The Lynbrook Public Schools kicked off its sixth year of the Summer STEAM Academy program on July 8. Thirty-three students entering grades 6-9 from the Lynbrook School District and Lynbrook region are enrolled in the 2019 program which runs through July 25 at Lynbrook High School.

Facilitated by Lynbrook’s Instructional Technology Coordinator Neil MacDermott and teachers Jeffrey Bernhardt, Susan Ehrlich, Michael Kunz and Paul Rotstein, the program encourages exploration, collaboration, communication, problem-solving and creativity through four different science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics courses. Before the start of the summer, students ranked the courses that fit their interests and were then enrolled in two for the summer. This year’s Summer STEAM Academy courses include 3D Art Design, Structures: Bridge Building, Robotics I – Lego Mindstorms and Robotics II – Advanced Robotics, which was brought back into the program this year due to popular demand. 

The small class sizes allow for the students to fully engage in the STEAM activities and get to know their peers. Each day, they participate in their two courses back to back and are enjoying the program. 

“Every time I come back there’s always something new to do and something fun to do,” said incoming Lynbrook North Middle School eighth grader Marino Grillo, who is in his third year at the Academy and enrolled in Robotics II – Advanced Robotics this summer. “I like using the software. It can be a challenge but once you understand it, it’s really fun.”