General Program FAQ
Embedded Files
Registration is now OPEN! Click here to register!
When will the STEAM Academy take place? The 2025 STEAM Academy will run for six week-long sessions starting on June 30th and concluding on August 8th. Each week long session will offer AM, PM, and Full-Day programs Monday through Friday of each week. *Note, the first week of the STEAM academy will only be 4 days due to the celebration of Independence Day on July 4th. *
Why did the STEAM Academy change locations? Due to scheduled work and construction throughout the summer of 2025, all Madison Public Schools will be off limits. The STEAM Academy is thrilled to announce our partnership with Hanover Township Schools for the 2025 STEAM Academy. All courses will be held at Bee Meadow School in Whippany, NJ.
Where will the STEAM Academy take place? We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Hanover Township Schools for the 2025 STEAM Academy. All courses will be held at Bee Meadow School in Whippany, NJ.
Is bussing available for my child? How much will bussing cost? Campers have the option to be bussed from the soccer field/ice skating rink on Rosedale Ave in Madison to Bee Meadow School. Busses will run three times a day and a staff member will be present on the bus at all times. There is an additional fee of $30/week for bussing.
What time will STEAM Academy busses run? The AM bus will leave the soccer field/ice skating rink on Rosedale Ave in Madison at approximately 8:30 am.
Half day AM campers will return to this location at approximately 11:35 pm. At this time, half day PM campers will be picked up.
All campers will be returned to the soccer field/ice skating rink on Rosedale Ave in Madison at the conclusion of the day at approximately 2:50 pm.
We encourage all campers to be at the designated pick up location 10 minutes earlier than posted pick up times.
Can my child do before/after care AND ride the bus? Unfortunately, no. Our busses run from 8:30 to 2:50 and are not scheduled to accomodate before and after care.
Is Before/After Care Available? Yes! We are proud to offer before care and enrichment after care for our campers. Before care runs from 7:30 - 8:45. Enrichment after care runs from 2:45 - 4:00. The cost is $50 for one week of before or after care. Families may sign up for morning care, after care or both.
Is Before/After Care Available? Yes! We are proud to offer before care and enrichment after care for our campers. Before care runs from 7:30 - 8:45. Enrichment after care runs from 2:45 - 4:00. The cost is $50 for one week of before or after care. Families may sign up for morning care, after care or both.
What happens if I am late to pickup or early to drop off? Life happens! We understand that once in a while, things might prevent you from arriving to camp on time. However, to be fair to all of our campers and staff, campers who are late to pick up or early to drop off more than twice in a given week will be charged for our before and/or after-care services.
What protocols are in place for students eating lunch at the STEAM Academy? We have established the following procedures and protocol in order for our full-day students to eat lunch safely at the STEAM Academy:
Students who attend for a full day will be able to eat lunch on site between the AM and PM sessions.
Staff should be made aware of any allergies students may have in order to prepare for a safe lunch experience.
Students will use the air conditioned cafeteria and outdoor seating areas (weather permitting) to be able to ensure that food is not eaten in instructional spaces.
Students should bring a water bottle to use during the day, which can be refilled using the bottle filling stations at MHS.
What protocols are in place for students with allergies? During the enrollment process, parents will be asked to inform the STEAM Academy staff of any allergies their students might have. No eating will occur within the STEAM Academy instruction classrooms. Additionally, a full-time nurse will be on location to assist with handling medication and other medical emergencies should they occur. For severe allergies or other unique needs, parents should follow up with STEAM Academy staff prior to their child attending the program to share any additional information that may be relevant.
What is the course schedule for the Summer of 2025?
Please check out our updated course schedule below:
Enrollment & Scheduling FAQ
Enrollment & Scheduling FAQ
When can I enroll my child in the 2025 STEAM Academy? Enrollment for the 2025 STEAM Academy will open on April 1, 2025!
How do I enroll my child in the 2025 STEAM Academy? An enrollment link will be found here in addition to our district website. Please note, the STEAM Academy is not limited to students of Madison Public Schools or residents of Madison, NJ. Enrollment is rolling and will remain open throughout the duration of the program and the summer of 2025. Enrollment for each week of the STEAM Academy will close one week prior to the first day of the session.
How much will the STEAM Academy cost? The cost for each half-day course is $300 per week. A 20% discount will be applied if two half-day courses are selected to comprise full-day enrollment during a single week. That means the cost to a student who participates in two courses during one week would be reduced to $500. Extended day before care and after care are available for an additional $50 fee. If your student needs to be bussed from Madison to Whippany, an additional $30 will be charged at the time of enrollment.
Is tuition assistance available for the STEAM Academy? Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch services through the school district. If you are interested in learning more about whether tuition assistance may be available to your family, please contact Anna Hatziemanuel at MPSSteam@madisonnjps.org.
What if my enrollment situation changes and I need to request a refund? We understand that circumstances may change for families and will happily process any refund request that is submitted at least 5 calendar days prior to the start date of the class. Because of the planning for staffing and materials that is required to ensure an amazing camp experience, no refund will be processed if it is requested fewer than 5 days prior to the start date of the class. To request for a refund, please contact Anna Hatziemanuel at mpssteam@madisonnjps.org.
Do I need to enroll my child for all six weeks? No. Each week of the STEAM Academy offers unique courses, topics, and challenges for students. This allows students to have an engaging learning experience whether they attend for just one week or for all six weeks.
Can my child attend for a half day or do they need to come for the full day? Students may enroll in AM, PM, or full-day course offerings on a week by week basis. Full Day Students should be dropped off between 8:45 and 9am and should be picked up between 2:30 and 2:45 pm. Students who enroll in a Half-Day AM course should be picked up between 11:20 and 11:35. Students who enroll in a Half-Day PM course should be dropped off between 11:55 and 12:10.
Do I need to be a Madison resident for my child to attend the STEAM academy? No. The Madison STEAM Academy is not limited to residents of Madison NJ!
Is the STEAM Academy open on Monday, July 4th? No. The STEAM Academy will be closed on Friday, July 4th in celebration of Independence Day. The week of July 4th will be the only 4-day week of the 2025 STEAM Academy.The cost for the week will be reduced to 80% of the normal rate. Half day courses will be $240 and full day courses will be $400.
Can I drop my child off early (or pick them up late)? AM student drop off is between 8:45 am and 9:00 am. A before care option that allows students to be dropped off as early as 7:30 am can be added during the enrollment process for an additional $50 fee. PM student pickup is between 2:30 pm and 2:45 pm. An after care option that allows students to be picked up as late as 4:00 pm can be can be added during the enrollment process for an additional $50 fee.
Policy & Practices FAQ
Policy & Practices FAQ
Will Bee Meadow School adequately support middle and high school students at the STEAM Academy? The classrooms at Bee Meadow School will be completely transformed for the 2025 Madison STEAM Academy! Furniture and resources from Madison Junior School and Madison High School will be moved into this space to ensure that Bee Meadow School is ready to accomodate the needs of all students.
How will information be shared with families? A confirmation email will be sent to a child's primary point of contact the week prior to the start of their course(s) at the STEAM Academy. This email will included pick up and drop off info, important things to bring, and more. A recap will also be emailed to all parents of students enrolled at the STEAM Academy throughout the week and #projectoftheday posts can be viewed through the @MPSSTEAMAcademy Instagram page.
Who can I contact if I need more information? For any additional questions, please contact Anna Hatziemanuel at mpssteam@madisonnjps.org.
Course Grouping FAQ
Course Grouping FAQ
Which Course Grouping should my child be in? Course Groupings are designed for students of a certain age group or prior skill.
Group 1: Grades 1 - 3
Group 2: Grades 4 - 6
Group 3: Grades 6 - 8
Group 4: Grades 8 - 12
Some overlap may occur for students on the edge of a group based on prior experience, which would allow them to work in the group that best suits their unique needs.
My 6th/8th grader has attend the STEAM Academy before. Should they be in Group 2 or 3? Students entering grades 6 or 8 are on the border of our recommended ages for Course Groupings. In these instances, we recommend students choose the group that best suits their prior experience and interests. As an example, a child who is entering 6th grade that has completed STEAM Academy courses before would likely fit well into Group 3 if they are taking courses with similar topics and themes to those previously taken.
If my child takes a reoccuring course, will they repeat what they did earlier in the summer? While many of the STEAM academy courses are entirely unique for specific weeks, some of our more popular courses occur more than once throughout the summer. While similar topics and content will be discussed, challenges and activities will be unique for each week to allow new students and repeating students to have an engaging and successful experience.
Who teaches at the Madison STEAM Academy? Teachers from throughout the Madison and Hanover learning community can apply to instruct at the STEAM Academy. All teachers are highly skilled, trained, and passionate about the content of the courses they instruct. Trained high school students also often volunteer as instructional assistants to share their own passions as well as obtain real-world skills along with our STEAM Academy students and teachers.
Page updated
Report abuse