WEST ORANGE, NJ — This year’s Summer Enrichment Program, held annually at West Orange High School, is being delighted in by 444 students. The program, which opened July 2, remains in full swing until July 27.
The enrichment program first began more than 20 years ago as a way to provide music, art and educational opportunities for students just completing second through eighth grades. PTAs have raised money to provide scholarships and teachers have long enjoyed meeting students from across the school district. The program also helps to bridge the summer gap and help students hone their musical skills in orchestra and band.
The program offers a wide variety of programs for the elementary and middle school students, while high school students volunteer their time to assist teachers and students.
Saxophone, clarinet, oboe, symphonic, percussion, horn, violin, cello, trombone, violin and viola represent specialty classes. There is even a piano lab class for burgeoning keyboardists and songwriters.
Dance, drama and musical theater offer other performance art options. The popular art classes include painting, crafts, ceramics, art design and calligraphy.
Technology, Math Quest and computers provide academic enrichment and Chinese is back, offering a good introduction to Mandarin with crafts, cooking, culture and characters. ESL students continued working on their language skills.
Physical fitness, Gym Jamboree and baseball/softball round out the courses available.
St. Cloud music teacher Scott Tomlin, WOHS nurse Denise Makri-Werzen and Maxwell Jean-Baptiste run the program from the WOHS nurse’s office. The school has been a flurry of activity as youngsters change classes like long-time high school students.
“It takes a lot of work to get the program up and running, but we’ve got it figured out,” Tomlin said. “I’ve been part of the Enrichment Program since its beginning, and we all love doing it. All the teachers want to come back every year.”
As smiling faces fill all the classrooms, arts rooms and dance studio, it is apparent the students are enjoying themselves as well.
Registration for the Enrichment Program generally begins in February and continues through the end of the school year.
Photos Courtesy of WOSD
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