COMMUNITY NEWS

Learning through fun in North Bellmore

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Shaving cream might not have been part of teachers’ lessons at Saw Mill Road Elementary School this September, but youngsters who attended North Bellmore Foundation for Academic Enrichment and Recreation summer programs used it in many ways at the school, including for practicing vocabulary words, solving math problems and conducting science experiments.

FAER board member Jenna Cavuto said the program aims to reach children in unconventional ways. “Everything is so fun that they really don’t know that they’re actually learning,” she said. “Everything that we do is hands-on and engaging. Anything that gets the kids more excited about learning is what we try to do in our classrooms.”

More than 200 students from North Bellmore and surrounding communities had a blast during FAER’s 10th annual summer program. The nonprofit group will continue to offer enrichment activities this fall, donating registration fees for all programs to the North Bellmore School District.

The program nurtures “curiosity, confidence and creativity” through science, art, technology and athletic activities. Fliers for the fall program will be distributed in the coming weeks. Parents can also register online at faer-nb.org.

Donna Polimeni, the summer program’s enrichment and recreation director, said FAER was founded in 2004 by North Bellmore parents to expand the children’s academic and recreational experiences beyond what the district could offer through its annual budget.

The FAER board comprises five members, including Polimeni and Cavuto. It meets twice a month to plan programs, which are organized by seasons: summer, fall and winter/spring.

“This year we’ve really taken off,” Polimeni said. “We’re moving forward for the sake of the kids. It’s all about them having fun and enjoying their summer.”

The summer program was open to North Bellmore students entering kindergarten through sixth grade in September, as well as children from other communities like Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford. The program was divided into two parts: the Academic Academy and the Enrichment and Recreation Program. Teen volunteers and teaching assistants, in grade 11 to college, were on hand for both.

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