Through the districts Summer Program, 450 children are provided transportation, breakfast and lunch during the summer months while attending one of the educational enrichment or extracurricular activity camps. The Windsor Central School District in partnership with Visions Federal Credit Union has expanded its Summer Program offerings for 2016. The 2016 program includes Knight Lights, Basketball Camp, Volleyball Camp, the Middle School Summer Institute and Band Camp. Parents have the option to sign their children up for school transportation and every student is given breakfast and lunch each day they attend. Programs are offered at no cost for students entering grades K-12. High school students also have the opportunity to apply to be a student mentor for the summer and get paid an hourly wage. The Summer Program began in its pilot year in 2015 as part of a student initiative to expand the high school-elementary school student mentoring program. In 2015, 814 Windsor students attended six programs and 16,000 meals were served. Five of the six programs were only offered to elementary students. This summer, over 1,100 students in grades K-12 are signed up to participate in one of the eight programs.
“The summer camps offered by Windsor School District allows our community to witness the high levels of communication and respect that exists within our district. Windsor employees, supported fully by a proactive school board, have united from varied departments including administration, faculty, transportation, clerical, custodial, and food services. These dedicated employees plan and execute a full day for our students; working together as a team toward common goals. The success of these camps affirm the mission of Windsor Central School District to “create a stimulating environment where students are independent learners and grow to become successful citizens. This environment is created by a challenging integrated curriculum delivered by a caring and competent staff.” I could not be more proud to be a part of this dedicated team,” said Camp Coordinator Brendan Curtin.
The Knight Lights summer program is open to all students entering kindergarten through fifth grade. Day campers are on the move participating in fitness, art, literacy and STEM related activities. Each session includes a field trip to a local attraction to broaden the summer time experience. This program is offered for three sessions, with each session running for two weeks. During Session I the students have traveled through space and time, making their own planets and exploring the solar system in this Space themed camp. Session II is centered on a timely world event, the Olympics. Campers will research Olympic events across cultures and end the program with an Olympic event of their own! Session III is focusing on the Natural World. Activities will be focused on the environment in which they live, other worldly places and animals. Students are welcome to sign up for one, two or all three of the sessions.
The Middle School Summer Institute is open to students entering grades 6-8. Six different courses will be offered during this two week program. Courses include, Photography and Digital Imaging, Outdoor Skills, Explore Odyssey of the Mind, On the Move, Stained Glass Art and French Cuisine. The program is structured to mimic a college experience where the students will choose the courses that spark their interest and attend two of those courses per day.
The Windsor Basketball and Volleyball camps aim to improve skill level and work on team building for students entering grades 3-8. Both camps are being run by the varsity and junior varsity coaches and are open to players of all skill levels. These programs will help campers develop a strong understanding of the game and fundamental skills while showing them the value of teamwork.
Students entering grades 4-12 can harness their musicality and develop their musicianship during the Summer Band Camp. This program is designed for all levels of musicians and will be under the direction of the Windsor Central School District music department and high school student mentors. This camp will culminate in a shared performance for friends and family.
The goal of the Summer Program is to increase the overall student experience while providing daily meals for children who may not have them available at home. This program keeps students engaged during the summer months while giving them an opportunity to be active and learn the impacts of community outreach. The Summer Program also gives teachers and student mentors in the Windsor Central School District a unique employment opportunity during the summer months.
Daily activity updates can be found on the Windsor Central School District Twitter: @Windsor_CSD.