Summers at Fairfield
Every July, over 60 middle schoolers from East Flatbush travel to Fairfield University's campus. Camp Montmartre, a three-week summer program, is an enrichment opportunity for all students at BJP. Each summer our students spend 21 days filled with learning, community building, and fun. Gianna, pictured on the left, shares that her favorite part about camp is that her and her peers leave their phones at home. "We get to interact with our friends more and talk on a daily basis instead of messaging on the phone," she says. Students get the chance to get away from Brooklyn for a part of their summer, while also gaining invaluable experiences with their peers. We are grateful to have the opportunity to provide them with this experience!
Time for Class!
Camp provides students with additional days of learning each year. Every weekday students are expected in math and English classes. Hunter, a rising 8th grader, shares that his favorite part of camp is "showing new students what it means to be a student at BJP." Our summer curriculum helps ensure our students stay familiar with the content, while also setting them up for success each fall. Our scholars also continue their library studies over the summer through Book Club. This allows them to enjoy new books with their peers and stay diligent in their reading habits.
Rendezvous
Sundays at BJP hone in on our Jesuit values as a school. Students start the day with Mass and close the day with a program called Rendezvous. Each year we present a new theme to our students. This year's theme is "seeking grace in all the small things." Camp sets the foundation for the school year and students begin exploring this theme during camp. During Rendezvous, each group gathers together to see how the theme fits into their Jesuit grad-at-grad values. At the end of the day, each group performs skits for their peers where they discuss what it means to be loving, religious, committed to justice, open to growth, and intellectually competent.
Basketball Clinic
On Monday, July 28th, Fairfield University's Women's Basketball team took time out of their day to hold a basketball clinic for our students. Students learned different skills like dribbling, free throws, and defensive plays. This clinic is another way that students learn how to work as a team while also acquiring new skills on the court! After this year's NativityMiguel Coalition basketball tournament, we knew we had some hidden stars - but seeing our students on the court again showed us just how skilled they truly were. Thank you to head coach, Carly Thibault-DuDonis, and other members of the team for such a wonderful experience. Go Stags!
Trip to the Art Museum
Part of being on campus means having access to wonderful resources! Our students took a trip to the campus Art Museum where they studied various pieces, and learned more about their historical significance.
Swimming Lessons
Students also receive swimming lessons. Our goal is to provide a variety of experiences. Everyone has to pass a special "swim test" at the end of the summer to celebrate their newly acquired skill!
Field Trips
Another student, Ariel, pictured with her peers above, mentions her favorite part about camp are the field trips. Saturdays are dedicated to local field trips. This year that included the Planetarium, Stamford Museum, Adventure Park, CT Science Center, and even zip lining! Students will attend trips with their grade, which allows them to strengthen their bonds while they learn more about the world around them. The variety of places attended intends to provide students with enrichment and fun-filled opportunities. They are able to discover new facts about history, art, themselves, and each other. These trips also encourage kids to be more curious, bolder, and work together to make the most out of their summer!
Summers Together
Camp Montmartre is a core part of BJP's story. This year, 75% of our collegians and counselors were graduates of our school. This time together is formative for our current students and alumni. As educators, our mission is to bridge the education gap our students face. But, beyond that, we hope to provide them with the opportunities needed to strengthen and broaden their experiences. At camp, current students embark on new adventures and our graduates have the opportunity to be leaders. As another successful year of Camp Montmartre comes to a close, we thank everyone who has supported our school to make this possible.
