NEW PALESTINE — Officials with Southern Hancock schools have announced their plans for the end of the current school year as well as classes and camps available for summer school. During a recent board meeting, the district announced 7 p.m. Friday, May 24 as the graduation date for seniors at New Palestine High School (NPHS) with the ceremony to be held outside at Kelso Stadium. A rain date has been set for the next day at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 25, or later in the day, at 7 p.m. A third rain day would be 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29.
Officials also shared more information about their summer enrichment programs and the types of classes they’ll offer for older students through NPHS. Miles Hercamp, Director of Instructional Services, talked about the classes, camps and fees for students who want to attend summer classes.
Physical Education will again be available online with fees depending on activities. Health is also available online at on cost to students. Officials will also offer high school students English as well as Algebra I and II, and Geometry.
“There is no cost for those because we get money, a reimbursement from the state for those classes,” Hercamp said.
As for summer school enrichment camps, which normally run a week, they cost $125 per camp and include a wide variety of classes for younger students.
“We’re pretty excited this year because we’re offering 17 different camps for kids,” Hercamp said. “Those classes need to be self-funded, which is why there is a $125 fee for those classes.”
The money pays for supplies, like food in the cooking classes, and art supplies for the art class, plus the money pays for the time the educators and instructors spend working with kids.
All the camp dates differ, for the most part, with the camps offering students a wide variety of education and fun. The camps include things like, Mind Maze Summer Adventure where kids will use coding and operate robots. That camp starts June 17 and is open to 3rd through sixth graders.
“We’ve got some really neat camps this summer,” Hercamp said. “One of the best one will be a cooking class for first and second graders who will read a book and then make what is in the book.”
Some of the camps offered June 10-14 include: Spanish Camp for fifth through eighth graders; Magic Tree House Camp for first, second and third grade students; Bob Ross painting camp for students in third, fourth and fifth grade; If You Give a Kid a Kitchen Camp for first and second grade students; and the Vex IQ Robotics Camp open to third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders.
A Games Galore camp runs June 17-21 for first through fifth graders while a Readers Theater Camp is open at different times for students in second grade through fifth where kids can learn about theater roles. There is also a kindergarten reading camp.
The district is also hosting, but not running, Camp Invention during the first week out of school in June. Many district staff members do assist in the camp, Hercamp noted.
Hercamp noted the district is also offering several remediation classes for second- and third-grade students as well as high school students who need extra assistance in English and math. Parents should check with district officials to find out the availability of classes if their child needs to take a summer class.
For a complete list of the classes and camps available this summer visit https://www.newpal.k12.in.us/departments/curriculum for more information.
