BELLMORE, New Jersey USA — For the second summer in a row, the North Bellmore Educational Foundation, in conjunction with the North Bellmore school district, sponsored a three-week long program of enrichment classes for elementary school-age children who live in the district.

It took place from July 10 to 28.

Robotics & rockets
In a "Techno K'NEXTM" class, students constructed models of cars, carousels and ferris wheels out of little plastic pieces and then used a computer to program the items they built to move. "This is a race car," explained Katie-Rose Healey, as she attached another Techno K'NEXTM to her team's creation. "Eventually we have to put a motor on it and program it," added Natalie Gibbons. The children were learning computer-controlled robotics, but none of them seemed to realize it.

Meanwhile, their instructor Jason Fischetti smiled, fully aware that not only was he teaching the children how to use computers, as he does all year throughout the district, he was exposing them to such weighty scientific concepts as energy, speed, acceleration, and gravity while they all had fun.

Blastoff! A model rocket takes off after North Bellmore Summer Explorations instructor Chris DaRold how the remote launcher works. Click to enlarge

At the same time in another classroom, instructor Chris DaRold showed children how to assemble model rockets, teaching them a bit about propulsion, lift, stability and, most of all, safety in the process. When launch time came, he led his students outside to an empty baseball field behind Saw Mill Road School, where he teaches fourth grade during the year.

One at a time, he secured each model into the ground, pointing it precisely "up and away" from the group of students. From several yards away, DaRold then allowed each child to trigger the remote-controlled launcher. The children's anticipation and excitement were palpable every time another rocket took off. Each one flew straight up about 100 feet into the air and then parachuted back to earth.

"Techno K'NEXTM" was among a dozen new titles offered for the first time this summer. Others were calligraphy, crocheting, "Stamping Fun," baton twirling, "Arts through Masters," drums, flag football, and team handball, as was a special program for September's incoming Kindergarteners. Rocketry was one of the returning choices, which also included "Cool Science," scrapbooking, jewelry and beads, sign language, karate, introductory Spanish and Italian, baseball, basketball, soccer, gardening, and cooking.

Educational enrichment
"The [North Bellmore Educational] foundation," explained the director of the Summer Explorations Program Chris D'Orio, "is all about offering enrichment programs to all children in the district." The non-profit group's main purpose is to provide educational support and enrichment programs to all district children, beyond the cultural arts offerings and other extras the district and its six school PTAs are able to offer.

Run by volunteers, the self-supporting organization also provided single-subject after-school enrichment sessions at each building during the year, something D'Orio says they plan to do again and expand upon. To continue these types of programs, he quickly pointed out, more volunteers are needed.

The summer program is by far the foundation's largest undertaking to date. About 450 children, up from 400 last year, participated in close to 35 different types of classes, ranging from calligraphy to karate. Four hour-long sessions were held each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Saw Mill Road School. For the most part, the classes were taught by in-district teachers, said D'Orio, himself a band teacher at Saw Mill during the year.

Students were enrolled in mid-May. Classes were organized by grades based on age-appropriateness and skill level, and children were accepted on a first come, first-served basis. Parents had to show proof of residency and pay $42 for each class per week — up to four classes per day for up to the full three weeks — to cover instruction and materials costs, plus a $3 processing fee per child.

Children and teachers explore
The program is called Summer Explorations for good reason. By design, it provides local parents with an affordable opportunity for their children to try their hand at a sport or activity they may not otherwise have a chance to experience.

Children have a chance to test the waters, to experiment with an activity for a short time period without making a longer-term commitment. Some of the boys and girls participated in a team sport for the first time, for example, while others discovered a new hobby or talent, or pursued an existing interest in a new way.

The program involves exploration for the teachers to some extent as well. With no curriculum requirements or New York State standards to meet, teachers have more leeway in course content and lesson planning. Many teachers agreed that their focus was on making everything enjoyable for the children. "After all, it's summer," one instructor said.

Portfolios & cookbooks
"I like painting," soon to be sixth-grader Kellie Gilroy said simply, when asked why she chose the "Art through Masters" course. "I take private lessons during the year," she said, adding that this was much more fun.

Instructors Jill Williams and Leslie Kolstein used creative and memorable activities to introduce the children to the techniques and styles of great artists. Children sat under tables and painted on pages attached underneath to mimic Michelangelo's famous fresco painting, for example. Another time they rolled a marble around drops of paint on a paper placed inside a cardboard box to replicate the freewheeling splatters of Jackson Pollock. By the end of the course, the children had assembled portfolios of their own masterpieces created by emulating several famous artists, among them Van Gogh and Mondrian.

During a "Cooking for Kids" class held in a nearby teacher's lounge, replete with a microwave and toaster oven, instructor Lauren Marzigliano showed children how to make tasty, healthy treats. One day the youngsters baked "crunchy munchy granola" containing rolled oats, wheat germ, and dried cranberries, among other things. Another day they sliced and skewered pieces of pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, grapes and the like to form "fruit kabobs".

When done, the students tasted their creations. "Mmmm mmmm," said fledgling chef Michael O'Shea, his dimpled grin a clear indication of enjoyment. At the end of each day's session, the children wrapped up samples of their treats to bring home with them. At week's end, the children received a booklet containing the recipes for every item they learned to make during the week.

And next summer?
As the hazy days of this summer start to wind down, they will be remembered as anything but lazy or lackluster for the children who participated in the North Bellmore Summer Explorations Program it seems. This begs the question, what new experiences may be in store for the children next July?

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