What Rockville Centre school district is doing to support students and families

The Rockville Centre school district offers a variety of programs throughout the year to provide support and activities for students, adults and families. Program directors had an opportunity to brag about the success of programs to the members of the board of education on Feb. 6 and shared what to expect this summer.

The Project Great program has seen significant growth, according to program director Nicole Gigante, with enrollment numbers surpassing previous years. The before- and after-school care initiative, which provides “exactly what working families need each and every day,” she said, had a record number of participants during the school year, with 290 students utilizing the drop-in services throughout the year.

Gigante emphasized the importance of the program, which offers nutritious meals, homework assistance and recreational activities for elementary school students in every elementary building. She noted that the program also allows students from the local middle and high schools to earn volunteer hours, providing them with valuable “first-hand experience” working in a school.

“Project Great is still a wonderful place that children love to be a part of,” Gigante said. “Our staff is excellent; our coordinators are leaders and we offer a safe and nurturing place for our children before and after school.”

Community education director Chris D’Ambrosio highlighted three district-operated community education programs. He outlined the district’s success with Winter ACE, a program for children from kindergarten through eighth grade that allows students to “explore interests and have fun while developing talents and skills.” The program, which includes six, one-hour classes on Saturday mornings in the winter, gives students the chance to work with community teachers and engage in a variety of hands-on activities like crafting, coding and cooking. 

“It’s a way for kids throughout the Rockville Centre community to interact with each other, build friendships and make connections for middle school,” D’Ambrosio said, “which is right around the corner for many of them.”

D’Ambrosio also pointed to the growth in the ongoing Regents review courses, which support high school students preparing for their end-of-year assessments, as another key component of the district’s community education initiative. The evening sessions are held at the middle school and high school, and they all see high enrollment.

He also explained the popular adult programs at the high school throughout the school year which provide “educational enriching activities for adults in the community and “diverse courses that will meet the needs of a wide range of age groups.” Class options range from financial planning and tap dancing to drawing and painting. 

Looking ahead to summer, Pre-K coordinator Lesli Dennino highlighted the value of the district’s summer pre-kindergarten program, held at William S. Covert Elementary School, which provides early education to prepare students for kindergarten. The program’s curriculum emphasizes numeracy, alphabet skills and socio-emotional development, along with time for playing outdoors on the playground and in the gym. Teachers work to replicate a kindergarten environment to help ease the transition into elementary school, Dennino explained. 

She said this upcoming summer’s pre-k program has enrollment higher than expected.

“It really helps to bridge the gap,” she said of the program, “to get the students ready for kindergarten.”

The district’s other summer programs, overseen by summer program principal Keith Eckert, have shown recent significant growth, with over 400 students enrolled last year — the highest number since the pandemic. New offers included a drone legends course, robotics instruction and an advanced coding class, which Eckert said were popular among students last year. Ninth grade students are also able to earn volunteer hours as part of the program.

The summer program will run from July 7 to August 7, offering a wide range of courses, including arts and crafts, technology, and academic remediation for all ages. To learn more, including the cost of each program, visit RVCComEd.ce.Eleyo.com.