Some Bayonne students attended summer school this year not to make up for work they didn’t do, but to get ahead for next year and years afterwards.
The Bayonne School District Proyecto Science Consortium Program is an academically intense, five-week long science, mathematics, and technology program for elementary students. It takes place at New Jersey City University and was designed by NASA to attract minority and female students to careers in mathematics, science, and technology.
Hager Soliman, a student at Bayonne’s Robinson School, came to the program to brush up on his math skills. He said he had learned things about physics and math that he wouldn’t get in elementary school, and will be taking a lot back with him when he starts eighth grade.
“Some of these students won’t get these courses until they get into college.” – Abiodun Banner
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Soliman was among several hundred students who took part in the summer program and a special engineering workshop held at Midtown Community School on July 16.
‘They can build something’
Assistant Director Abiodun Banner said the course is designed to prepare kids for higher-level studies while they are still in eighth grade.
“What we are teaching them is that they can build something,” she said. “When the light bulb goes off, something goes off in them.”
The program stresses development of abstract reasoning and problem solving skills. It also includes numerous applications of technology, such as online learning, graphing calculators, and related educational software.
Along with the theoretical, students learn practical skills such as web design, career awareness, and a variety of computer skills.
But not to take the fun out of summer, the students also get to play chess, take field trips, and even take part in a musical ensemble.
The district has participated in the Proyecto Science Program since June 2001. It has had financial support from the Provident Savings Bank, the Bayonne Educational Foundation, and several elementary school parent/teacher groups.
Preparing for the future
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia McGeehan, who greets the children each year, said Bayonne’s participants excel and become role models in their own environment at home, school, and the community.
With hopes to become a computer engineer some day, Shady Beshai, who attends Midtown Community School, said the course gives him an advantage in high school and college, and students who take this course during the summer will be accepted into New Jersey City University if they meet the other requirements.
Mayar Adbelmeguid, from Henry Harris School, admitted the program had a lot of math. But since she intends to seek a medical career, biology and math are good courses to study.
“It’s been very interesting,” she said.
Falka Shahid, of Lincoln, said she had a lot of fun in the program. Like many others who attended this year’s event, she is considering a future in the medical field.
Building bridges…or vehicles
Clustered into groups of four, five and six, students must work together on various projects. Some years, they build bridges or vehicles. This year they are building an electrical circuit.
Burhan Zaman, a fifth grader from Woodrow Wilson School, helped his partner, Amir Newsome of Watchung, work with circuits. This was Burhan’s second year here.
“I learned a lot about atoms and how opposites attract,” he said, and though still young, he is focusing on a future career as a doctor or a scientist.
Alaa Barbaur of Robinson School is thinking about a career in science. He said he and his partner got their circuit to work at first but seem to have run into a problem, and by the end of the session, they were troubleshooting to see what went wrong.
Oprinder Singh, in the eighth grade at Washington Community School, said his team had worked on their circuit for several hours. He said he took the extra work in the summer because he wants to become an engineer.
Hashem Zidan, of Woodrow Wilson School, said he wants to become a professional basketball player, but is taking up engineering as a backup in case his dream career doesn’t work out.
“I like the idea that I’m getting college level math before I even leave elementary school,” he said.
Ahmed Elzokm of Midtown Community School will likely pursue a career in medicine, and said he likes that this summer program provides college level classes.
Jenny D’Agosto, of John Bailey School, said she came into the program to learn more science and liked being exposed to high school and college material.
Al Sullivan can be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com