused on curriculum, systemic goals, collaborative planning, parent involvement, performance management, special education, multicultural education, and more. During a wrap-up session which reviewed the skills taught to the principals and assistant …

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William P. Stevenson, 68, Restored Air and Space Artifacts

Stevenson died on Wednesday, June 27 at the age of 68.

William P. "Bill" Stevenson of Springfield, VA died on Wednesday, June 27. He was 68. Stevenson was born on April 25, 1944, in Roanoke, VA. Hew grew up in University Park, graduating from Northwestern High School in 1962. Stevenson joined the U.S. Navy in 1964 and participated in Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. He later worked in the Collections Division of the National Air and Space Museum, contributing to the restoration of many major artifacts. Stevenson was married to his wife, Thalia Stevenson, for 38 years. Read a full obituary here.

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Parkdale, Northwestern Students to Mark Graduation Thursday

Both schools will hold their ceremonies at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center.

Seniors from two area high schools will don their caps and gowns Thursday for graduation ceremonies at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center. In the morning, students, families, and faculty from Parkdale High School will assemble at the arena, where proceedings are set to begin at 9 a.m. Earlier this month, Parkdale honored a long list of seniors with departmental and special awards, including valedictorian Ruth Petite-Homme and salutatorians Nina Roselle and Orozco Manio. Later, at 1:30 p.m., Hyattsville's Northwestern High School will also conduct its graduation ceremony at the arena. Heavy traffic is expected near the Comcast Center before and after both events (as well as for two additional ceremonies taking place on Friday).

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School Officials, Students Spar in Northwestern Protest Debate

Authorities are criticized for their response to a planned walkout for better school conditions.

At times last night, officials with the Northwestern High School and Prince George's County Public Schools looked genuinely baffled by how to handle a group of boisterous, reform minded, Occupy-inspired student activists and community supporters. School administrators intended to host a forum to address grievances brought up by students who attempted to walk out of school on March 1 as part of a protest for better learning conditions. But control of the dialogue was hotly contested throughout the meeting, with passionate students accusing administrators of dominating the microphone while administrators struggled to maintain decorum.  "It got a little mayhem-ish. I don't know, Mayhem is a strong word," said Christine Hinojosa, president of …

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Northwestern Students Take Part in Walter Reed Science Program

Twice a week, staff from the army institute offer hands-on research opportunities.

Northwestern Grad, Junior Killed in Seven Day Span

Dontae Cook and Kevin Victor were both shot to death in Mount Rainier.

Dontae John Cook, 16, a Northwestern High School student and Mount Rainier resident, was found dead Friday night in a 25th Street apartment building. Mount Rainier Police said Cook was found just after 7:36 p.m., when patrol  officers responded to the 4600 block of 25th Street for a shooting report, according to a MRPD blog. Upon arrival, officers found Cook, of the 3200 block of Upshur Street, lying in the hallway of an apartment building suffering from a gunshot wound. Cook was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after. Detectives are currently working to identify a suspect(s) and motive in this case. Tonight, members of the Colours Performance Troupe, which is based at Northwestern, held a concert to benefit the …

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Update: Northwestern High Parent Talks About the High Cost of Graduation

Officials from Northwestern High respond to the letter to the editor in the Washington Post.

Update, Oct. 20: Officials from Northwestern High school say they will offer a basic cap and gown package for graduating seniors. According to county schools spokeswoman Lynn McCawley, there is a basic package offered with includes the cap, gown and tassel for $40. The school hopes to publicize this information to students and parents promptly. Original Post, Oct. 11: High school students in Prince George's County, as in many other parts of the nation, have a lot to deal with before graduation day. They need to pass their courses, complete requirements for community services and extracurriculars, pass state examinations and the SATs, if they are college bound. Yet former University Park councilwoman Anne O'Connor, who's son attends …

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buckeye

7:20 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011

What does volunteering have to do with being forced to buy unwanted merchandise? How is this different from college fees? College is optional; high school is not. High school is publicly funded and those that meet the requirements should be allowed to walk in graduation without having to buy hoodies, etc. It's insulting that you insinuate that the original author of this opinion piece has not …   more ›

Northwestern High Student to Perform with Washington National Opera

Junior Victoria Okafor will perform in Puccini's "Tosca."

A Northwestern High School junior will be joining the Washington National Opera to perform in Puccini's "Tosca." Victoria Okafor, was hired to perform with the Children's Chorus of the opera and will perform under the direction of world-renowned conductor Placido Domingo. Okafor is enrolled in the Jim Henson Academy of the Arts, Media and Communication and a member of the choir program at Northwestern. She is a student of music theory and is in Advanced Placement French. Okafor also received a superior rating at the Prince George's County Solo festival as a soprano and hopes to pursue a career in vocal music performance post college. "We are very proud of (her)," Northwestern's Choir Director Leona Lowery said, "And (she'll) represent us …

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Northwestern Students Evacuated After Quake

Here's the word from a student and those at the high school.

Students at Northwestern High School were milling outside on the Adelphi Road campus this afternoon, waiting for buses, parents and other ways to get home after the school was evacuated due to today’s earthquake. Many of them were in long pants and polo shirts, standing under the thin trees in front of the school to get out of the late August sun. They were hot after being outside for over an hour. No one offered them water, some said. Teachers were stationed around the area making sure everyone was OK, and a male voice could be heard over a bullhorn. Police from Hyattsville and University Park patrolled the parking lot, blocking the south entrance and directing traffic, which was backed up down Adelphi. A Hyattsville police officer on …

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Sarah Nemeth

5:24 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Oh my goodness, Tim! I'm glad he's OK! Thanks for telling his story. --Sarah   more ›

Meeting The Parents: New Northwestern Principal Shares Some Goals For Hyattsville's High School

After a five-year stint working in Howard County schools, Edgar Batenga returned to the school that was once the rival of his own alma mater.

Edgar Batenga, Northwestern High School’s new principal, met the parents of some of the students he will be overseeing starting later this month. He offered them hope tempered with truth: it’s going to be a challenging year. “My desire is to open up more programs and dance is one of them,” Batenga said during a meeting held Wednesday evening at Nicholas Orem Middle School. “One of my biggest priorities is to get more money from our … delegates. Some academic classes this year will have 30-some students, while some electives likely will have more than 40. “It’s a strain,” he said. “I’m squeezing. I’m squeezing all the resources.” Batenga, a graduate of High Point High School in Beltsville, replaces Jerome Thomas, who left earlier this …

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