The last day of school was just the beginning of more learning opportunities for Herricks students. On June 27, right after the academic year ended, buildings reopened their doors for enriching weeklong summer programs.
The second year of the Herricks Summer Art Camp was held at Denton Avenue School for students entering grades K-5. Each day, under the direction of art teachers, participants learned about various forms of art and techniques as they made their own masterpieces.
Camp Invention took place at Searingtown School and was open to all students in the district entering grades 3-5. During the course of a week, students used recycled materials to experience hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.
Under the guidance of Herricks teachers, students engaged in various challenges that involved problem solving. They designed and built inventions to prevent plagiarism in the Innovation Force session, explored sea and island life and survival in a Deep Sea Mystery workshop, combined coding and farm science in Farm Tech activities and engineered remote-controlled robots to solve challenges in a DIY Orbot opportunity.
Meanwhile, at Herricks Middle School, STEAM skills were underway in the Invention Project program. Students took a business-like approach to developing concepts and products, then created marketing and sales strategies for success. They also participated in various games and activities that promoted teamwork, problem-solving and quick thinking.
Students created their own mini-bots, constructed and pitched innovative shoes, developed video games that promote health and wellness and investigated ways to broaden the use of text messaging.
It has been an adventurous summer in Herricks schools, and more programs are planned for the months of July and August.
