Art, science summer classes occupy Metuchen Catholic school students

Published: 2004-08-17

METUCHEN, N.J. (CNS) -- About 120 students in the Metuchen Diocese didn't seem to mind attending a week of school this summer. In fact they wanted to participate so much they applied during the winter. But this was no ordinary summer school. The June 21-25 program was the first Bishop's School developed by the Diocese of Metuchen's Office of Schools for qualifying students going into eighth grade. It took place at four sites, each with a different emphasis: theater, science, literature or technology. The students learned about acting, singing, dancing and building theater sets; worked on science projects; discussed works of literature; or created PowerPoint presentations and Web pages. In announcing the program, Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of Metuchen said the new school "recognizes the excellence that high achieving seventh-grade students have attained and strives to reward and reinforce this effort." The Bishop's School was held at no cost to the students. Instead, stipends were given to each school by the diocesan school office to support the program, and schools also contributed services and resources. The program might expand next year because other schools have shown an interest in participating.

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