DILLONVALE — Buckeye Local elementary students have an opportunity for learning fun during an extended summer program in June.

Susan Bachmann, program manager for the district, said activities for its Extended Learning Centers will be held from June 3-27 at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary schools with on-site events and field trips planned. Students in grades K-6 can take part in their respective schools on Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“They will have academics with reading and math as well as STEM, arts and crafts, physical activities and guest speakers,” Bachmann said, noting that the latter includes representatives of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County and area banks. “Every Thursday, there’s a field trip and we’re having an animal theme, so they will visit the Oglebay Zoo and Schrader Center in Wheeling, The Wilds in Zanesville and The Farm at Walnut Creek.”

Free breakfast and lunch will be provided with bus transportation also available. Bachmann said Kelley Novak acts as site coordinator and about 75 students have signed up so far.

She added that the school district received the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Learning Grant this past year to finance the before- and after-school programs, with North in Brilliant and West in Adena each gaining $100,000 and South in Tiltonsville gaining $185,000. Those programs ran from October to April from 8-8:30 a.m. and again from 3:30-6 p.m. and had about 150 students participating. The sessions included physical fitness, interventions for reading and math and instructional time on various topics while dinner was provided at the after-school session. Students also have homework help, technology to complete classwork plus social-emotional and character development lessons. Additionally, the program is being funded for the next five years with the amount decreasing annually.

“The five-year grant required us to have 100 hours of extended learning, so we added it in June,” she explained.

For more information or to register a student, contact Novak at 740-827-6191 or the participating schools.