Fun projects, trips highlight educational summer programs

The Webutuck Central School District’s Summer Enrichment and Extended School Year programs are wrapping up their second week that featured some cool projects and a trip to the Amenia Firehouse and Amenia Library.

A third program, English Language Learners, starts July 21.

“These programs are really good to keep students on track and not have a summer slide,” said Webutuck Elementary School Principal Amanda Coppola. “That was a huge push in this building this year. We sent out articles and videos to parents of what the summer slide is because in education, we are very aware of it, but I don’t know if many parents were originally. We really wanted to inform them that it does happen.”

The summer programs give students the opportunity to review their reading, writing and math skills as well as learn something they may be taught in the upcoming school year during a three-hour morning time slot. Students also get to participate in team projects, and go on field trips to Millerton Park, Sharon Audubon Center, the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum and Kelly’s Creamery.

Breakfast and lunch are provided by the North East Community Center.

Coppola hopes the programs will help students maintain their academic goals while having a little fun.

“There are some really cool field trips planned,” she said. “They’re engaging for the students and are building community partnerships as well.”

Aaron Howard’s tech and tinker students built toolboxes; Audrey Toonkel’s students were creating diamond paintings and Renee Palmer’s students constructed bridges that can hold a bear, sheep, alligator and giraffe. The toolboxes and bridges had students collaborating to build their products.

Martina Marchese’s class of third and fourth graders enjoyed a theme week of fairytales, where they read fairytale classics such as “Cinderella,” “The Three Little Pigs,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” The students wrote their own fairytales with a creative cover.

“I like it’s a really small group because it allows me to work individually with them,” said Marchese. “We have a lot of fun. We do a lot of projects and learn through the hands-on projects.

“I hope they are a little more prepared to come into third grade because it’s a big change from second grade. If they’re going to be in my class, they get to know me and hopefully develop a relationship prior to the school year.”

Joseph Hunter, who is entering third grade, wrote “The Ball” for his fairytale and said he’s enjoyed the Summer Enrichment program and working with Marchese.

“I had lots of fun writing the story,” he said.