Students Discover New Avenues of Learning During Summer at St. Margaret’s

Accelerometers in hand, students in the week-long roller coaster mania summer program visited Knott’s Berry Farm in July to observe the physics and designs of theme park rides. The program, taught by Lower School science teacher David Beshk, culminated with students working in teams to create their own model roller coaster complexes using tubing and 3D-printed cars.

The program was more than just engineering a thrilling ride—it was about creating an aesthetically pleasing one, as well. “Students are not only studying the physics of roller coasters, but the design elements behind them as well,” Mr. Beshk said.

While nearly 300 Upper School students participated in Summer at St. Margaret’s by completing for-credit academic courses, many Lower School and Middle School students eagerly immersed in the fun summer learning.

“Summer at St. Margaret’s allows students the opportunity to continue their studies, or explore different areas of interest to help find a passion under the guidance of our professional instructors,” said Andrew Hammond, director of extensions and special projects. “We had a great turnout this summer thanks to a dedicated faculty offering compelling options.”

The summer programs ranged from the exploration of the solar system in kindergarten, STEM-related offerings like Minecraft and video game design for older students and even programs on culinary creations and video editing.

Visual arts offered courses across media, such as digital sculpture and contemporary studio art, while performing arts had record turnouts of traditional favorites like Innovation Stage and the Summer Music Festival.

Athletic camps, meanwhile, gave students the chance to fine-tune athletic skills or learn new activities such as beach volleyball or stand-up paddleboarding.

In all, there were more than 800 Lower School and Middle School registrations for camps, programs and Gear Up academic preparation courses.