December is Let it Code Month and district students are honing their coding skills with special lessons throughout the month. 

At Sycamore Avenue Elementary School, second grade students learned about algorithms and how they can give computers step-by-step directions to complete a task. Using Nearpod, library media specialist Christina Laddick led the students through a lesson that demonstrated that computers cannot guess what a person means, and that the user must give clear instructions. The students practiced giving instructions for brushing their teeth and drawing a blue line completing exercises on an iPad. 

“You must have all of the steps, when you try to have a computer follow your directions” Ms. Laddick explained. 

Date Added: 12/22/2022

Sycamore Avenue Elementary School students participated in a feather-themed project that fosters social-emotional development and wellness. 

Under the direction of social worker Laura Michelsen, the students each designed a feather with symbols and colors that have meaning and that reflect their personality. The feathers were then placed on a bulletin board to resemble the wings of a bird. The bulletin board reads, “Sycamore is a part of your roots to help you grow so one day you can fly.” 

Ms. Michelsen explained that United We Stand Week was the impetus for the project and that the school has been working on the feathers since November. United We Stand Week is a special week of guest speakers and lessons on how to live a healthy lifestyle, both physically and emotionally. 

Date Added: 12/20/2022

Connetquot Board of Education trustees, administrators, faculty and students unveiled the district’s newly renovated library media centers at Oakdale-Bohemia and Ronkonkoma middle schools and John Pearl and Sycamore Avenue elementary schools during individual ribbon-cuttings, held on Nov. 29. The renovations were part of the 2019 community-approved capital project.

Last year, the district unveiled newly renovated library media centers at Connetquot High School and Cherokee Street, Edith Slocum, Edward J. Bosti and Idle Hour elementary schools. There are plans to renovate the Helen B. Duffield library media center in the near future.

At each of the schools’ ribbon-cutting ceremonies, library media specialists provided a tour of the new surroundings. Although the arrangement of space might be different from library to library, the elements are similar and include classroom instructional space, a Makerspace section, reading nooks and comfortable furniture for reading, class meeting areas and controlled light dimmers for whiteboard instruction. Each of the district’s 10 library media spaces also include new 3D printers.

Director of English Language Arts Michelle Laux explained that school libraries are no longer simply repositories of books, but instead yield student-friendly, accessible learning environments. Every component of these renovated spaces was designed with student learning in mind. They feature a combination of the traditional and the flexible, including accessible shelving, inviting furnishings and adaptable, adjustable learning spaces.

“These refurbished library media centers have been transformed from simple book repositories to central hubs of learning and space for creativity,” Ms. Laux explained. “The library spaces also assist teachers in supporting curriculum.”

Date Added: 12/2/2022