NEARLY A DOZEN New Windsor Middle School pupils spent the last of their school days packing bags of towels, toothbrushes and other personal items for the homeless in Baltimore.
The children, members of the after-school club, Students Helping Others and Understanding Themselves, or SHOUT, learned of the need through a school secretary, said social studies teacher Lisa Lardieri, the club's adult adviser.
The secretary knew that Uniontown Bible Church worked with the nonprofit group Happy Helpers for the Homeless.
"Happy Helpers sets up a food line every Sunday," said Cindy Bubel, a church member. "Our church delivers food there once a month."
Instead of putting together and delivering a meal, the children decided to collect money to buy personal items for the homeless, Lardieri said.
While all the pupils worked hard to collect money, Lardieri said, two stood out.
"Scott Yingling and Travis Whitcomb did a tremendous job collecting money every day," she said.
In the end, the kids collected $1,498.97.
Seventh-grade teacher Rita Medvetz's homeroom collected the most - $500.
Not far behind was Susan McDowell's seventh-grade homeroom class with $420.
Medvetz's class decided against accepting the prize for most money collected - a pizza party - and instead donated the money to Happy Helpers.
On the day that the children bagged the goods, the items filled boxes that lined a classroom wall.
The children formed an assembly line to fill the plastic bags.
As each bag was filled, it was passed to Bubel, who stacked the bags on a cart.
The pupils expressed a sense of satisfaction in helping others.
"I like to help people," Travis said. "I was surprised at how much we collected. Kids were really interested in giving. I think this drive really motivated them and they felt like there were accomplishing something."
Perfect SAT score
Francis Scott Key High School junior Josh Kellemen scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT.
Josh achieved the perfect score in the spring. It was not the first time he's taken the SAT.
"I took it in seventh grade at Johns Hopkins," he said.
That try earned him a 1090. He took it again in eighth grade and received a 1230.
Last year, he took the test and earned a 1480.
"My dad encouraged me," Josh said. "He thought I could do better. And I kind of beat myself up until I perform to the level I want. I've always been intrinsically motivated."
Josh not only succeeds on tests, but on the mat as well.
Last year, he qualified for the state wrestling tournament and was named all-county in sports.
Josh said he is looking at colleges.
"West Point is my first choice," he said.
Summer camps
Taneytown will hold summer camps for children ages 5 to 10.
The sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15-19 and Aug. 5-9.
Applications are available through the city office or by calling Naomi Lowenthal at 410- 751-1100.
Free bowling
Thunderhead Bowling Centre offers free bowling to youths who take in their final report cards.
Those with straight-A's will get two free games. All others will get one free game for the final report card.
All students who take in a report card will get a "credit" card in which they will get one free game each week. Games don't carry over from week to week.
Jean Marie Beall's Northwest neighborhood column appears each Thursday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.