By Rich Bockmann
Queensborough Community College’s Kids College Summer Academy opened its doors last week for the second year in a row.
Operated by the college’s continuing education department, the academy offers students in elementary, middle, intermediary and high school a theme-based learning format focused on academics, athletics and personal enrichment.
“Based on research, a child can lose up to the last three months of education if he doesn’t do anything during the summer months,” said Program Coordinator Jacqueline Montgomery. “[A student] goes back to school in September and the material has to be reviewed. Teachers and the DOE have to review for almost the first four months. It’s no wonder why kids aren’t graduating high school.”
Montgomery said children learn quicker and more easily with theme-based learning, and the academy’s theme this year is “Our City — the Borough of Queens — Our Community.” Programs will focus on the cultural diversity of the borough.
Sessions are offered for one-, three-, five- or eight-week programs for either a full day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or half days in either the morning or afternoon. Early drop-off and late pickup are also available.
On Friday morning, Viviana Lezamiz of Bayside dropped off her son, Julian, who is attending for his second year.
“I like the combination of academics and sports recreation,” she said.
Lezamiz works in Manhattan three or four days a week, and she said she appreciates having the late pickup available on those days.
Julian, 6, said his favorite sport is boxing, and though pugilism offerings are lacking, the academy does teach soccer, tennis and swimming. All of the academic instructors are DOE-certified, and the classes cover science, architecture, technology, English language arts, Chinese and math.
Art, music and culture are combined with these disciplines in the personal enrichment classes. The academy also offers a “Bookenders” program for parents who want to enroll their children in the academic classes only.
Savannah and Anthony Ng, who live in Great Neck, L.I., said they enrolled their son, Ethan, at QCC’s Chinese academy during the school year.
“One of my friend’s son went last year and they really like the program,” Savannah said. “We want him to learn as much Chinese as possible.”
Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
