VIDEO: Organizers Explain Why Students Didn't Plunge Friday

Anne Arundel students didn't participate in the regularly scheduled Cool School plunge because of exams and then weather conditions caused Friday's festivities to be canceled.

Last Chance: Eat Menchie's for South River Snowhawks

Wednesday is the last day Menchie's in Annapolis will donate to the South River High School Polar Bear Plunge efforts.

Don't miss your last chance to enjoy Menchie's frozen yogurt while helping out South River's Polar Bear Plunge team the Snowhawks. Wednesday is the last day Menchie's in Annapolis will donate 20 percent of your purchase to the South River High's polar bear plunge efforts. Customers should present the attached flier upon checkout to ensure the donation is made. Menchie's has been contributing to South River since Jan. 17. The frozen yogurt shop is located in Annapolis Towne Centre.

• Photos (1)

Local Schools Set Sights on 2013 Polar Bear Plunge

The 17th annual plunge where participants run into the chilly Chesapeake Bay will take place on Jan. 26, 2013, at Sandy Point State Park.

South River and Southern high's vibrant, community-focused student bodies have their sights on Jan. 26, as both schools prepare to raise money for the upcoming Polar Bear Plunge.  Before you know it, the big event will be here. Each year, thousands take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland. The Plungefest, which is open to the public, is set for Jan. 26, 2013, at Sandy Point State Park. Frigid Friday for participating schools will take place the day before the Plungefest. To participate in the plunge, you must collect a minimum of $50 in pledges—and if you're younger than 18, you must have a parent or guardian's written consent. It's still early but more than $200,000 has already been raised for …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)
• Documents (2)

Snohawks Finish Second in Plunge Donations

South River High School's Polar Bear Plunge team raised more than $30,000 for Special Olympics Maryland.

The Snohawks, South River High's Polar Bear Plunge team, finished second among schools in donations to Special Olympics Maryland after raising $33,930 with 301 team members.  The team was only outdone by students from Arundel High School, who raised more than $40,000 with 469 members.  Before taking the plunge, the Snohawks held a fundraiser at the Greene Turtle in Edgewater to increase donations. Throughout various events, South River's team was able to exceed all of their donation goals prior to jumping in the bay's icy waters during the "Frigid Friday" event at Sandy Point State Park last week.  A large crowd of students gathered together before taking the plunge. In a heartwarming moment, a Special Olympics athlete helped cheer the …

• Photos (2)

YOUR PHOTOS: South River Students Take the Plunge

The sports boosters provided hot cocoa in order to keep the kids warm.

The students of the South River Snohawks Polar Bear Plunge team endured the Chesapeake Bay’s frigid waters Friday. Warmed by some hot cocoa from the school’s sports boosters and accompanied by senior class adviser, Doug Brown, more than 280 students took the plunge. Sports booster and parent Sharon Puckett was on hand to capture some of the chilly fun, including the Snohawks’ first dip into the bay. If you attended the plunge with various schools Friday, submit your photos to patch by clicking “Upload Photos and Video.” The remaining plungers throughout Maryland will jump into the bay Saturday throughout the day.

• Photos (19)

Mayo Students Send Principal to Polar Plunge

Students recorded more than 500,000 minutes of after-school reading to send their principal into the Bay's frigid waters.

Mayo Elementary principal Kirk Greubel has a chilly weekend ahead of him thanks to the countless hours his students read to send him to the Polar Bear Plunge. In October, Greubel challenged his students to cumulatively read more than 500,000 minutes outside of school. As a reward, the principal agreed to take a dip into the Chesapeake Bay’s frigid waters. The student body responded immediately and ultimately read more than 5,000 minutes above their goal. What started as a simple program, has now really affected the entire student body, said the principal. “We were brainstorming reading incentives for the students and [the plunge] was just one of the ideas,” Greubel said. “It’s really turned into more than just that, though. It’s really …

• Photos (1)

Support Snohawks at Greene Turtle Fundraiser

The school's Polar Bear Plunge team is hoping to surpass its goal of $20,000 with a local fundraiser Tuesday night.

A team of South River High School students are having their fundraiser Tuesday night at the Edgewater Greene Turtle as part of an effort to raise more than $25,000 for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge. South River junior Stephan Hincks said his team, the “South River Snohawks,” raised more than $25,000 in last year’s plunge, which supports Special Olympics Maryland. With less than two weeks to the annual dip in the Chesapeake Bay’s frigid waters, Hincks hopes his team can exceed last year’s mark. To do that, the Snohawks are having a special fundraiser at the Greene Turtle with 10 percent of Tuesday's sales going to the team’s effort. No flyer or coupon is necessary to support the team, just head over to the Greene Turtle and enjoy some food …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

South River Youth Athletics Took the Plunge

Local sports organization raised $30K for Special Olympics.

South River Youth Athletics, a local recreational sports group, had a number of coaches, athletes and friends participate in the Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park today. Reader Tracy DiMauro took some great shots that she is sharing on our Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch.com site. Thanks Tracy!

•  1 Comment
• Photos (11)

Students Take the Frigid Friday Plunge

South River High students raised an impressive $19,000 for Special Olympics.

Thousands of students from across the state traveled to Sandy Point State Park on Friday [Jan. 28] to do something really “cool” for Special Olympics. The event was the Frigid Friday Plunge, an official partner activity with the Maryland Special Olympics’ Plungefest, which allows schools to bring teams of students to a smaller, more manageable event. The official 2011 Polar Bear Plunge takes place on Saturday [Jan. 29] at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Despite the chilly, snowy weather, the spirits of the teen participants and their parents, teachers and coaches were not dampened—and all were excited to spend the day together representing their schools. Enjoying the music of one of the two rock bands performing for the crowds as they…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (12)