Classes
The Summer Enrichment Program will be housed at Paul J. Gelinas Junior High School, 25 Mud Road, Setauket, NY 11733.
Classes begin at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Click here for Registration Information.
If a class is full and you would like to add your child to the wait list, click here.
2024 Summer Enrichment Course Offerings
ACADEMIC INTERESTS
A JOURNEY INTO LITERATURE AND BEYOND
A reading enrichment class aimed at fostering a love for reading and expanding literacy knowledge. This class will blend the joy of exploring fiction and non-fiction books with hands-on activities for a fun learning experience! Students will dive into a diverse selection of fiction and non-fiction books such as Monet's Cat by Lily Murray, Weslandia by Paul Fleischman, and I See a Kookaburra! Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World, by Steve Jenkins. Following each reading session, students will participate in interactive activities tailored to the themes of the books such as crafts, experiments, and fun simple cooking sessions. Students will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from the books by participating in games related to the stories. By the end of the program, students will have added books to their summer reading list!
9:00: Grades 1-3
Instructor: Heidi Acosta
Materials fee: $15 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
CREATIVE WRITING
The focus of this class is learning and incorporating various writing skills to improve written expression. Imagination and creativity will be encouraged as students create their own book of stories! Students will be exposed to various authors and their different styles of writing. They will be encouraged to look further into their characters and delve deeper into their development with their ideas, word choice, and various literary devices enabling the reader to transport themselves into the story!
10:00: Grades 3-4
11:00: Grades 5-7
Instructor: Marilyn Gitter
EAT A GOOD BOOK CLUB
Stories are read and lessons learned in this class while snacks are provided (generally to coincide with the story). A couple of the books we will read are Peanut Butter & Cupcake by Terry Border and Dandy by Ame Dyckman. Coloring books will be created for each story, too! If time allows, we will make a craft that relates with the story! Join us for a fun time!
10:00: Grades K-2
Instructor: Michelle Szymanski
Materials fee: $10 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
EXPLORE OUR OCEANS AND ANIMALS
Students will dive deep as they learn about Long Island's waterways including the Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. They will explore and discover animals that live in each of these environments. We will also learn how to promote safe practices for the environment and how pollution affects sea creatures and their habitats. The students will use math, science, and language skills to discuss how the habitats were created, how climate affects the habitat, and ways we can help protect the animals and water habitats.
9:00: Grades K-2
10:00: Grades 3-5
Instructor: Mary-Elizabeth Silver
Materials fee: $20 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
EXPLORING THE WORLD THROUGH WORDS AND SCIENCE
Students will discover the wonders of literature and science with hands-on scientific exploration and fiction and non-fiction books related to the science experiments they will conduct. The program will foster the love for both reading and science through engaging experiments and activities and books. A few examples of the books we will read for the 10:00 a.m. class are The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett, Matter: Physical Science for Kids by Andi Diehn, and Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls. Books that will be read in the 11:00 a.m. class include Butternut Hollow Pond by Brian J. Heinz, Oil Spills by Robert Lerose, Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg, and Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candance Fleming. Following each reading session, students will dive into hands-on science experiments directly related to the themes presented in the books. These experiments will be designed to encourage inquiry, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of scientific principles.
10:00: Grades 1-3
11:00: Grades 4-7
Instructor: Heidi Acosta
Materials fee: $15 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
SCIENCE EXPLORATIONS: POLLUTION SOLUTIONS
Are you wondering how you can make small adjustments in your daily life and contribute to positive changes for the environment? In this course, students will increase their awareness concerning various types of pollution and the influence humans have on the planet. Topics include preserving air and water quality, recycling and trash removal procedures, protecting our natural resources and wildlife habitats, and practical solutions in the home and community, to name a few. Come out and hone your problem-solving skills while enjoying meaningful collaboration with your peers! Together, we will construct a recycled plastic mini greenhouse, a bird feeder, smog in a jar, and crafts using upcycled materials!
9:00: Grades 4-5
10:00: Grades 6-7
Instructor: Patricia Lewis
Materials fee: $10 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
SCIENCE WIZARDS
Become a science wizard by understanding and manipulating states of matter with various thrilling, hands-on science activities! In this program, students will be making predictions, forming hypotheses, and observing the results to many experiments. Some of the scientific questions we will be answering are: which solvent will dissolve your favorite candy the fastest, will objects like Squishmallows, pasta, or coins sink or float, and why, what happens when gas needs more space when enclosed in a container, what makes butter so creamy and fluffy? (we will find out as we churn our own butter and enjoy a tasty treat!) There will be more fun and interesting facts to learn!
9:00: Grades K-1
10:00: Grades 2-3
11:00: Grades 4-5
Instructor: Josephine Cucuzza
Materials fee: $15 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
SOCIAL STUDIES WRITING FOR YOUNG SCHOLARS
Wouldn't it be awesome if your future teachers in middle and high school could tell you how to ace their class?! It is much easier to develop skills when you already know the goal. This workshop will ensure that students not only meet, but exceed the expectations of their academic goals. Frequently, advanced and honors classes in the Three Village History department will assess knowledge through writing. Our goals are to empower young historians with skills needed academically to succeed on these assessments. Students will be introduced to the foundations of successful writing in our workshop series, in addition to an introduction and investigation of our rich local history through primary sources.
9:00: Grade 7
Instructors: Allison Baron and Samantha Parrella
WHERE IN THE WORLD
Welcome to this exciting and interactive geography class specially designed for curious young minds! In this journey, children will embark on a captivating exploration of the diverse and fascinating planet we call home. Through a blend of engaging activities, vibrant visuals, and interactive puzzle games, this class aims to ignite a passion for understanding the world around us. Dive into the exciting world of maps as we learn to read and understand them. From continents to countries, oceans to mountains, kids will become adept at navigating the globe. This class will culminate in a geography bee!
10:00: Grades 2-3
11:00: Grades 4-6
Instructors: Allison Baron and Samantha Parrella
ARTS & CRAFTS
DRAWING FOR FUN
Learn how to draw people, animals, cartoon figures and objects using different methods of drawing techniques. We will be using markers, paint, and colored pencils to bring out the details in the drawings. Join this class and learn how to bring out the artist in you!
9:00: Grades 2-3
Instructor: Kathy Buzzanca
Materials fee: $5 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
FOOD FUN
FUN IN THE KITCHEN
Throughout the class, students will be actively involved in the cooking process including reading recipes, measuring ingredients, and preparing delicious snacks. We will incorporate recipes using fruits to make smoothies and ice cream. Other summer snacks will be made that can be enjoyed on an outing, such as nut-free trail mix, homemade granola bars and other treats!
10:00: Grades 5-7
11:00: Grades 2-4
Instructor: Kathy Buzzanca
Materials fee: $20 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
SWEET TOOTH
Have fun creating delicious sweets! Each day students will have the hands-on experience of creating their own recipes from start to finish. In addition, they will learn creative techniques to present their finished product. Recipes will vary from simple marshmallow pops to multi-step desserts!
9:00: Grades K-1
10:00: Grades 2-4
11:00: Grades 5-7
Instructor: Toni Conlon
Materials fee: $20 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
THE PETITE CHEF III
Students will embark on a journey in which they will have fun creating foods from Disney and Universal Studios themed parks, such as Disney World, Harry Potter World, and Epcot! Enjoy making and eating treats such as brownie bites, cookies and cream cupcakes (both Disney), Napoleons (Epcot), colored milk (Star Wars), Jack's cookies (Universal Studios), and Harry Potter's ice cream!
9:00: Grades 5-7
10:00: Grades K-2
11:00: Grades 3-4
Instructor: Gianna Pomponio
Materials fee: $20 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
FITNESS
YOGA AND MINDFULNESS
This class is a great way to introduce your little one to their body, breath and mind. Using both soothing sounds and calming scents, this class will inspire your child to reach for the stars in various yoga postures and guided meditations! In addition, a small themed craft will be incorporated with each class such as creating animals and objects to coordinate with poses, which may include painting, gluing or stringing the projects.
9:00: Grades K-2
10:00: Grades 3-4
11:00: Grades 5-7
Instructor: Christina Antonetti
Materials fee: $15 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
GLOBAL LANGUAGE
PASSPORT CLUB
Join us as we take a journey around the world! Create a passport and receive a paper "plane ticket" to fill out and decorate while we visit countries such as France, Italy, Japan, and Canada. Learn about the cultures, and some basic words of the countries we visit. Students will have the opportunity to use an interactive globe that has some quick videos and quizzes. Some examples of paper crafts we will make are a pizza, necklace, Eiffel Tower, carnival mask, and more!
10:00: Grades K-2
Instructor: Jana Pipia
Materials fee: $10 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
SPECIAL INTEREST
AMAZING ANIMALS
Learn about some unusual animals like the fennec fox, axolotl, and wombat as we take a peek where the animals live, while sharing fun facts and stories! Stuffed animals, axolotl finger puppet, and books such as Water Babies by Joan Emerson, Little But Fierce by Joan Emerson, Axolotl! (Axo-what-I?!) by Susan Mason, and 50 Odd Couples by Gabe Polt, will be incorporated in this class to add to our learning experience. We will make crafts such as a paper bag puppet, wombat mask, coloring sheets, and word search. Join us as we "meet" some amazing animals!
9:00: Grades K-2
Instructor: Jana Pipia
Materials fee: $10 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
BEGINNER GARDENERS
This is a basic introduction to gardening. Students will learn simple gardening ideas such as growing their own head of lettuce from the cut end of Romaine lettuce. They will also start their own tomato plants. Students will learn which insects help and harm our gardens as well as the tools used in the garden. At the end of the program, students will go home with a folder of all the information they learned so they can use it for reference when beginning their own garden at home!
11:00: Grades 4-7
Instructor: Michelle Szymanski
Materials fee: $20 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
GAME DESIGN AND PROGRAMMING
Through hands-on exercises using the Scratch engine, students will learn the fundamentals of coding and game design and apply it to their own video game, story, or animation! Join us for a fun time!
10:00: Grades 4-5
11:00: Grades 6-7
Instructor: Nicholas Giambalvo
GLOBAL GAMES GALORE
This is a lively summer class for elementary students, focusing on global exploration through interactive games. With language quests, geography challenges, and creative crafts, kids learn about diverse cultures, traditions, and cuisines. The program fosters teamwork, friendship, and a love for learning in a dynamic environment, making it a summer of exciting discoveries and multicultural enrichment!
10:00: Grades 3-4
11:00: Grades 5-7
Instructors: Dan Wolf and Juliana Caldwell
INTRODUCTION TO GUITAR BASICS
This class is an introduction to guitar fundamentals. Topics will include major chords, strumming technique, and basic music theory. This is a good opportunity to explore the guitar in a friendly, low stress environment.
Students must bring their own guitar to class.
10:00: Grades 4-7
11:00: Grades 1-3
Instructor: Sawyer Gold
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE CYCLE
Through the world of literature, children will discover diverse characters, situations, and setting around the life cycle of both plants and animals. A few of the books we will use are Up in the Garden Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, A Frog's Life Cycle: Explore Life Cycles by Mary Dunn, Life of a Turtle by Amelia Lockhart, and A Crocodile's Life Cycle by Barbara M. Linde. They will see how everything grows in unique ways, yet we are all still connected. Together, we will learn about each stage of life through interactive projects and creations.
11:00: Grades K-2
Instructor: Mary-Elizabeth Silver
Materials fee: $10 (Due first day of class. Please see enrichment staff member upon arrival).
STORY TIME
We will read a variety of picture books such as The Great Monster Hunt by Norbert Landa, Grumpy Monkey Party Time by Suzanne Lang, Little Bear's Little Boat by Eve Bunting and Three Pebbles and a Song by Eileen Spinelli, using both verbal and visual cues. Using background knowledge as well as context, students will develop a better understanding and connection to the story. Reading strategies as well as basic writing skills will help improve understanding as well as develop written responses to the stories shared.
9:00: Grades K-2
Instructor: Marilyn Gitter
SPORTS
SOCCER SHOTS
Soccer Shots coaches will work on individual soccer development, team-building, fun fitness activities and character development. All players can expect an age-appropriate curriculum, non-competitive attitude and skill building. Curriculum and themes change daily. Skills training vary by age group and are taught by trained and experienced coaches. No shin guards or equipment needed, just sneakers. This class is open to beginners as well as those with experience!
9:00: Grades 3-4
10:00: Grades K-2
11:00: Grades 5-7
Instructors: Soccer Shots Coaches
Questions?
Please email: enrichment@3villagecsd.org
Or
Call Sarah Kiersh or Veronica Hammer at 631-730-4595 for more information.