The North Bergen Board of Education is offering a free Saturday morning enrichment program at the high school for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Students engage in fun and exciting educational activities to develop their skills and knowledge, and better prepare them for the school year.
“This program has been a spectacular success for students that need to enhance their education, as well as for parents seeking strategies so they can support their children at home,” North Bergen Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Solter said in a statement.
“I’m very happy to see how this program has grown over the years, which is a testament to its popularity and genuine importance to so many families in our community.”
Beginning as a Targeted Assistance Program around a decade ago, its Title I federal funding originally mandated it exist only for students who were struggling and in need of academic support, however it is now school-wide and all students are eligible to receive services.
The program has substantially grown in size and this school year, over 450 students have signed up to attend.
Students are divided into small class groups of around 10 or 12, who are then supported by teachers who have the flexibility to be creative and utilize fun, hands-on activities to foster and promote learning.
Additionally, twice a month parents are invited to attend a workshop that teaches them tutoring strategies and provides them learning materials so they can assist their children at home.
This reinforces the knowledge the students have gained and ensures new learning takes place throughout the week even while they are not at school.
The subjects covered include the traditional reading, writing, and mathematics, however to make it more enthralling they also provide a rotating curriculum of subjects such as robotics, art, theater, and more.
“One of the biggest challenges facing educators is achieving buy-in from your students, and this program is so successful because the children who attend are genuinely passionate about participating in our fun and exciting learning activities,” exclaimed Program Director Eugenia Ramos.
“If you don’t provide programs the kids will love, they’re not going to get up early on a Saturday morning ready to engage!”
Offered almost every Saturday throughout the school year, the program is held at North Bergen High School, 7417 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, between 9 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Parents can come and sign students up at the high school on any Saturday they are open.
The sessions scheduled for 2023 are January 7th, 21st, and 28th, February 4th, 11th, and 25th, March 11th, 18th, and 25, as well as April 1st.
ELA Math Parent Workshop Dates:
Jan.21st (grades 4-6 parents) Jan. 28th (grades 3-6 parents )
Feb. 11th (K-3 parents) Feb. 25th (K-2 parents)
March 18th (grades 4-6 parents) March 25th (grades 3-6 parents)
