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Record Number of Students Enjoy Popular West Orange Summer Enrichment Program

WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange School District Enrichment Program, held June 24 – July 19, registered a record-breaking number of 573 student attendees and offered a huge number of programs. Over 30 certified teachers, several paraprofessionals, and nearly 40 high school volunteers staffed this year’s program.

Director Scott Tomlin, who has worked in the district for 30 years teaching band students at St. Cloud and Hazel, and who has run the Enrichment Program since 2015, was thrilled at the response.

“The West Orange Summer Enrichment Program has been one of the best summer offerings for the families of West Orange for over six decades. Under the direction of Louis Quagliato, our director of Visual and Performing Arts, the program has grown from a small summer music school to a complete educational facility, with classes ranging from physical education to theater and dance, science and technology, to orchestra and band,” he began.

Dr. Denise Makri-Werzen, WOHS registered nurse, and admins Kathy Bryant and Lisa Rodino, assisted Tomlin in running this year’s program.

"We made sure that all courses, health and safety, and transportation ran smoothly," noted Dr. Werzen.

This year’s offerings were diverse and exciting and can be viewed HERE. They included Courses offered in Preparatory (Grades 2-3) and Secondary (4-8) divisions in a wide array of Art, Music, Theater, Dance, Science, Math, Coding, Chinese, Fitness, Baseball, and even ESL classes. Book Club and Chess were added as new courses this year.

In addition to regularly scheduled classes in the morning, after care was available until 4:00 pm, offering parents the opportunity to enroll their children in certified teacher-taught courses and care.

The final week of the Enrichment Program gives parents the opportunity to view special performances by their children, and the last day featured a special concert by the music teachers.

“The program provides a much-needed service, founded in education and fun,” noted Tomlin.

“Our extended day program allows West Orange families to have their children supervised and educated by West Orange teachers until 4:00 PM every day. Our teachers, students, and families look forward to the program every year, and we love what they do,” he concluded.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM SUMMER ENRICHMENT HERE.