Diamonds on the beach

WEST MILFORD — Eighth grade students and teachers of Macopin Middle School’s “Diamond Cluster” visited the beaches of Sandy Hook in May for an exciting trip that combined multi-educational hands-on studies with a community service project, as well as creative art and exploration opportunities.

Donned in their purple Diamond Cluster t-shirts, with full bellies courtesy of a delicious bagel breakfast donated by the Highlander Deli, the students embarked on the journey with their teachers from the middle school at 7:45 a.m. Teachers divided students into four groups and visited four different “stations” on the beach throughout the day, during which they were presented with various tasks:

Station 1 - included water testing led by former high school science teacher Norma Bozenmayer. Teachers waded into the water to catch samples in nets for the students to observe and examine the diverse marine life from the ocean and bay, including baby shrimp, horse shoe crabs, crabs, minnows, sea horse, jelly fish, and more.

Station 2 - was a Beach Clean-up Service Learning Project using donated supplies leftover from the township’s Beautification Day event in April. The students scoured the beaches, cleaning up debris and garbage on the beaches and along the shorelines.

Station 3 - put the students to task in small groups or pairs, testing their creative thinking skills to design original artwork from random materials found on the beaches.

Station 4 - this “Beach Exploration” activity had the students actively investigating the shore line, discussing the post-Hurricane Sandy effects on the area and the positive impact of recent shore restoration efforts.

After the stations were completed and many pizzas consumed at lunch, Diamond Cluster teachers Joe Andriulli (English), Mary Bozenmayer (science), Krista Provost (social studies), and Jen Williams (math), accompanied by teachers Breanna Kreutzer (English) and Norma Bozenmayer (high school science) led the students in the “Diamond Cluster Olympics.”

Students were placed into four teams by alphabetical order and competed against each other in various physically and mentally challenging activities, including beach ball relay, spooning the ocean, sea shell race, and a jeopardy-style final exam review game, all on the beach!

“The Diamond Cluster Olympics were very successful and good times for all involved,” said Provost.

The group stopped off at Dairy Queen and the students received ice cream cones before returning to Macopin School later that afternoon.

“It was a valuable trip and the students had a great experience learning to work together and the importance of being rewarded for positive behavior and success in the classroom throughout the school year," said Provost. "Being able to review for the final exam (for all four contents) was pretty exciting, and the students were excited and motivated to do well. It was a very successful day, and something the students will never forget.”

"The trip was a great way to cap off a successful and fun school year with our students," said Andriulli.