'Summer School': Schools keep students, community busy with summer programs, camps
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By David Karas and Dottie LaMantia | Correspondents
It seems that summer is anything but a time for children and teens to slack off, with many keeping busy with different academic and athletic camps and programs being held during the recess.
Click here to see photo gallery of the All Saints theater program.
Grammar schools and high schools throughout the four-county diocese have made available an array of offerings this summer, with topics ranging from performing arts to football, college preparation to advanced writing and mathematics.
Bill Smith, director of campus services in Mater Dei Prep, Middletown, noted that the school campus buzzes with activity throughout the summer months, offering a cross-section of athletic camps, musical programs and enrichment programs that provide an opportunity for students to remain active and involved during the lengthy summer recess. “Studies have shown that students do tend to take a step back sometimes from when they leave school in June to when they return in September. This is kind of a benchmark to make sure they stay current,” said Smith. Smith was pleased to say how the school’s summer programs have grown in popularity over the years and that courses intended to advance students beyond their grade level are offered alongside those seeking to help students catch up if they have fallen behind during the prior school year.
“Schools need to be more than just a ninemonth business,” Smith said. “School is an ongoing process, and part of the educational process is the offering of a variety of programs to students over the summer months to keep them involved.”
In Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, John McKenna, athletic performance director and associate head football coach, spoke of the benefits incoming freshmen and even upperclassmen gain by spending part of their summer engaged in athletic programming and conditioning, namely that it can help them to get a jump start on the academic semesters.
“It also exposes them to Notre Dame,” McKenna said, noting that many youth attend the high school’s programs prior to applying to the school. He expressed that the camps expose youngsters to the campus and its faculty and staff, and let them experience the high school environment.
For those students attending summer programs prior to their freshmen year, he said the benefits can be even greater.
“They develop friendships before they even start in September,” McKenna said, adding that such effort also helps them begin more advanced workout routines before other classmates, so they begin the fall at a higher level.
One student who appreciated McKenna’s summer camps is Zach Tharp, 18, who began attending when he was in the fifth grade. At the time, he wasn’t in the greatest shape, he admitted.
Fast forward to this summer, and the recent Notre Dame graduate is preparing to attend Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa.
“I spend most of my time here in the summer,” Tharp said, while sitting in the weight room between sessions. Thomas Bahr and Colan Ryan, both 14 and incoming freshmen, were excited at the opportunity to begin training over the summer to prepare them to join the school’s football team. Bahr is also taking time over the summer to participate in some academic enrichment courses in preparation for an honors course load come the fall semester.
One popular academic program Notre Dame offers is a college application preparation course, which pairs guidance counselors and teachers to help rising seniors get a jump start on the arduous college application process.
Teacher Carolyn Graham, who is in her fourth year working with the students during the summer months, said that such a head start can be critical for many students, especially those who are participating in varsity sports or other school activities during the final months of their high school career.
“It is definitely more like a college course,” Graham said, explaining that much of the work is selfdirected and can be done at home, with students bringing work to the sessions. It is not graded, but the students get out of the program what they put into it – much like a college offering. “It gives them a sense of the way college is,” she said.
Megan Pattoli, a rising senior, acknowledged that she has more time to focus on preparing for college during the summer months when classes and extracurricular activities don’t pull her in other directions.
Mary Liz Ivins, the school’s principal, said that the offerings expand upon semester course offerings, and can even free up students’ schedules for other classes should they work to get ahead and fulfill requirements during the summer months.
“We want to allow students to enrich their studies by taking workshops that will strengthen their study skills and by taking academic courses such as the Freshman Integrated Technology and Writing course, which can open their class schedules for additional electives,” she said.
“Sports and performing arts camps allow students to develop their talents, meet new friends and have some fun,” Ivins said.
In the library of All Saints Regional Catholic School, Manahawkin, the Back Yard Theater Camp completed its fourth season, immersing 26 students in all aspects of music, dance and acting, as well as building scenery and props. The camp was held for two weeks, Monday through Friday, July 8 to 19, and at its conclusion, the campers put on a performance of the musical, “Thwacked,” for their family and friends.
Under the direction of Katie De Cataldo, third grade teacher; Louann Ruyak, music and theater teacher;and Merrilee Snyder, fifth grade teacher, the pupils, ranging from grades one through six, met in groups to create scenery, design props, audition for parts and rehearse song and dance numbers.
“It has been popular,” Ruyak said, as she went on to note how the camp gives the students an opportunity to be on-stage, teaches them problemsolving and critical thinking skills and helps them to build confidence in themselves.
“The kids who come through this are ready to try out for the two big music programs during the year, our Christmas show and the spring musical,” she said.
“There are millions of details in musical theater that teach important lessons,” Ruyak said, such as the pupils have to keep track of their own belongings and anticipate where items have to be placed to be ready for a scene.
Current and past participants agreed that the Back Yard Theater Camp is a fun and worthwhile reason to return to school the summer months.
Seventh grader Maya Regulski commented, “I attended the camp for two or three years and it was a lot of fun. “It is good because little kids can get the main parts in the play. Now I work behind the scenes helping the little kid with their parts.”
Regulski’s younger sister, Molly, a second grader in All Saints Regional, enjoyed the camp especially “because everybody gets to sing, I get lines to say…and I like that five of my friends are here with me.”
Photo Galleries
Summer at the CYO CYO Broad Street recreation camp, Trenton
Summer School: All Saints drama program
Faithcation -- Vacation Bible School 2013
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By David Karas and Dottie LaMantia | Correspondents
It seems that summer is anything but a time for children and teens to slack off, with many keeping busy with different academic and athletic camps and programs being held during the recess.
Click here to see photo gallery of the All Saints theater program.
Grammar schools and high schools throughout the four-county diocese have made available an array of offerings this summer, with topics ranging from performing arts to football, college preparation to advanced writing and mathematics.
Bill Smith, director of campus services in Mater Dei Prep, Middletown, noted that the school campus buzzes with activity throughout the summer months, offering a cross-section of athletic camps, musical programs and enrichment programs that provide an opportunity for students to remain active and involved during the lengthy summer recess. “Studies have shown that students do tend to take a step back sometimes from when they leave school in June to when they return in September. This is kind of a benchmark to make sure they stay current,” said Smith. Smith was pleased to say how the school’s summer programs have grown in popularity over the years and that courses intended to advance students beyond their grade level are offered alongside those seeking to help students catch up if they have fallen behind during the prior school year.
“Schools need to be more than just a ninemonth business,” Smith said. “School is an ongoing process, and part of the educational process is the offering of a variety of programs to students over the summer months to keep them involved.”
In Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, John McKenna, athletic performance director and associate head football coach, spoke of the benefits incoming freshmen and even upperclassmen gain by spending part of their summer engaged in athletic programming and conditioning, namely that it can help them to get a jump start on the academic semesters.
“It also exposes them to Notre Dame,” McKenna said, noting that many youth attend the high school’s programs prior to applying to the school. He expressed that the camps expose youngsters to the campus and its faculty and staff, and let them experience the high school environment.
For those students attending summer programs prior to their freshmen year, he said the benefits can be even greater.
“They develop friendships before they even start in September,” McKenna said, adding that such effort also helps them begin more advanced workout routines before other classmates, so they begin the fall at a higher level.
One student who appreciated McKenna’s summer camps is Zach Tharp, 18, who began attending when he was in the fifth grade. At the time, he wasn’t in the greatest shape, he admitted.
Fast forward to this summer, and the recent Notre Dame graduate is preparing to attend Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa.
“I spend most of my time here in the summer,” Tharp said, while sitting in the weight room between sessions. Thomas Bahr and Colan Ryan, both 14 and incoming freshmen, were excited at the opportunity to begin training over the summer to prepare them to join the school’s football team. Bahr is also taking time over the summer to participate in some academic enrichment courses in preparation for an honors course load come the fall semester.
One popular academic program Notre Dame offers is a college application preparation course, which pairs guidance counselors and teachers to help rising seniors get a jump start on the arduous college application process.
Teacher Carolyn Graham, who is in her fourth year working with the students during the summer months, said that such a head start can be critical for many students, especially those who are participating in varsity sports or other school activities during the final months of their high school career.
“It is definitely more like a college course,” Graham said, explaining that much of the work is selfdirected and can be done at home, with students bringing work to the sessions. It is not graded, but the students get out of the program what they put into it – much like a college offering. “It gives them a sense of the way college is,” she said.
Megan Pattoli, a rising senior, acknowledged that she has more time to focus on preparing for college during the summer months when classes and extracurricular activities don’t pull her in other directions.
Mary Liz Ivins, the school’s principal, said that the offerings expand upon semester course offerings, and can even free up students’ schedules for other classes should they work to get ahead and fulfill requirements during the summer months.
“We want to allow students to enrich their studies by taking workshops that will strengthen their study skills and by taking academic courses such as the Freshman Integrated Technology and Writing course, which can open their class schedules for additional electives,” she said.
“Sports and performing arts camps allow students to develop their talents, meet new friends and have some fun,” Ivins said.
In the library of All Saints Regional Catholic School, Manahawkin, the Back Yard Theater Camp completed its fourth season, immersing 26 students in all aspects of music, dance and acting, as well as building scenery and props. The camp was held for two weeks, Monday through Friday, July 8 to 19, and at its conclusion, the campers put on a performance of the musical, “Thwacked,” for their family and friends.
Under the direction of Katie De Cataldo, third grade teacher; Louann Ruyak, music and theater teacher;and Merrilee Snyder, fifth grade teacher, the pupils, ranging from grades one through six, met in groups to create scenery, design props, audition for parts and rehearse song and dance numbers.
“It has been popular,” Ruyak said, as she went on to note how the camp gives the students an opportunity to be on-stage, teaches them problemsolving and critical thinking skills and helps them to build confidence in themselves.
“The kids who come through this are ready to try out for the two big music programs during the year, our Christmas show and the spring musical,” she said.
“There are millions of details in musical theater that teach important lessons,” Ruyak said, such as the pupils have to keep track of their own belongings and anticipate where items have to be placed to be ready for a scene.
Current and past participants agreed that the Back Yard Theater Camp is a fun and worthwhile reason to return to school the summer months.
Seventh grader Maya Regulski commented, “I attended the camp for two or three years and it was a lot of fun. “It is good because little kids can get the main parts in the play. Now I work behind the scenes helping the little kid with their parts.”
Regulski’s younger sister, Molly, a second grader in All Saints Regional, enjoyed the camp especially “because everybody gets to sing, I get lines to say…and I like that five of my friends are here with me.”
Photo Galleries
Summer at the CYO CYO Broad Street recreation camp, Trenton
Summer School: All Saints drama program
Faithcation -- Vacation Bible School 2013