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

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

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

Connetquot High School was buzzing with energy, creativity and talent during the annual Showcase of the Arts, held on April 4. Parents, students and community members had the opportunity to peruse hundreds of elementary and secondary-level artwork, and attended multiple concerts and performances in the auditorium.

Director of Fine Arts and Music Vincent Malafronte thanked the community for attending the event and the faculty for sponsoring such fine workmanship. “Because of the support from families and the community, we are able to provide opportunities for our students that showcase their creative talents,” Mr. Malafronte said.

The performance schedule included the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School kickline, Ronkonkoma Middle School kickline and Connetquot High School’s color guard and kickline. Elementary school-level student musicians also showcased their talents in the districtwide orchestra, ukulele, band and chorus ensembles. There were also more intimate performances by the high school’s chamber orchestra and the middle school chamber orchestra.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s Showcase of the Arts slideshow.

Date Added: 4/8/2025

Edward J. Bosti Elementary teaching assistant Barbara Torre is now a published author with the release of her children’s book, “The Adventures of Stinky and Frisky: The Dream”.

Barbara was inspired by her two beloved cats, Stinky and Frisky. As indoor cats who regularly sat by the window, watching squirrels, Barbara envisioned their playful, mischievous antics and wondered what adventures they might dream up. From these early musings, she started crafting stories, thinking about their imaginations.

“The Adventures of Stinky and Frisky: The Dream” follows a hungry Stinky as he enters into a dream world after a lazy morning nudge to his owner goes unanswered. The story takes readers on a fantastical journey down a road full of restaurants, where Stinky encounters a series of entertaining situations in search of food.

Although Barbara lost Stinky and Frisky many years ago, their memories live on through her book. In the future, she plans to expand the series with more of Stinky and Frisky’s adventures and share the story with Bosti’s students. “The Adventures of Stinky and Frisky: The Dream” is now available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble’s websites.

Date Added: 3/27/2025

Edward J. Bosti Elementary students worked together to complete a beautiful sign for Music and Art in Our Schools Month. It's currently hanging in the school's main entrance!

The purpose of Music and Art in Our Schools Month is to increase awareness of the importance of music and fine arts education for all children. As we celebrate this month, we acknowledge the many benefits of high-quality music and art programs in our schools.

 

Date Added: 3/7/2025

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

Edward J. Bosti and Idle Hour elementary school fifth graders are showing off their Spanish skills in Señor Bedell’s class. They created amazing photo projects to share what they like and don’t like doing—all in complete Spanish sentences!

Click here to view the Bosti & Idle Hour Spanish Students Share Creative Projects slideshow.

 

Date Added: 2/20/2025