Students work together for common cause

Students work together for common cause

Manassas, Va. - You might have thought people were at a real amusement park for all the fun they were having Friday at Round Elementary School in Manassas.

The aroma of freshly popped popcorn lent ambiance to the carnival atmosphere in the school's multi-purpose room, where a model amusement park stood just below the stage.

The park -- designed and built by students from Manassas City schools during a summer engineering camp -- had shoe box concession booths with working lights, a cardboard and construction paper train, a roller coaster, shooting galleries and other amusements along with waving flags and twirling rides powered by little battery operated motors.

Parents with cameras were there in abundance.

Janet Graham, who coordinated the week-long camp designed to teach problem solving, communication and cooperation, said she hoped the camp was a training opportunity where the students learned a thing or two

"They had to brainstorm what games and concessions and rides they were going to have, and come up with solutions," said Graham, a science and engineering specialist for Manassas City Public Schools.

The engineering aspect came in the building of the park.

"They had to come together and make the park," Graham said.

Josh Hartt said what he learned in the summer camp will serve him well in the future.

"I think it will help me with my life when I get older," the 9-year-old said.

Evan Salsieder who made a dart game had learned a practical lesson.

It seems some paint fouled the contacts on his batteries and kept the light on his concession from working.

"I learned that you should definitely paint before you put the batteries on because it's going to cause some technical problems," said the 9-year-old Evan.

Linda Mitchell's daughter Jenna Mitchell attended the summer camp.

She said she thought her children got what they were supposed to get out of the program.

"She was able to use her creativity. I tell you ... my kids were excited about engineering camp," Linda Mitchell said.

Karen Heath's 8-year-old grandson, Daniel Wambold, also attended the camp.

Heath said as far as she was concerned, the camp worked.

"I think he did learn to work with other kids to make a unified thing," Heath said.

Lexi Houk and her twin sister, Layne, were at the grand finale Friday along with their friend Mikayla Mauck.

Lexi, 11, said she learned how to "work together and discuss things and make it work."

"If you don't communicate, you don't know where to put stuff," Layne said.

"You have to problem solve," Mikayla said.

"No matter what age you are or what school you went to you can all work together," Layne said.

Round Elementary School Principal John Durko said from what he could tell the students had fun at the camp.

"I think they got a lot of enjoyment and the chance to explore a lot of ideas and to put things together in a way that was a nice compilation of ideas. I think it was just a good experience for the children," he said.

Senior Reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.