Merrick Schools Keep Kids Moving and Thinking Through the Summer

Over the warm and sunny summer months, students entering grades K-6 of the Merrick School District maintained their academic, social and emotional learning aptitudes through enriching and entertaining activities through the district’s Summer Recreation Program.

The program, held at Birch School, attracted close to 200 children and ran from June 28 to July 29. Directors Melissa Robinson, a Levy Lakeside sixth-grade teacher, and Kelley Merkle, a Birch first-grade teacher, incorporated workshops and presentations for students across diverse classes including STEM, drama, culinary skills, art and physical education. They also created unique friendship and personal bracelets with the help of The Lanyard Ladies and learned about science and math from visiting math scientists.

During the last week of the program, students participated in field day activities and a performance of their summer musical. On field day, students were divided among four teams and competed in relay races, tug of war and potato sack races. As a culmination of the program, the drama class took to the stage for its musical “Ordinary Hero,” singing, dancing and acting for an audience of other students, parents, families and administration.

On the final day of the program, children enjoyed a summer festival of carnival games, activities, inflatables and dancing while snacking on delicious popcorn and cotton candy, all graciously donated by Board of Education Trustee Butch Yamali’s company, Dream Event Planning.

Photos: Merrick School District