Space Olympian: Kevin Lin, of Potomac Falls High School and the Loudoun Academy of Science, placed first in the Astrophysics category and sixth overall at the recent International Space Olympics in Korolyov, Russia. A total of 190 students participated in the competition, which tests students in math, science and literature. The participating students represented the Chinese International School, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

Santa’s Secret Shop: The Heritage Farm Museum at Claude Moore Park opens Santa’s Secret Shop on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 10 a.m., a free event offered with each paid museum admission. Children can leave their parents at the shop door and browse inside to find gifts for family, friends, teachers and others with assistance from Santa’s helpers and store staff. The shop features a selection of gifts priced under $10, including locally-made jewelry, specialty soaps, old-time candy and other unique items. Santa’s helpers will be on hand to help the youngsters wrap purchases in special bags and ribbons. After shopping, children can mail postcards to Santa at the North Pole from the museum’s Waxpool General Store post office. Santa’s Secret Shop is open on weekends from Nov. 26 through Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Heritage Farm Museum, focusing on the agricultural heritage of Loudoun County, offers exhibits including Milkie the Cow, the Waxpool General Store and “farmer for a day.”

A new language: The Cascades Library celebrates “Learn a New Language” month in December with a series of free programs offering a look at a variety of communication methods. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 7, teens and adults can participate in “Crack the Code: Braille,” an opportunity to use the Braille alphabet to decipher a mystery code and win a prize. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, Tom Wlodkowski, AOL’s Accessibility Director, presents a discussion of “Braille and Technology” for adults and teens. The session will focus on technology that enables everyone to surf the web, including those that may have difficulty seeing a computer screen.

The exploration of communication continues throughout the month of December with sessions focused on Spanish and French for the younger set. “Bonjour! French Bilingual Storytime” on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m., offers stories, movement, songs and games for ages 4-7.  On Dec. 12, “Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres!” provides an entertaining exploration of Spanish with singer and songwriter Andres Mauricio. And, on Dec. 15, “Hola! Spanish Bilingual Storytime” offers fun for ages 2-6.

Upcoming auditions: Are you thinking about a New Year’s resolution that would put you on stage? If so, it might be a good idea to use the holiday weekend to prepare for upcoming auditions. The Sterling Playmakers hold auditions at the Sterling Community Center on Dec. 16 and 17 for “Murder by Murder,” a dinner theater offering scheduled for production in February. In addition, the Playmakers will be auditioning in mid-January for “The Odd Couple,” to be performed with two casts, showcasing male and female leads. Each version will run for four performances in April. For information, see sterlingplaymakers.com.