Westwood Summer Enrichment Program Begins July 5

Registration for Westwood’s Summer Enrichment Program is underway, with the class ready to get going on July 5 at .

The program will start on July 5 and end on July 22 at Thurston Middle School, running Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon for any students entering grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Program Director Sue Costanza explained that this year’s enrichment program was actually shortened due to the harsh weather that this winter brought.

“Due to the amount of snow days Westwood had this year, which pushed up the last day of school, the first week of the program was cancelled,” said Costanza. “For the first time, the Summer Enrichment Program is three weeks rather than four.”

The Enrichment Program traditionally comprises two two-week sessions. Over the last couple of years, the program has opened up to include students who are only able to participate for one week

The program is mostly staffed by experienced Westwood staff members; there are also Westwood High School volunteers who help out with the classes.

Parents can drop children off at 8:15 a.m. The recreation program coordinates with the Summer Enrichment Program, so walks from one to the other are coordinated for students participating in both. The recreation program is in the afternoons following the Enrichment Program.

Although the kindergarten through first grade program runs separately from the grades two-through-eight program, both are held at Thurston Middle School. Costanza explained that students in the kindergarten through grade one program rotate among three classes: academic, movement and creative.

Academic class involves students doing activities that focus on reinforcing and enhancing skills in the areas of math, social studies, science reading and writing. Movement class is held in the Thurston gym and involves various games and activities that reinforce skills. The creative class involves students engaging in arts, crafts and music activities.

The program for grades two through eight consists of three one hour classes, each day with a 15 minute snack time.

“The two through eight program allows students to choose from a large variety of academic, movement and creative classes designed to reinforce skills, stimulate the imagination, and allow students to explore subjects they would not usually be exposed to,” Costanza explained. 

Registration for the program began in February, but will continue until classes begin on July 5. Costanza is urging parents to sign up early, because classes may be cancelled if there is not enough interest in a particular class. Also, once classes are filled they will be closed.

Costanza said that the Enrichment Program will conclude with a day where parents are invited to see presentations of their child’s work. She said that there will be hip hop dance presentations, rock band concerts, musical theater and other exhibits meant to display the effort of the students throughout the summer.

Costanza calls the program very affordable, with the first week of July 5 through 8 at $100. A single five day week is $150 and a two week session is $234.

For a complete list of classes and registration information, log onto the Westwood Summer Enrichment website.