Edward J. Bosti Elementary School has officially opened its new Serenity Space, a room designed to help students manage stress, practice mindfulness and support emotional wellness.

The idea for this calming space was born from the school’s Shared Decision-Making Committee in September. After months of thoughtful brainstorming and research, the Serenity Space opened in March and has already become a widely used resource within the school.

“If a test is hard, I love to ask my teacher if I can come here for five minutes and just get my mind off of things and play with the toys, read or just sit in the tent,” said fifth grader Benjamin Rios.

The room is packed with comforting and sensory-friendly items, including bean bag chairs, weighted blankets, oversized plush toys and a cozy tent. The soothing ambiance is enhanced by a galaxy light projector, sound machine, lava lamp, LED bubble tube, sound bowl, chime and more. Students can also engage with a variety of hands-on toys and tools like a puzzle pillow, Zen Garden, squishy toys, books, a drawing board and a sensory sequin wall panel.

“I really like the weighted blankets, and I also just like coming in here if something’s hard during class,” said student Caitlyn Dunne. “I can just unwind and forget about what's in the back of my mind so when I go back to class, I’m calmer and can get my work done better.”

“One of my favorite parts of the room is that you can come here and just have a minute or five to breathe and relax and get your mind off of everything,” added fifth grader Caroline Abel. “It’s very calming and it feels like a very safe space. You can have the LED lights on, and it just feels like you're at home because it feels like a room of your own.”

“Over the years, I’ve noticed that not only students, but even staff, have been experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress,” said Principal Laura Kimball. “So, I felt like there was a need to create a space where students could come and feel safe, relax and decompress. If you’re stressed out, you’re not ready for learning, so when you can calm yourself, then you’re able to go back to class, or back to work if you’re a teacher, with a clearer mind.”

Click here to view the Edward J. Bosti unveils new Serenity Space slideshow.

Date Added: 4/15/2025

The Connetquot community came together for an evening of reading, writing and student achievement on April 10 at the district’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration, presented by the district’s library media specialists.

The event showcased an impressive collection of student work from every school in the district, including original poems, stories and essays. Hallways were transformed into literary galleries, highlighting students’ talent in reading and writing.

Families also joined in the fun through a bookmark-making station and a scavenger hunt in which students uncovered letters around Connetquot High School that spelled out a secret word. The Connetquot Public Library also held a raffle drawing for attendees.

A standout moment of the evening was a special reading by student-author Meghan Miller, a junior at Connetquot High School, who shared her published children’s book, “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae”. Inspired by her real-life pet hamster, Martha Mae, the book began as an assignment in her ninth-grade children’s literature class and was completed in a sophomore creative writing course. Meghan detailed her two-and-a-half-year journey to publication in a question-and-answer session after the read aloud. The evening culminated in a book signing, where excited young readers lined up to meet Meghan and have their copies of “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae” personally signed by the author.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration slideshow.

Date Added: 4/14/2025

On April 10, elementary music students from Sycamore Avenue, Idle Hour, Edward J. Bosti and John Pearl visited Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School for a special Mock NYSSMA event in preparation for the upcoming NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festival.

The young musicians were paired with members of the OBMS Tri-M Music Honor Society, who guided them through their solo pieces, scales and sight reading exercises.

The 2025 NYSSMA festival will take place on April 24 at Connetquot High School.

Date Added: 4/14/2025

Connetquot High School seniors Alexander DeVita, Emily Pascariello, James Chen and Sameer Umar each scored higher than 1500 on the SAT exam.

This impressive accomplishment earned the students spots in the school’s “1500 Club,” and their plaques will join those of alumni club members, hanging outside the guidance office. The district congratulates them on this well-deserved achievement!

Date Added: 4/8/2025

Musician Darius Kaufmann visited Idle Hour Elementary to perform, "Music of the Earth: Celebrating World Cultures and Our Planet”, an immersive, multi-cultural workshop, featuring exotic instruments from around the globe.

Kaufmann guided students on a captivating musical journey, where they “traveled” to different times and places through the sounds of the unique instruments. Throughout the workshop, students had the opportunity to listen to and engage with a wide range of instruments, including the South American rain stick, Native American flute, a wolf drum, conch shell and didgeridoo.

The program provided students with a deeper connection to nature and other cultures through the sharing of facts, myths and stories and the use of these culturally significant instruments. 

Click here to view the Idle Hour Elementary listens to “Music of the Earth” slideshow.

Date Added: 4/8/2025