Summer Programs in the Island Trees School District are well underway with excellent attendance in all programs. Programs offered by the district to local children include a Summer YES Program, Summer Music Program, Extended YES Program, Summer Sports Camps, Electronic Music Program, High School Science Enrichment Program and High School Evening Recreation.

The Summer YES Program, with over 800 students in attendance, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for the entire month of July. The program is available to all Island Trees elementary school students grades one through six for a $3 fee. Classes available in the program include reading, math, science, arts and crafts and recreation, as well as enrichment programs for students who need additional help in areas such as math and reading. The district also offers an extended YES program, in an effort to provide adequate child care for working parents who cannot pick up their children at 12:15 p.m. Children in the extended program, which was collaborated with the district and SCOPE, are picked up at 12:15 and brought to Stokes Elementary School until their parents pick them up at 6 p.m.

In the extended program, children have lunch in air conditioned rooms and are provided with a snack each day. They are provided with both indoor and outdoor activities, including arts and crafts, dance, games, movies and field trips. The average cost per child is under $20 or $460 for the full 24-day program for one child and $420 for each additional child in the same family. Parents who decide to enroll their child in the program on a part time basis pay $24 per day for one child and $22 for each additional child in the same family. Residents who have any questions in regard to this program may contact Mrs. Koutsoftas in the Superintendent's Office at 520-2100.

This year, 80 percent of all Island Trees first graders enrolled in the Summer YES Program. There are 66 percent of second graders, 66 percent of third graders, 62 percent of fourth graders, 54 percent of fifth graders and 39 percent of sixth graders enrolled in the program. There are almost 50 students currently enrolled in the extended YES program on a full time basis.

The Summer Music Program runs for four weeks at Stokes School, from 8 a.m. to noon. Children interested in music are provided with a half hour lesson followed by a half hour of supervised practice. The fee for this program, available to students in grades five through ten, is $80 per student. Children are also given the opportunity to rent an instrument through the school district at a cost of $20. There are over 240 students currently enrolled in the music program.

In addition to the regular summer music program, students are also given the opportunity to participate in the electronic music program, focused on synthesizer technology. In the extended program, students are provided with the opportunity to discover the state of the art technology offered in the newly renovated music lab at Island Trees High School. Among the activities to participate in, students compose scores of their original music. In addition, students learn to record several tracks at one time and learn concepts of arranging, mixing and producing music. Students may even make a cassette or CD copy of their recordings to take home. There are currently 36 students currently enrolled in the program.

Hundreds of students are enrolled in the sports camps, with 16 different activities offered each week throughout the months of July and August. The program is offered through the school district in cooperation with the Levittown-Island Trees Youth Council.

Students in grades four through twelve are given the opportunity to be instructed in the basic fundamentals of a particular sport by certified coaches. Students may also be assisted by college or high school athletes presently participating in that sport.

Camps run for three hours a day for one week, with one sport offered per week. Activities available for students include boys and girls basketball, girls softball, football, boys lacrosse, girls volleyball, baseball, boys and girls soccer and wrestling.

The Island Trees Summer Program also offers a science enrichment program and evening recreation to high school students. The science enrichment program, offers high school students the use of the HS science lab. The High School Evening Recreation Program runs from 7 to 10 p.m. three days a week and offers students recreational time in the evenings since many are busy during the day.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Segerdahl commented that he is very pleased with how well the programs are running, especially the excellent attendance at all the programs. He added that the best aspect of these summer programs is that students who live in Island Trees don't have to be sent to camp, they can enjoy similar activities right in their own neighborhood.