Girard school camp — academics, fun merge as one
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GIRARD -- Seeking to address the learning needs of students while also providing hands-on activities, Girard City Schools in a three-week summer program has provided a student-centered approach.
There are 665 Girard students taking part in the summer program from elementary through high school
Julianne Ware, Girard Intermediate School principal, said in 2021 the school staff was looking at areas of learning that needed to be addressed coming back from the coronavirus pandemic.
"We wanted to have more of a camp feel with hands-on activities and have our students take part in activities with a lot of problem solving, in a problem-based learning atmosphere. We want the students to be engaged in the learning of the core curriculum subjects in this summer setting. The students get to build and do hands-on activities while problem solving," Ware said.
After the 2021 year, which focused on closing the COVID-19 learning gap, 2022 addressed individual and personalized learning to meet the needs of student population, and this year more problem-based learning.
She said "real-life" activities are created in which students try to solve problems in different ways, succeeding and failing, and trying something new.
"The teachers are so busy during the school year focusing on the standards that they would love to have more time to explore and do project-based learning like this. But they don't have the time. This program allows us to do this because there is time available," Ware said.
GREAT PARTICIPATION
Ware said there is a huge percentage of students taking part in some of the summer learning programs.
The problem-based learning is held for three hours in the mornings and then a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program offered to students in the afternoons for three hours.
"The students have a different theme and problem each week. Some students are here all three weeks," she said.
Ware said problem-based learning is a student-centered approached to learning that involves groups of students working together to gain knowledge and skills through research, discussion, planning, designing and building.
Projects included making board games and food trucks.
Ware said 20 building staff instruct the different classes and programs.
She said materials such as plastic water bottles, jugs and cardboard were dropped off by the staff, the community and families in May to prepare for the program.
Ware said pandemic relief funds helped to cover some of the costs.
"We felt this is a way to used those funds and give it back to the students and families," Ware said.
KIDS IN THE PROGRAM
Fifth-grader Sophia Cimino, 9, is marking her first year in the program.
"I like art and want to be an artist or cartoonist when I grow up," she said.
Sophia said when selecting classes to attend, she wanted to be in the art programs and also a basketball camp.
Each week involved building something with the first week a food truck, the second a game board and the third a rollercoaster.
Sixth-grader Jaxson McVay, 11, who participated last year, said he wanted to return again this summer.
"We get to build things like food trucks. I like doing hands-on activities," McVay said.
He said each student starts with cardboard and other materials and then designs that project for that week, over three days.
"It's a fun and there is a different lesson each week," McVay said.
McVay said he likes the different activities in the STEAM classes with different teachers.
In addition to creating, the students focus on academic subjects. Topics have focused on multicultural themes. children and the elderly.
Mason Pagano, 10, fifth grade, said he liked the STEAM programs.
"We get to do a lot of building with Legos and other items, There are lot of activities to do," he said,
The academic program concluded Thursday while the athletic program is ongoing.
The positive coaching program for grades 3-6 has youth benefiting from taking part in positive, inclusive sports that develop social and emotional skills, mold character and prepare them for competition and life.