> SOUTHERN INDIANA —
With goggles on and rubber bands pulled to their limits in their hands, 11 students split between two teams, lined up and stood on opposite sides of the classroom at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Friday.
“Ready. Aim. Fire!” teacher Mark Stemle yelled, as he grabbed some rubber bands to help the team that was short a person.
Students shot quickly, trying to knock over the opposing team’s plastic army men, which were situated behind forts created from wooden building blocks.
Stemle said the idea was to take the video game, “Call of Duty,” and turn it into a hands-on activity.
“The focus is fun and problem solving,” he said, adding that students learn about how to design more structurally sound forts. “The biggest thing I like to see is social progress, building relationships and working together. Many times kids are sitting in front of a TV or playing a computer game and not talking to one another.”
The two-week class is part of the school’s annual summer enrichment programs. Other classes included lessons on Lewis and Clark, computers, reading and more.
Students in Stemle’s class said they didn’t mind heading back to school during their summer break.
“If I was at home I’d probably still be in bed or watching TV and this is more fun,” 11-year-old Evan Saylor said.
“And here you get to see your friends that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to see.”
“I guess technically it is school, but it’s pretty fun,” said 13-year-old Nathaniel Parker.
Stemle said the key to winning comes down to one skill.
“They figured out communication is the biggest thing when they attack the other team,” he said.
Students agreed.
“I’m learning architecture and teamwork and communication,” Parker said. “We’re communicating while we’re shooting so we can focus on what to take down.”
Principal Terry Horton said the school has offered the summer enrichment courses for five years now.
“It’s a great thing to keep kids’ minds going through the summer,” she said. “It gives them some structure and some learning during the summer.”
She said a total of 70 students participated in the program this year.
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Related Photos
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Evan Saylor, 11, laughs after making a hit on his opponent's castle with a rubber band Friday morning during a summer enrichment program at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in New Albany. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
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Lydia Rush dressed as Sacajawea Friday morning during the summer enrichment program at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in New Albany. Rush attended a class about Lewis and Clark designed for children in first through third grades. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
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Students take turns firing rubber bands at their opponent's buildings and toy soldiers during Matt Stemle's "Games Before You Were Born" class at OLPH Friday morning. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
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