Jackson is a member of the board, as is Kelly Reynolds, Eastern Elementary School s counselor. The board assigned the idea to a subcommittee, the Healthier Communities Advisory Board, which ultimately took the request to the Community Foundation of Howard County and the Mayor s Council on Drug Abuse. Cindy Horoho, who teaches all students in the program, began realizing the corporate initiative three years ago with just fourth-grade gifted and talented students. Fifth-grade students were added last year. Each unit typically culminates in a particular product created by the students.
Major units are different for each grade level.
For fourth-graders, it s food chemistry and aerodynamics. The Renaissance and a classroom newspaper. Students are selected each spring by Belinda Sezbenski, Principal, and Carol Boone, a second-grade teacher. Oftentimes, the determining factor in gaining admission to Project Challenge is the student s teacher recommendation, which is a point-system form.