FOCUS Session 1 & 2 Highlights

FOCUS Students have enjoyed several enrichments during Session 1 & 2 including, but not limited to, Art, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math), Physical Education, Cooking Science, Creative Writing, Kid Blog, Stop-Motion Animation, and Sewing.
Our program, serving almost ninety 4th-8th grade Hornell students, also offers daily homework help & recreation. Our dedicated staff are committed to helping all our students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.
Our success is the result of the time, effort, and support of teachers, administration, FOCUS staff, families, and students!

SUMMER FUN!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Summer FOCUS program! :) Students had lots of fun painting their art history teapots, flying the drone, making their rockets, and so much more!

 

** Stay tuned for information about our after-school program starting in September.

We hope to see some familiar faces! **

 



Success at the Youth Olympics

Our field trip to Arcade, NY to compete in the Youth Olympics was a success. Several students took home ribbons in the following events: standing long jump, sack race, 50 yard dash, soccer kick, softball throw, and freestyle swimming. Everyone had a great time!

Who will be watching the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?

Summer Field Trip Fun

For the first time, FOCUS students visited the Fingers Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport, NY. While there, students learned about the history of the Finger Lakes by participating in a scavenger hunt. Students also practiced drawing 3D boats and even got to create their own handheld boat to take home!

FOCUS students also traveled to Champlin Beach Park to swim in Keuka Lake, where they enjoyed jumping in the water on a hot summer day.

FOCUS Ends with an Erie Canal Tour!

For our end of the year field trip, FOCUS traveled to Lockport to tour the Erie Canal. Students learned about the history of the Erie Canal, including locks, two of which they toured through. Everyone had lots of fun. Thanks for a great year!

 

Here students are learning how locks work.

Pictures on the boat!

All smiles on the Erie Canal!

Last Day of FOCUS is Friday June 17

The last day of FOCUS for the school year is Friday June 17, where we will be traveling to the Erie Canal for a field trip. Hand in your permission slips by Monday June 13 if you'd like to attend! :)

Some of our favorite enrichments this year include Engineering with the Science and Discovery Center, Ceramics with 171 Cedar Arts, and Cooking with Miss Jen. Take a look at some pictures below.

In Engineering, students built a bridge made out of straws and a dome made out of colored paper. Great work everyone!

 
Amanda Warren from 171 Cedar Arts taught our students how to make several ceramic pieces. Here you see students showing off their bird baths and name plates. Students had so much fun creating their ceramic pieces that they always get to take home. Thanks Amanda!

Miss Jen cooking some pizza quesadillas, one of her delicious recipes she taught our FOCUS students how to make.

Students Take 3rd Place at ROV Challenge!

Mr. Gebhard's STEM enrichment created an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for a competition at Bath Haverling High School. Students from FOCUS took 3rd place in the rise to the top challenge, where they had to drive their ROV to the bottom of the pool and allow it to float to the top. Congratulations to all the students who competed!

Students presented their ROV machines at a science fair before the competition.

Preparing for the challenge!

Students showing off their 3rd place ribbons!

SUMMER FOCUS!

Are you ready for summer? Our summer FOCUS program will run from July 11th to August 11th from 8:00am-12:00pm on Mondays through Thursdays. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to students. Students will participate in academics, hands on enrichments, and recreation time! Hand in your application by Thursday May 26.

Wildlife Defenders

Before spring break, the Wildlife Defenders visited FOCUS with a group of very unique animals. We got see a crocodile, an armadillo, a groundhog, and other interesting animals! Thanks for the fun! :)

Engineering Challenge

Over the weekend, Alfred University hosted an engineering challenge where students were asked to create a miniature bobsled and a marble run. Our FOCUS students worked well in teams and created some awesome projects. Enjoy the photos from the event!

Here students are testing their homemade bobsleds. Who will have the fastest time?

 

 Students got very creative when making their marble runs.

 

Brady and Jacob represented Hornell Intermediate School as the accepted our trophy!

Alfred State Culinary Arts Transforms FOCUS Students into Chefs!

The Alfred State Culinary Arts Program visited FOCUS this week! In their chef hats, students created healthy salads made with spinach, turkey, and fruits. They also had the choice to decorate a monkey cupcake or a beehive cupcake. Everyone had a great time. Thanks Alfred State!

 

Career Day Fun!

On Wednesday this week, several guest speakers presented to FOCUS students about their healthcare occupations. Speakers included a doctor, nurses, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, and a speech pathologist. Students even got to measure their balance and check their heart rate! Thank you to all of our guest speakers for the educational fun!

Mouse Trap Cars

Undergraduate students from Alfred University visited FOCUS to help our Engineering students create mouse trap cars! The cars are made using wood, wooden rods, CD's, string, and a mouse trap. Take a look at the video below.

FOCUS Students Learn Chess

New this session, several FOCUS students are learning how to play chess! Mr. Kossow and volunteers from the high school have also joined us to help out. Soon students will be competing against each other. Who will be the reigning chess champion?

 

 

Alfred University Art Students Visit FOCUS

Undergraduate art students from Alfred University joined us for a day at FOCUS. Students rotated from several stations, each with a different art project to create. Students learned out to weave paper, stitch with burlap, create masks, use graphite, and so much more. Take a look at some photos from the event!

Underwater ROV Machine

For the past several weeks, students enrolled in Underwater Robotics with Mr. Gebhard have been creating their ROV machine. Earlier this week, students tested their machine underwater for the first time!

Later in the spring, students will participate in a competition where they will have to control their machine through several underwater obstacles.

Family Enrichment Series

On Thursday February 11, students and families participated in our second Family Enrichment program, focusing on honesty and making positive choices. Each family went home with a copy of the book, "Ruthie and the (Not So) Teenie Tiny Lie." Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a free spaghetti dinner. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Session 3 Has Begun!

New enrichments are now being offered as Session 3 has begun. New enrichments include Yoga, Lego Stories, Digital Citizenship, Underwater STEM, and Cooking. We have partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension to offer students the opportunity to participate in the cooking class, Choose Health Cooking.

Earlier this week students smile as they prepare vegetarian quesadillas made with peppers, onions, corn, and beans!

 

Here you see students learning new yoga skills!