Congratulations to a few northern Wake schools' employees who received the Wake County Public School System's Employee Excellence Awards. The employees were: Henry Ward, head custodian at Pleasant Union Elementary School; Jean Zeblo, a guidance assistant at East Millbrook Middle School and Libby Leary, a healthful living teacher at Durant Road Middle School.

Employees are nominated and selected by a committee. They were recognized at the board of education's Oct. 18 meeting.

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The Guatemalan Student Support Group will host an informational session at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. Francis of Assisi at 11401 Leesville Road. The program is an opportunity for potential host families to meet Guatemalan students and learn more about the program.

For more information, visit www. gssg-usa.org.

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Got a shopping itch? Check-out the Mistletoe Market at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wakefield High School at 2200 Wakefield Pines Drive.

More than 140 vendors will be selling handmade jewelry, food, arts and crafts. For you early birds, shopping will start at 8:30 a.m.

The event supports the school's PTSA.

Admission is free. Call 562-3600 for more information.

Following the Mistletoe Market at 7 p.m. is the school's annual "Caring 4 A Cause Variety Show."

Admission is $5 and proceeds go the Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross.

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Kudos to Charlotte Pete and her friend Kate Freed, both first-graders at St. Raphael's Catholic School. The girls recently celebrated their 7th birthdays and instead of gifts, they asked for donations to help out a first-grade class in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina. The girls collected more than $600.

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Jeffrey's Grove Elementary School is going to have a visit from some wild, furry friends on Wednesday. Animals from the N.C. Zoo will visit the school as part of the school's theme "Wild About Learning."

Zoo representatives will talk to the students about animals and their living habits. The school also plans to adopt an animal.

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Graduating seniors can apply to the Susan Ellis Roberts Scholarship. Roberts was a former Wake County Public School System educator.

The scholarship is designated for a senior who has demonstrated special talent in visual performing arts, leadership or teaching.

The scholarship is a one-time award of $5,000. The deadline is Jan. 8.

Visit www.wakeedpartnership.org for details.