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Bridging the Gap Staying ahead of the academic, social curves key for summer programs
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uarding against learning loss between spring and fall has long been important to help keep students prepared for the next grade – especially following 18 months of pandemic effects. To that end, schools in the Diocese of Trenton have offered programs that address students’ academic needs while providing a safe and fun environment where learning feels like recreation. Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, offered girls in grades five through nine the skills they need to prepare them for a life of leadership and service. BY EMMALEE The #LEADLIKEAGIRL camp, ITALIA held July 26-30 on the school’s Contributing Editor and Princeton campus, was a first-time CHRISTINA collaboration between the school’s LESLIE “Girls Take Charge” program and the Correspondent National Center for Girls’ Leadership, which aims to instill the standards of values, intellect, agency/advocacy, collaboration and vision. “[It] is committed to preparing girls for lives of exceptional leadership and service,” explained NCGL director Bonnie Milecki. “All curricula is focused on middle school girls and their social, academic and leadership development, and custom designed for this age group with their diverse skills.” St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, has hosted its weekly Knights Summer Camp – now in its third year – for both St. Mary students and public school children from the surrounding community. Its popularity is a testament to the program’s success. “Because we were open last summer and didn’t have any cases and/or outbreak of COVID-19, our [enrollment] increased drastically,” attested Lizanne Coyne, principal of St. Mary Academy. “We went from having two groups of 10
Students in St. Mary Knights Summer Camp, Manahawkin, show off their STEM-based project: smash-proof egg cages built with straws and other common materials. Courtesy photo
campers each week last summer, to six groups of 12 each week this summer.” Following the current recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health, the Knights Summer Camp has operated safely amid the pandemic for two summers, giving the school an opportunity in 2020 to implement recommendations before the academic year began in September. WHAT’S IN STORE Mentors and educators in Stuart’s #LEADLIKEAGIRL camp led group discussions to learn the girls’ definition of
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Young women participate in the #LEADLIKEAGIRL camp held July 2630 on the campus of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, a program that focuses on instilling the standards of values, intellect, agency/advocacy, collaboration and vision. Courtesy photo August 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 25