Fifth grade C-Quest students from Cherokee Street, Slocum and Duffield elementaries studied financial literacy for several weeks prior to their field trip to Commerce Plaza, “the children’s business center”, in Levittown.

While at Commerce Plaza, each student received a “job” for the day and had a bank account, checks and a debit card. They performed their job within the Commerce Plaza community, and all worked together to “run their businesses”. Places of work included Capital One, Jovia Credit Union, the chamber of commerce, a medical center and a newspaper, for example, with jobs such as bookkeeper, manager, physician, nurse and recycling manager, amongst others. Students held a community meeting at the start and end of their “business day”.

 

Click here to view the C-Quest students practice business skills at Commerce Plaza slideshow.

Date Added: 1/21/2025

Fourth grade students in Ms. Pinelli’s class at Slocum recently embraced the empowering motto, “I can do hard things,” during their weekly yoga session. Through their practice every Wednesday, Ms. Pinelli aims to teach her students the physical and mental benefits of yoga, while fostering resilience.

Each week, Ms. Pinelli leads her class through various yoga poses, such as half-moon and crow, helping students build strength both physically and mentally. Referring to a difficult pose, Ms. Pinelli shared some inspiring words with her students, saying, “You didn’t shy away from it, you kept working towards it even when you toppled over. That mindset on the mat is what helps us in life off the mat. Those moments allow us to get better.”

Through these sessions, students are learning valuable lessons about perseverance and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude even in the face of challenges.

 

Click here to view the Slocum students build resilience with weekly yoga practice slideshow.

Date Added: 1/17/2025

Fourth and fifth grade chorus students from Idle Hour Elementary School had the exciting opportunity to collaborate with Connetquot High School’s junior and senior singers during a special workshop at the high school.

The morning began with introductions, as each student from the elementary school had the chance to meet and connect with their high school counterparts. To break the ice, the students sang a fun warm-up song together before opening their songbooks and diving into a new piece of music under the direction of music teachers Brad Drinkwater and Kelly Daugherty. 

“The goal of the workshop was to inspire the elementary students to keep singing and continue incorporating music into their lives, even as they grow older,” said music teacher Ms. Daugherty.

 

Click here to view the Idle Hour’s chorus harmonizes with CHS singers during musical workshop slideshow.

Date Added: 1/17/2025

On Jan. 16, Connetquot had the honor of hosting 70 educators and administrators from seven school districts across Long Island to participate in the KidOYO AI Pilot Cohort. This collaborative event aimed to explore this component of KidOYO and how it can empower both students and teachers.

KidOYO AI is an innovative tool designed to enhance teaching and learning by integrating AI into the classroom in meaningful ways. The platform offers interactive resources that allow students to engage with coding, critical thinking and problem-solving while introducing them to the real-world applications of AI. For educators, KidOYO AI provides support in creating engaging lessons, fostering digital fluency and building confidence in utilizing emerging technologies.

During the event, educators shared insights, discussed best practices and explored the unique opportunities AI presents for transforming education. By working together, participants were able to exchange ideas, troubleshoot challenges and brainstorm creative ways to implement AI tools in classrooms across Long Island.

“The energy in the room was inspiring,” said Connetquot’s Director of Instructional Technology Elizabeth Weis. “Bringing together educators from different districts allowed us to learn from one another and develop strategies to ensure our students are future ready.”

This collaboration strengthened the professional network among districts, and Connetquot is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative.  

 

Date Added: 1/16/2025

On Jan. 14, the Connetquot Board of Education recognized the heroic efforts of Melissa Walsh, a TA in one of John Pearl Elementary’s UPK classrooms. On Nov. 19, Ms. Walsh dislodged a cheese stick from a UPK student’s throat during lunchtime. She quickly noticed that the child was in distress and took immediate action to save them. Thank you to Ms. Walsh and her swift response in aiding the student!

Date Added: 1/15/2025