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