Summer Schooling
ADAMS TWP — Longmore Academy student Shawn struggled with the classroom assignment of picking undigested animal bones out of kiln-dried fur balls coughed up by owls.
"It's icky," he said. "I'm not saying I'm a girl or anything, but I don't touch bones."
Shawn, 16, is one of 52 Mars Home for Youth residents who has spent his summer mornings participating in the unique, hands-on summer school program at the alternative-education school, which is located on the home's campus. The home provides residential treatment services to at-risk youths between 13 and 18 years old.
The five-year-old program sees all the facility's residents moving between several core subjects, as well as art, doing hands-on projects to learn the subject matter. Students receive a quarter credit for the program, which runs Monday through Friday between June 18 and Aug. 3. Classes are held from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. each day.
Science teacher Harry Romigh placed charts on the chalkboard detailing what type of small animals owls eat and a depiction of each animal's bones. Students picked through the fluffy gray pellets with toothpicks and their fingers to extract the tiny bones, identify them, glue them to a piece of poster board and write the name of the bone beneath.
"It's a chance to look at things they wouldn't normally see," said Romigh. "Some kids like it and some don't, but even if they don't like it, they are exposed to new learning."
Matt, 15, called the owl pellet project cool.
"You get to see what an owl eats and coughs up and digests."
Matt appreciates the hands-on approach of the summer school, and named as his favorite project the rocket-building assignment Romigh facilitated a few weeks ago. In it, students constructed a rocket and set it off on the school's campus. Another of Romigh's science projects is volcano building, which was a favorite of Courtney, 15.
Courtney praised Longmore's summer program, saying it has social as well as academic benefits.
"It gives you a chance to get to know the rest of the kids here," said Courtney, "and it refreshes your memory from the regular school year."
Courtney added that doing something productive in summer school is better than sitting around.
"And you end up with some nice artwork and projects when it's over," said Courtney.
Chris, 15, said although each assignment must be researched before the project begins, summer school is more hands-on than the regular school year. Chris understands the incidental learning that takes place in the hands-on format.
"You don't think you are learning, but you actually do," he said.
Quilnesia, 17, was appointed unofficial "chairman" of her art class by teacher Susan Rigotti.
"It's because I'm a natural leader and I like art," said Quilnesia.
Like the other students in the 10-to-1 teacher to student ratio classes, she never complained about getting out of bed early during the summer."You get in trouble if you're not busy, and this helps you stay busy and do things you want to do," said Quilnesia.Hewko said teachers participating in the summer school earn extra pay for their efforts. He praised the teachers for their educational attitude toward the troubled teens."I always say 'You don't teach subjects here, you teach kids,'" said Hewko, who has served as Longmore Academy principal since its charter in 2000.Other project-based classes taught during summer school include English, where students study other countries by making posters and dressing up in costumes; mathematics, where students measure the circumference, volume and diameter of various objects on campus; and social studies, where students locate their ancestral homeland and complete an intricate poster on it.The local chamber of commerce even came in to teach students resume writing, interview skills and attire, job etiquette, and other skills needed to enter the world of work."Every subject has taken a different dimension," said Hewko.He said awards are conferred every two weeks to recognize outstanding students. At the end of the program next week, three students will receive awards based on attitude, outstanding project and most impressive student.Students will also line up single-file and proceed through the campus, displaying a favorite project they made during summer school."They love this program," said Hewko.
