Superkids

The volunteer: Jennifer Chea, 17, has been a volunteer in the pediatrics department at North Arundel Hospital since October.The Crofton resident was one of several volunteers serving as a counselor at "Camp SuperKids" last week, a summer camp for children with asthma at Anne Arundel Community College. It was sponsored by the hospital and American Lung Association.Jennifer supervised a group of three children while they participated in activities such as making crafts and swimming in the college's indoor pool.

Is there anything positive we can say about having asthma?" asked nurse Barbara Finch after listening to a roomful of children describe the symptoms they've experienced as asthma sufferers."Well, you don't have to run as fast as everyone else," offered 8-year-old Hollie Miller, of Delta, Pa.It wasn't exactly the answer Finch was looking for as she addressed the group of 20 children at Harford County's first summer camp for children with asthma -- Camp Superkids -- held last week on the grounds of Harford Community College."

WHEN OUR firstborn was 6 years old, I decided I could improve him with some exposure to educational software. So we fired up a cute little reading program and sat down together in front of the screen for a some digital father-son bonding.The lad dutifully followed all the directions, sounded out the words, watched the little cartoons and punched the keys at all the right times. I was delighted. Wasn't this what computers were designed to do?After 15 minutes of this electronic bliss, an exasperated Ike finally turned to me and said, "Daddy, I do this all day at school.

While the summer can be a season of rest and relaxation, for too many low-income students in Baltimore, summer means idle time, boredom and "brain drain. " Research shows that many city kids don't read during the summer. They don't run and play. They don't get the same nutritious, balanced meals that they get during the school year. By the time they return to school in the fall, low-income students without access to learning and recreational opportunities will be behind their more privileged peers.

Pupils enrolled in Melody Mohr's three-week summer reading class at Seneca Elementary School in Bowleys Quarters were lucky -- their teacher planned for up to 20 children, but only 12 enrolled.The low turnout might have been fortunate for her pupils, incoming second-graders who needed extra help with reading and writing skills. But the empty seats baffled Mohr, a 12-year teaching veteran, and her boss, Principal Anthony Annello."I thought there would be more children who were interested," said Mohr, who sent two reminder letters to parents of her first-graders.

David Leonard is getting 20,000 youngsters dressed for school.He is putting together outfits that come in 70 plaids, a dozen solids and at least 40 sizes with crew necks, V-necks, open necks and turtlenecks. He has short sleeves, long sleeves, broadcloth and twill -- and don't forget those polyester pleated jumpers.It's headache time for Leonard, co-owner of P. J. McEvoy Inc., which supplies school uniforms to students in more than 200 public, private and parochial schools from New York to Florida.

Baltimore's largest-ever summer school program has been well-attended, with 84 percent of eligible pupils in grades one through eight participating during the first week. About 22,000 of the 25,711 children in the elementary- and middle-school grades who are eligible for the five-week program attended classes last week, city education officials said. "They need to go," said J. Tyson Tildon, chairman of the school board. "[The attendance rate] shows that the parents are recognizing the children's needs to have this kind of intervention.

Carroll chamber to hold `Schmooze' lecture next month The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce will present a program on "The Art of Schmooze" from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 10 at Wilhelm Ltd. Caterers on Route 140, Westminster. Author Beth Mende Conny will discuss "The Art of Schmooze: Building Great Relationships One Conversation at a Time." She has more than four dozen books and collections to her credit, the two most recent being The Confident Schmoozer and What to Say When Talking To Yourself.

Days before the Baltimore school board is scheduled to vote on a proposed $1 billion budget for next school year, the system's top officials yesterday fielded questions and took complaints from the public at a budget forum. Dozens of parents and advocates raised concerns ranging from a lack of guidance counselors and librarians in elementary schools to a summer school program that will serve only a third of city students. Administrators agreed to attend the forum organized by the Parent and Community Advisory Board after the group complained that the public did not have enough input in designing the budget.

25 Howard students awarded $25,000 in scholarships The Howard County Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement Inc. has presented $25,000 in scholarships to 25 graduating Howard County high school students. The organization has given scholarships since 1979, awarding more than $425,000 to more than 370 students. Contributions come from Howard County residents, organizations and churches. Botanical medicine seminar to be held June 17-20 The Fourth Annual Intensive Seminar on Botanical Medicine will be held June 17-20 at Tai Sophia Institute in North Laurel and the Green Farmacy Garden in Fulton.