On March 6, Helen B. Duffield Elementary hosted their annual Literacy Night with the theme “A Night at the Library”. Families received traditional library cards and explored fun stations all night long. Highlights included a reader’s theatre, bingo, an interactive hallway, read-alouds, crafts, a fairytale forest (STEM building center) and even a Mo Willems hallway! It was a magical evening celebrating the joy of reading!

 

Click here to view the Duffield’s “Night at the Library” slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/11/2025

Students across the district showcased their dedication and digital skills in this year’s highly anticipated typing competition, “Typing in a T-Bird Wonderland!” Participants collectively logged an impressive 2,690 hours and 32 minutes honing their typing abilities, achieving an outstanding 97% accuracy rate!

The competition, open to second through fifth grade students, challenged the participants to improve their speed and precision. This event not only highlighted the importance of keyboarding skills in today’s digital world but also fostered a sense of accomplishment and friendly competition among students.

The highlight of the event was the much-anticipated winner’s announcement video, which celebrated the top-performing students and classrooms. Teachers and students eagerly watched as winners were revealed.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Instructional Technology team, whose creativity and dedication brought this initiative to life. Special recognition is extended to Victoria Pappas, Nikki Frink-Martin and Kristen Fantry, under the leadership of Director of Instructional Technology Elizabeth Weis, for their hard work in organizing this event. Their efforts ensured a seamless and engaging experience for all participants.

Additionally, the success of “Typing in a T-Bird Wonderland” would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of our incredible teachers and staff. Their dedication to fostering student growth and enthusiasm for learning played a crucial role in the competition’s achievements.

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, we extend our gratitude to everyone who participated and supported this initiative. Congratulations to all our students for their hard work, determination, and impressive typing skills! Below are the winning classes with the most minutes total:

Grade 2 - Ms.  Abbinanti, Cherokee Street

Grade 3 - Ms. Gonzalez, Duffield

Grade 4 - Ms. Fierenze, John Pearl

Grade 5 - Ms. D'Ambrosio/ Ms. Feil, Cherokee Street

 

 

Date Added: 3/5/2025

In celebration of Digital Learning Day on Feb. 27, Connetquot honored and recognized teachers around the district who are leading the way in utilizing and integrating digital tools, dubbing them “Digital Heroes”.

These educators have gone above and beyond to support their students and colleagues in navigating the digital learning landscape. Each building principal nominated one Digital Hero from their building who exemplified leadership, innovation and dedication to the integration of technology into the classroom. These educators not only use digital tools effectively but are also sources of inspiration and support for their colleagues.

Congratulations to Julia DeMaio (Idle Hour Elementary), Nicolette D’Ambrosio (Cherokee Street Elementary), Douglas Dos Santos (Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School), Alan Fertmann (Connetquot High School), Patricia Firenze (John Pearl Elementary), Ross Grandin (Connetquot High School), Jessica Grieve (Helen B. Duffield Elementary), Elizabeth Jonas (Edith L. Slocum Elementary), Christina Ladick (Sycamore Avenue Elementary), Lisa Manzo (Edward J. Bosti Elementary) and Debra Smith (Ronkonkoma Middle School) on being named Digital Heroes!

Each winner received a certificate of recognition and a free school subscription to Gemini for the remainder of the year, further supporting their efforts in digital learning.

 

Click here to view the Connetquot’s Digital Heroes slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/3/2025

Congratulations to the winners of the Kindness Grows Here contest at Duffield! Students were asked to write on the petals of a flower, stating what they could do to spread kindness. The winners were selected based on their creativity and use of descriptive language:

Kindergarten: Aliya Nihal
Grade 1: Aubrey Puckett
Grade 2: Jolianna Plafker
Grade 3: Ian Salas
Grade 4: Sharvesh Iyyappan
Grade 5: Caleb Castracane

Each winner received a special gift bag filled with a mini trophy, a coupon for a free sundae at Applebee’s, a kindness bracelet, kindness play dough, a kindness eraser, and both a wind chime and flower pot to decorate.

 

Click here to view the Duffield announces Kindness Grows Here contest winners slideshow.

 

Date Added: 2/27/2025

We’re excited to highlight two of Duffield’s fifth grade clubs as they finish for the year. The Knitting Club mastered new skills and created beautiful scarves just in time for the colder weather. Meanwhile, the Computer Science Club wrapped up their independent projects in Sprite Editor during their KidOYO class. Congratulations to our top three winners! It’s been a fantastic year of learning and creativity for both!

Click here to view the Duffield Club Highlights slideshow.

 

Date Added: 2/11/2025

On Feb. 5, students at Helen B. Duffield Elementary took part in Global School Play Day, an event designed to encourage independent play and creativity. For the special day, students brought in their favorite toys and games from home, creating an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie as they played in groups.

During Global School Play Day, students are encouraged to engage in free play without the use of screens, structured games or adult direction. The idea is to let children explore their creativity, problem-solving skills and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment.

It’s believed that play is a crucial aspect of a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development. Global School Play Day was created to bring attention to the value of play in learning and to foster a global conversation about the role of play in education.

Click here to view the Duffield Elementary celebrates Global School Play Day slideshow.