SMART Camp Offers Enrichment Programs In Art, Music & Science

By Tanjua Damon

Students do not associate the words summer and school as closely as they do the words summer and fun. That may be changing, however. Over 120 students filled the classrooms at Middle Gate School to take part in an enrichment program called SMART – Summer Music and Art.

The Newtown Continuing Education Department, under the direction of Diane Thompson, puts together a program each summer for students in kindergarten through fifth grade in which the students come together to learn more about music, art, and science in an atmosphere that is fun and creative. Other programs are also offered throughout the summer for students.

Two two-week sessions were available to students this year. The groups met from 8:30 am to 1 pm, participating in three one and a half-hour classes. Students enjoyed making jewelry, masks, and stained glass, as well as learning about music, painting, and science.

The teachers for the programs had just as much fun as the students. They also felt that the program allowed students to find out about themselves in a non-competitive atmosphere where they can enjoy themselves.

Leslie Gunn, an art teacher at Sandy Hook School, has been spending the two-week sessions helping students understand various art techniques, but is also allowing the students to observe things for themselves and put what they see into their own perspective.

“Each child interprets their own composition. I think it shows that the subject matter can be the same, but their individuality comes out,” Mrs Gunn said. “They are understanding the painting process more. They are self motivated and supporting. The biggest element is the time factor. They are able to sit, relax, and really integrate their knowledge and have it valued.”

The summer program also exposed students to artists and teachers who have knowledge to pass on to the young sponges who absorbed each activity.

 “It’s important because they get a chance to see how traditional stained glass techniques were done. It exposes them to mixing of colors and using transparent colors that bring the art to life,” Susan Eason, stained glass teacher, said. “They also get a chance to design pieces of their own work.”

Pat Martin taught the students how to make decisions in jewelry design and mask making. She wanted them to leave the summer program understanding the process of deciding on what colors to use or how to simply make good choices.

 “It expands their recreational time and their conceptual time,” Ms Martin said. “It actually entices the brain for them to think things through. They can really explore on their own.”

Jenna Minnerfarb enjoyed jewelry making the most because of all the different things she has been making in the class.

“It’s my favorite class. We make a lot of stuff and they are all different,” Jenna said. “In some classes we do the same things over, but in this class we do different things.”

The stained glass class drew in Sara Hill even though she had some experience with stained glass before. She enjoyed being able to think of her own ideas and try them out on a piece of glass. She created a Japanese cartoon character named Monica.

“I like it a lot. It’s pretty fun. It’s pretty easy once you get used to it,” Sara said. “A lot of people do it in my family. I’ve been doing it for five years.”

Students created many different things in the Native American art class, from sand paintings to pouches to shields.

“We get to do sand paintings and fun stuff,” Chole Mora said. “I like sand paintings. It’s just like the beach.”

Getting messy is one criterion Katie Power used to select the three classes she would participate in. She took part in the paper mache, acrylics, and icky sticky science.

 “We get to do a lot of art. I want to draw 3-D, which I’m not really good at,” Katie Power said. “I like doing paper mache. I like getting messy.”

The teachers were thrilled with the enthusiasm the students brought to the summer program and their ambition to learn about the things around them.

 “These students are so creative. There are a lot of different programs here,” Marianne Mulvaney, Native American Art teacher, said. “They have so much energy in the summer. They absolutely learn. We have so much fun.”

Adam Wenick sums up the program quite nicely with a compliment for all the teachers who enriched the young minds that learned summer and school can mix.

 “I have learned a lot about painting from Mrs Gunn. She has taught me how colors contrast,” Adam said. “I’ve liked how the teachers teach you how to do things. I guess that’s why they call it SMART camp.”