Grace Vaccaro, Staff Writer
The Catskill Area School Study Council (CASSC) was created in 1951 as a partnership between local school districts and SUNY Oneonta. The mission of CASSC is to offer programs for students in local districts while also providing education majors with teaching experience.
Suzanne Swantak is the executive coordinator of the Study Council. She has been the executive coordinator for 11 years. She is also a lecturer in the Education Department, which allows her to see students develop over multiple years, from volunteering in the program to eventually teaching their own classes.
The Enrichment Seminar Program starts on October 17th. This is a longstanding educational experience for children who are interested in learning outside the classroom and seeing what the college world is like. The classes are hosted by current Oneonta education students. Students can also volunteer to help out in classrooms. Students are able to create their own lesson plans and build relationships with the students over multiple weeks. Students have taught programs involving drama, musical theater, science, art, dance, and other subjects.
The program ends with an open house, where parents can come see what their children have been doing. Different classes showcase their work in different ways. Dance students perform, science students participate in activities with their parents, drama students may perform, and art students display their work. Open house is a meaningful opportunity because parents get to see their children’s accomplishments and participate in their learning, and the children are excited to show their parents what they have created.
As someone who volunteered last year and plans to again this year, I learned so much from this experience. I was able to help out the students, teach the class, and get to know the kids. It was amazing to see the students grow in confidence and see their personalities come out each week.
Another program that is hosted in the spring is Bien! Bilingual Immersion Experience Network. This day allows high school students to experience full Spanish immersion with SUNY Oneonta student teachers. Last spring, the high school students interacted with Oneonta students in Spanish while partaking in a scavenger hunt, Bachata dance lessons, and workshops. It is such an amazing opportunity for Spanish speakers.
The program is especially important because many of the students come from rural and economically disadvantaged communities and may have had limited exposure to college or opportunities outside their immediate communities. The program gives them the chance to learn what college is like, hear about college students’ experiences, and think about their own futures. The program also allows SUNY Oneonta students to share their own interests and skills with younger students.
One of Suzanne’s favorite memories of the Enrichment Seminar Program involved a former education student who taught an astronomy class to fourth and fifth graders. She enjoyed watching him realize that he needed to adapt his teaching and classroom-management strategies when dealing with challenging student behavior. Suzanne sees the program as an important place for future teachers to apply what they learn in their education courses to real interactions with children.
Students should also be on the lookout for events hosted by CASSC. It is a highly meaningful and educational experience to be a part of.
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