Unique summer opportunities offered to Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) students were detailed during the March 14th meeting of the Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP).
LCPS Gifted Program Supervisor Julie Kelly and high school gifted resource teacherSusan Helsley spoke about the Governor’s School Program.
The Virginia Governor’s School Program began in 1973. The first summer residential programs hosted 400 gifted students in three summer schools. The Governor’s School program has expanded to more than 40 sites.
These schools provide academically and artistically gifted students challenging programs beyond those offered in their home schools. Each Summer Residential Governor’s School focuses on one special area of interest. Students live on a college or university campus for up to five weeks. During this time, students are involved in classroom and laboratory work, field studies, research, individual and group projects and performances and seminars with noted scholars, visiting artists, and other professionals.
Subjects studied at Governor’s School include humanities, mathematics, science, technology, life science and medicine, foreign languages, dance, instrumental music, vocal music, theater and the visual arts. Mentorships also are available in marine science and engineering.
Helsley said this gives students an opportunity to pursue a passion in-depth. For many students, it also provides them with their first experience with an extended stay away from home. It also introduces students to peers in the state with the same interests.
Governor’s School is open to gifted sophomores and juniors. Students must apply for the following year’s school in October. Applications are online athttp://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Govschools.
About 30 to 40 LCPS students attend residential Governor’s School each summer.
Helsley had this advice to those wishing to attend a residential summer program: “Once you start, you really have to be committed to finishing this.”
For those not wanting to attend a non-residential camp for the arts, another Governor’s School program, PAVAN, is available. PAVAN (Performing and Visual Arts Northwest) is free to all qualified applicants. It offers rising ninth- to 12th-graders a two-week, intensive study in their choice of theater, dance, guitar, vocal music or the visual arts.
PAVAN will be held July 9th through the 20th at Sherando High School in Frederick County. Transportation is available.
Information about PAVAN is on the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) home page,www.lcps.org, under the Fine Arts button under Quick Links. For more information, please contact PAVAN Director, A.J. Ikner, atdirector@pavanw.org or visitwww.pavanw.org.
Lyceum Coordinator Michael Stine presented information about the program formerly known as Summer in the Arts. Stine said the name change was made because Lyceum has branched out beyond the arts into the realm of technology.
Lyceum began in 1988 at Simpson Middle School and has grown to the point that it served 525 students last year.
The two-week Lyceum program is open to students in sixth through 12th grades (although some classes are age- and ability-restricted). Classes are offered in the performing, literary, visual, creative and technical arts. Classes range from the introductory level to advanced/intensive workshops.
Instructors for the workshops are chosen from Loudoun’s finest arts teachers in both public and private education. Stine said one of the beauties of Lyceum is that teachers are allowed to explore subjects in depth in a way that a regular class setting would not allow.
Lyceum runs from9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 25th to July 6th with no class on July 4th. Classes will be held at Heritage High School.
Thirteen buses will offer transportation to Lyceum from various locations in the county.
The cost for Lyceum is as follows:
· One student: $ 425
· Two students: $ 800
· Three students: $ 1,200
· Four students: $ 1,600
There are Lyceum scholarships and financial aid is available.
Internships are available for select students entering into 11th or 12th grade. An internship application must be completed and submitted for consideration.
For more information about Lyceum, go towww.lcps.org, click on “Fine Arts” in the “Quick Links” menu and select “LYCEUM” on the left side.
Monroe Technology Center (MTC) guidance counselor Michelle Trudel outlined MTC’s Career Camp.
Career Camp is open to rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. It’s sponsored by the LCPSOffice of Career and Technical Education. Career Camp consists of workshops in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and the practical arts. Students choose two career clusters to study in during the week-long program.
Career clusters include:
· Agricultural Technology
· Architectural Technology
· Communications
· Health and Medical Sciences
· Hospitality
· Human Services
· Public Safety
· Information Technology
· Transportation
Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. between June 11th and 15th at MTC. The fee for the camp is $150 with a registration deadline of April 30th. All activities are led by MTC teachers. Camp assistants are current MTC students and assistants.
Besides exposing students to the equipment used at MTC, Trudel said students can get a look at course options they might want to pursue in high school.
Those interested in the Career Camp may contact Trudel atMichelle.Trudel@lcps.org.
The next LEAP meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 11th. The subject for the evening will be “After-School Specials.”
03/29/12/wbb
