Media Advisory

Summer programs send young people back to school each fall ready to learn, with less need for review of what they learned the previous school year, said Ron Fairchild, executive director of the Center for Summer Learning at The Johns Hopkins University, which sponsors the observance.

"The overarching goal of Summer Learning Day is to celebrate the importance of high-quality summer learning opportunities in the lives of young people and their families," Fairchild said. Festivities include:

In Baltimore, Coldstream Park Elementary School will host "Books: They're Full of Drama!," featuring the integration of reading material with drama and history. The school will also offer theatrical performances depicting heroic Americans like Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, and President John F. Kennedy.

In White Plains, N.Y., Morry's Camp will host Education Expo, an evening of fun and learning to showcase projects and activities campers have completed so far during the summer.

In Sorrento, Fla., the East Lake County Library will host Special Guest Storytime, with guests reading stories and attending a party with children and their families.

In Columbia, Ky., Casey Elementary School will showcase student-produced plays, puppet shows and music videos before an audience of school district employees, families and the community.

Fairchild is available for interviews to share summer learning suggestions, such as those found in this online tip sheet: http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home06/jun06/learning.htm l. To speak with Fairchild, contact Amy Lunday at 443-287-9960. To learn more about Summer Learning Day, visit www.summerlearning.org.

List of participating cities as of July 6:

In Maryland: Baltimore, Annapolis, Waldorf, Hagerstown and Manchester

Washington, D.C.

In Virginia: Richmond

In Illinois: Chicago

In Kentucky: Ashland, Columbia

In Mississippi: Booneville

In Pennsylvania: Philadelphia

In Washington: Bellingham

In Florida: Leesburg, Clermont, Fruitland Park, Englewood, Sorrento, Astor

In Louisiana: Shreveport

In Nevada: Fernley

In New York: White Plains