John Muir

Molly Shore When the school year begins in September, students at Luther Burbank Middle School will be greeted by newly appointed Principal Wanda Liddell Armstrong, who steps into the post vacated by retiring Principal Marilyn Ramsey. Armstrong, 56, officially started her new job this week. However, after a short vacation, she will move into her new office Monday. "I was simply overjoyed," Armstrong said of being chosen for the job. Prior to this appointment, Armstrong, who has a doctorate degree in curriculum instruction, was assistant principal of instruction and counseling at John Muir Middle School since August 1999.

Middle School teachers worked diligently Tuesday to prepare for students' return to school Thursday. Teachers from Jordan, Luther Burbank and John Muir middle schools participated in staff development days on Friday, Monday and Tuesday, designed to help better prepare them for the new school year. "It gets me all the more excited for the school year," said Rod Rothacher, an eighth-grade teacher at John Muir. "It helps us get ready." Teachers at John Muir Middle School learned about "thinking maps" on Monday, which are different graphs and charts that help organize material that students learn into visual and easy-to-remember charts.

Tim Willert HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Vicken Antounian may be young, but the Joaquin Miller Elementary School fourth-grader has personality on his side -- which helps when you're delivering a speech in front of three judges. Vicken, 9, won the boys' portion of the Burbank Magnolia Park Optimist Club's oratorical contest on Thursday at First United Methodist Church. "I was really surprised," Vicken said. "I knew that I had a chance of winning, but I wasn't so sure that I would win."

Irma Lemus BURBANK -- Teachers and administrators who have served the Burbank Unified School District for a combined 550 years were honored at Thursday's Board of Education meeting. The 20 educators who were recognized have worked at the district for between 17 and 38 years. They are Julia Black and Neala Sullivan from John Muir Middle School; Roma Chavez and Ruth Mottem from Ralph W. Emerson Children's Center; Marilyn Deal, Lois Futrell and Patricia Kowalke from George Washington Elementary; Judy Dexter of the district's fiscal services office; Martha Hankins from Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary; Frank Kallem, Dave Kemp, Clyde Richards and Merle Stone from Burbank High; Claudia Larsen from Theodore Roosevelt Elementary; Margaret Lucas from Bret Harte Children's Center; Margarita Sandoval from the Adult School; Joyce Sedlak from Thomas Jefferson Elementary; Elizabeth Sjolund and Lynne Uhl from Joaquin Miller Elementary; and Marlene Urrutia from Walt Disney Elementary.

More than 40 brand new guitars and 40 brand new cables have been donated to Burbank schools. The donation - from the Traveling Guitar Foundation, ESP Guitars and Mogami Cable - will be going to four instrumental programs at Burbank High School, John Burroughs High School, John Muir Middle School and Jordan Middle School will impact over 900 students.  Traveling Guitar Foundation founder and renowned musician Damon Marks will presented the...

Irma Lemus CIVIC CENTER -- Three local teachers were honored as the Burbank Masonic Lodge held its 81st Annual Public School Observance celebration to kick off public schools month, which is recognized in April. Martha Hankins from Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, Glen Jaffe from John Muir Middle School, and Dave Thomson of Burbank High School were honored at the event, which was held at the Masonic Lodge on Tuesday evening. All three teachers received plaques and certificates for their classroom work.

Irma Lemus MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- With an assist from some middle school students, the Burbank High School Vocal Music Program will hold its Spring Spectacular Concert on May 31 and June 1. The concerts will take place 7 p.m. at the school auditorium, 902 N. Third St. The Burbank choir will be joined by the John Muir Middle School choir. Burbank's show choir In Sync is among the top choirs in the state and recently returned from a national competition in St. Louis where it placed second.

Moms and dads will have the opportunity to attend back-to-school programs at Burbank public schools next week. Teachers will speak with parents about course outlines and will review state curriculum standards for the various grades. Additionally, teachers and parents will review classroom behavioral guidelines, including attendance and discipline. At middle and high schools, parents will follow their children's schedules, as they go from one classroom to the next.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- Three John Muir Middle School students were arrested on suspicion of bringing an explosive device to school after they threw an M-100 from a second-story building's bathroom, police said. The three girls, two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old, were arrested Thursday, a day after they allegedly threw the lit device out of the bathroom, causing a loud explosion during the lunch hour. It landed on the top of a walkway near a building, Burbank Police Sgt. John Dilibert said.

Maya Kukes HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- A falcon, a hawk and an owl were just a few of the creatures on hand at the Medieval Faire at John Muir Middle School. The Wednesday fair was part of a seventh-grade unit about European history that focuses on the time between antiquity and the Renaissance, from 476 to 1453. The event came complete with medieval-inspired art projects, music, dancing, games and theatrical performances. Many of the teachers and 480 students dressed up in traditional period garb.