State grants enrich summer learning for LCPS students

Two state grants valued together at $28,000 will enrich the summer learning experience for LCPS middle school and high school students.

The Health Careers Promotion Grant for $25,000 from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction is going to create the Healthcare Heroes summer camp. Healthcare Heroes, accommodating up to 30 students, will meet for eight days in June at North Lenoir High School. It will be led by two LCPS Health Science CTE teachers, both registered nurses.

The camp is open to all rising seventh-to-12th grade students in Lenoir County. Classes run June 17-20 and June 24-27. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch is provided, but campers are responsible for providing their own transportation.

“The purpose of the Healthcare Heroes summer camp is to create an immersive and educational experience for students interested in health careers, providing them with essential certifications, exposure to various healthcare settings and valuable hands-on learning materials,” said Amy Jones, LCPS’s director of high school education and CTE.

Healthcare Heroes, as with the Health Science programs active at LCPS’s three traditional high schools, is a response to what Jones calls “the increasing demand for healthcare professionals in our community” and provides students a pathway to careers in patient care.

A second grant, routed through Kinston Regional Jetport, provides $3,000 for continuation of the popular ACE Academy, a chance for middle and high school students to pilot drones and learn basic principles of aviation. The grant originated with the Division of Aviation at the N.C. Department of Transportation.

This summer, LCPS – partnering with the Kinston airport and Lenoir Community College – is offering two versions of ACE Academy. The first, ACE Academy 1.0, runs from July 8-11 and is open to students who are new to ACE Academy and to drone piloting. The two-week ACE Academy 2.0 runs July 15-18 and July 22-25 and is open to students who have attended ACE Academy or have drone experience.

All sessions will be held at LCC’s Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center. Transportation and lunch are provided.

Healthcare Heroes and ACE Academy are two of a dozen summer learning opportunities that allow LCPS middle school and high school students to explore a range of interests, from fine arts to robotics. All camps are free. Parents and students can learn more and register at https://bit.ly/lcpssummer2324