Students at Holy Child Science & Basketball Camp Get Moving and Thinking

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School of the Holy Child’s recent Science and Basketball Camp became a place for girls to participate in the ultimate hands-on experience, complete with opportunities to experiment with science and take their basketball skills to the next level.

More than 20 third through fifth graders from Westchester County, the Bronx, New York City and New Jersey participated in the three-day camp, designed to keep students engaged in learning while most areas schools closed for winter break.

As part of the program, Holy Child Athletics Director John Pizzi, assisted by Coach Michael Duignan and Upper School basketball players, lead morning basketball skills training while science teacher Mike Clancy provided two hours of science instruction to students in the afternoon. Science instruction challenged students to construct and refine their understanding by investigating and conducting interactive egg drop and Oobleck experiments in the lab.

"This camp encouraged academic and athletic enrichment that reinforces and sparks a love of learning and builds on students’ interests," said Pizzi. “Students loved the hands-on activities.”

And that, in combination with time split between academic and athletic activities, made the program a hit with campers.

“I liked doing the science experiments and playing basketball,” said fifth grade camper Kristen Pagnani of Rye. "It was fun, and I learned a lot."

The success of this camp, in its first year, has inspired the School to host a similar camp to run from April 10-12. This time, says Pizzi, the program will focus on a different sports activity each day and campers will try their hand at rocketry.