A Message From The Superintendent

As you know, the Hoboken Public School District has run LEAP Camp for our students over the past six years. The camp serviced hundreds of students in our district, providing both fun and educational experiences during the summer weeks. After reviewing LEAP, we were well aware that the cost was a bit too high, due to the fact that we had to use multiple vendors for enrichment classes.

Thanks to a tip from a district parent (Ms. Anthea Chan), LEAP Camp Director, Ms. Jessica Fasolino connected a few months back with Ms. Daniela Pinto, Director of Youth Development for the YWCA Northern New Jersey. Daniela and her team run summer camps in Weehawken, Mahwah, and Dumont. As a result, the two got to work discussing and planning for a summer camp that would replace LEAP in the Hoboken Public School District with a more affordable option for all families in Hoboken.

I am proud to announce that this summer, the Hoboken Public School District will be offering the YWCamp@Hoboken this summer. Specifics of the camp are as follows:

• The camp will run from June 24th through August 16th (no camp on July 4th or 5th)
• The camp will be available for children ages 5 to 12
• The camp will be open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
• The camp will cost $300 per week (early bird special, payment plans, sibling discount, and tuition assistance & scholarships are available for those who qualify)
• The camp will operate before care from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM at a cost of $50 per week
• The camp will operate after care from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at a cost of $50 per week
  
• The camp will offer a Leaders in Training Program for students ages 13-16 at a cost of $200 per week to gain valuable work experience and future employment possibilities

The YWCamp@Hoboken in the Hoboken Public Schools will offer arts and crafts, music, sports, STEM, yoga, game room, playground time, and afternoon swim. The camp's home base will be at Wallace Elementary School, but the High School and Stadium Field will also be used. We are opening this camp to ALL children that reside in the City of Hoboken.

I know that there are already some questions. The YWCA will host a YW Back to Camp Night (Informational Session) on Monday, February 12th at 6:15 PM in the Wallace School Cafeteria. Wallace School is located at 1100 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030. At this information session, there will also be the chance to register your child in person if you wish. If you do so, registration fees will be waived. All families across the City of Hoboken with summer camp age-eligible children are welcome. Online registration will open soon. I will inform all families when it goes live.

Separate and apart from the YWCamp@Hoboken, I want to make all Hoboken Public School District Families aware of dates of other summer programs that will be taking place within our district that are only available to our students. I know that many families plan summer vacations early, so I do hope that this helps.

First, the Hoboken Public School District will run Splash into Math & Literacy for our students who will be entering 3rd through 8th Grades in September. This support program will assist students who are either recommended by a teacher or principal, or by a parent because they show some fragility of skills in either Math or Literacy or both. This high impact tutoring program will expose children in grade level classes to hands-on reinforcement strategies and activities to strengthen reading and math fluency, decoding and comprehension, and mathematical operations. There will also be swim time built in. This program will take place at Hoboken High School from July 1st through August 2nd from 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM. The cost of this program will be $105 per week. This program will not include lunch. Registration for this program will open on February 1st. Please note that children who are age-eligible for the YWCamp@Hoboken may do our Splash into Math & Literacy Program in the mornings and then do the YWCamp@Hoboken in the afternoon. If a family chooses to do this, the YWCamp@Hoboken afternoon cost is $195. Lunch will be a part of the YWCamp@Hoboken.

Second, the Hoboken Public School District will also run Jumpstart to Literacy for our students who will be entering Kindergarten through 2nd Grades in September. This high impact tutoring program will assist children specifically in the area of Literacy through the use of the Orton Gillingham in small groups. The goal of this multisensory approach is to increase both confidence and reading levels by making explicit connections between letters and sounds. This program will take place at Hoboken High School from July 1st through August 2nd from 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM. The cost of this program will be $105 per week. This program will not include lunch. Registration for this program will open on February 1st. Please note that children who are age-eligible for the YWCamp@Hoboken may do our Jumpstart to Literacy Program in the mornings and then do the YWCamp@Hoboken in the afternoon. If a family chooses to do this, the YWCamp@Hoboken afternoon cost is $195. Lunch will be a part of the YWCamp@Hoboken.

Third, the Hoboken Public School District's Department of Special Services will operate Extended School Year for students who have this program indicated in their IEP. Specific program details are created by the Office of Special Services and are designed to meet the individual needs of each child. The Extended School Year Program for PK through 5th Grade students, including lunch, will take place at the Wallace Elementary School from 8:30 AM until 12:00 PM. The Extended School Year Program for Middle and High School students, including lunch, will take place at Hoboken High School from 8:30 AM until 12:00 PM. Information regarding registration for Extended School Year will be distributed by the Department of Special Services. Families with children who are age-eligible for the YWCamp@Hoboken that attend our Extended School Year Program in the mornings and wish to participate in the YWCamp@Hoboken in the afternoon may speak with Dr. D'Elia and Ms. Pinto to review program offerings and available supports and accommodations.

Fourth, the Hoboken Public School District's Academic Support Center (ASC) at Hoboken High School will be open daily throughout the summer for students entering 9th through 12th Grades in September. The Academic Support Center will be used for credit recovery, course acceleration, test preparation courses, and high impact Math and English tutoring. The High School Guidance Department and Principal's Office will release a summer schedule for the ASC in the upcoming weeks.

Fifth, please check with HOPES and Mile Square for summer programming for Preschool camps.

I hope that this communication helps your family plan for the summer in a more efficient manner. I look forward to seeing you at the Back to Camp Information Session on February 12th. If you have any questions prior to that date or if you cannot attend, by all means, reach out and I will try to assist you in the best way possible. Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Christine Johnson, D.Litt.

Superintendent of Schools