They are part of the Montgomery branch of the Jewish Community Center Early Childhood School, where they learned about the Jewish value of "Tzedakah.'' Tzedakah means righteousness or giving to others who are less fortunate, said music teacher Barbara Balk.

Balk taught the children the song "Give a Little Tzedakah."

Teachers Jan Kaplan, Eileen Brinn and Sherry Weisbrot taught the children how to make Tzedakah boxes to collect money for needy children.

Each Friday became a ritual of singing the Tzedakah song and passing out the Tzedakah boxes.

The children decided to buy books and toys for children who have less than they do.

"We started this in January and ran it through May,'' said Weisbrot. "They were really excited about it. It was their idea what they wanted to spend the money for. They collected $25.''

The books and toys were donated to the Adoption Connection at Jewish Family Service, Blue Ash.

The JCC Early Childhood School offers morning preschool classes for children, ages 18 months to 5 years.

Basketball scholarships

For their community service and participation in a basketball association, five Anderson Township students have won scholarships to college.

Recipients of the community service scholarship are: Amanda Sparks, Anderson High School, and Johnathan Kroeger, St. Xavier, each receiving $500; and Claire Yerke, McNicholas High School, $1,000.

Steven Browning, Turpin High, and David McIllwain, Anderson High, are the recipients of the Kiwanis Basketball Association scholarships. Each received $500.

The club also gave $500 to the Anderson High School Music Department.

The basketball scholarships were made in honor of Paul Byrnside, a longtime Anderson resident, community volunteer and Kiwanis member. Byrnside died last year.

"We were looking for young people who have a record of service to their community over and above what is required of them by their schools for graduation,'' said Mike Wesselman, president of Anderson Kiwanis.

'South Pacific' tryouts

Performers of all ages are needed to try out for the Showboat Majestic performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's dramatic musical South Pacific.

Auditions will be at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, 4990 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, Aug. 2 and 3, 7-10 p.m.

The cast will include three principal women, six principal men and a boy and girl age 8-12.

For more information, call 241-6550.

Positively Kids: Eagle Scout award

Jeremy Knight of Troop 393, sponsored by St. Margaret Mary Church, has achieved the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America: the Eagle Scout award. For his community service project, he built park benches for two North College Hill city parks.

The La Salle High School graduate is studying graphic design/technology at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College and is assistant scoutmaster of Troop 393. He is the son of Peggy Knight of North College Hill.

Golden Key honor

University of Cincinnati student Erica Harney-Thompson of Forest Park has accepted membership in Golden Key International Honour Society. The society provides opportunities for growth through leadership, career development, networking and service.

Dean's list honors

Stephanie Crowe has been named to the fall and winter quarter dean's lists at the University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College and was accepted into the Christ Hospital School of Nursing.

She is the daughter of Debbie and Steve Crowe of West Chester Township.

Presidential scholarship

Elisa Miller, a recent graduate of Colerain High School, has been awarded a Presidential Scholarship to attend North Central College, Naperville, Ill. The Presidential Scholarship is North Central's most prestigious merit-based award.

Elisa is the daughter of Harmony Miller of Colerain Township and Barbara and Wes Miller of Richmond, Ind.

---

To submit an item, please call 755-4165.