COURTLAND—Learning doesn’t take a vacation, as many children found out this past June and July. Students in grades 3 through 7 participated in a STEM program, which took place at Riverdale Elementary School from June 30-July 24. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Tasha Ricks, who had been an administrative assistant at Riverdale, served as principal for the summer school.

“This was my second year doing this type of program, and it went very well. The children learned through hands-on activities,” she said. “The program will go forth next year.”

But alas, without her. Ricks said she’s received a promotion and is going to Meherrin Elementary this coming school year.

Related to the STEM categories, the students studied subjects ranging from astronomy to meteorology, and created displays, games and other hands-on activities.

Two of the children spoke about their experiences, including Aliyah White, a rising 5th-grader.

“Me and my friends did a project about constellations and wrote a song,” she said. “I learned about the phases of the moon and planets.”

In addition, White worked on math skills with teammates. They learned so much to earn first place in a competition, and were rewarded with an ice cream party.

White, 10, also joined the others in a field trip to Washington, D.C. Among the sights was a visit to the National Air and Space Museum.

Tristen Gary, a rising 7th-grader at Southampton Middle School, had her head in the clouds, so to speak.

“We worked on weather and the clouds, thunderstorms and precipitation,” said Gary, adding that she and other students learned about the stratosphere and cumulus clouds.

Gary also sharpened her abilities in math and computers, and worked with other students in creating a display about what they learned.

Attending the STEM camp was a first for the 12-year-old, and she plans to do it next year.

In addition to touring the nation’s capital, the students visited the WLQM and Channel 3 in Norfolk.