Congratulations to students at a few northern Wake schools that recently received scholarships and savings bonds from the Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic. The students are: Jennifer McLean and Samantha Lindabery of Millbrook High School and Julianna Blakenship, Christina White and Ashley Faulls of Sanderson High School.

Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic provides sports medicine services to each of the high schools' athletic programs and awards scholarships and savings bonds to support and promote the sports medicine programs, according to a news release.

Six graduating seniors were eligible to receive $500 scholarships, and others were eligible for $100 savings bonds. The students were chosen based on interest in athletic training or the sports medicine field, academic performance and volunteer service to the sports medicine program.

* * *

Parents and students, make plans to attend Heritage Middle School's Open House for the 2008-09 school year.

The dates are: 1 p.m. Tuesday for tracks one, two and three; 4:30 p.m. July 24 for track four.

At the open house, parents and students will have a chance to pick up their class schedule, recieve a supply list and purchase an agenda, PE uniform and lock, set up lunch accounts and check the bus schedules.

Heritage is located at 3400 Rogers Road. For more information contact 562-6204

* * *

Northern Wake schools got a special visit last week from young adult author Jennifer Anne Kogler. Kogler was concluding her national tour of middle schools with a round of appearances at area schools including Heritage, Durant Road, West Lake, Salem and Lufkin Road middle schools to promote her new middle grade fantasy book The Otherworldlies.

The vampire-themed book tells the story of a middle school girl and her twin brother who try to unravel a centuries-old secret, and that effort puts them at the mercy of warring vampire sects, according to a news release about her visit.

Kogler talked to students about the importance of reading, writing and persistence in reaching a goal.

Kogler just finished her first year at Stanford Law School and is currently working on her third novel.

* * *

The North Raleigh News is undergoing a few changes. One of those is a new deadline. Starting next week, the deadline for the News & Notes column is Monday. Any important school news or announcements will need to be sent to me a week prior.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.