Oswego County TodayPirates Invade Summer Program at APW

“What ayer ye be orderin’ fer yer lunch today, matey?” Bonnie Horning, School Lunch Manager at APW, (right) asked pirate Nick Tibbles (left) in her best pirate accent. The Summer of Discovery Program offered by the APW district through the 21st Century grant, featured themed weeks including student-favorite pirate week recently at Parish Elementary School. A special pirate cookout was held to kick off the pirate week.

“Avast ye mateys!” A full-scale pirate invasion took place in the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown School District’s Summer of Discovery program this week with pirates to the right, pirates to the left, and everywhere you looked, including the food service personnel dishing out the “pirate grub” for lunch. The pirate-themed week of activities kicked off with pirate costumes and a cookout. The summer program with a camp atmosphere provided students a fun opportunity to do their best “Jack Sparrow” imitation by sporting pirate bandanas and colorful eye patches during the lunchtime picnic.

Summer of Discovery combines the best of a summer recreation camp and summer academic classes into one eight-week grant-funded program in the district. More than 250 students participate in the summer program encompassing all grade levels in the district from the High School Helpers, Middle School RASP participants and the Rebel Club Elementary School members. The program infuses four days of learning into the activities and features three hours of ELA and math instruction in the morning followed by computer, music, science and physical education components in the afternoon. Each Friday, the students take field trips to destinations such as the Museum of Science and Technology, Fort Rickey Game Farm, and more. But for pirate week, the participants stormed Thunder Island, appropriately enough.

The cost of the program is covered through the 21st Century Grant awarded to the APW District and includes the summer program as well as transportation for the participants to and from home. Another benefit is the availability of breakfast and lunch to students in the district through the Summer Feeding Program Federal Grant, again at no cost to the district or parents of the participants. “Arg, and shiver me timbers!”

For information about the Summer of Discovery Program or the 21st Century Grant, contact Judy Lilley, Director of Pupil Personnel at 625-5234.