Fourth graders in Jennifer Spizuco, Katie Zecha and Karina Cranmer’s classes at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School designed and built longhouses as an extra credit assignment after completing their English language art’s module on the Iroquois. Students read and studied nonfiction texts to learn about what life was like for the Iroquois people during traditional times. Students gathered different materials of their choice to give their longhouses a natural look. Students then met in the cafeteria and participated in a gallery walk where they were able to show off their projects and explain their structures. 

Second graders in Ms. Csorny’s class at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School became structural engineers during a STEM-based activity during the district’s College and Career Day.

After a lesson on earthquakes, why they occur and what happens to buildings and homes during an earthquake, the students were tasked with taking on the role of structural engineer. They learned that no structure is entirely immune to damage from earthquakes but it’s the job of the structural engineer to construct strong buildings that can survive the shaking.

The second graders first completed drawings of the structures before constructing a building out of marshmallows and toothpicks that could handle a simulated earthquake. After each student completed their respective building design, the structures were put to the test in a pan of gelatin. They placed the buildings in the gelatin and shook it vigorously back and forth to mimic the movements of the earthquake. If their structures fell, the students had the opportunity to redesign and retest them.

Copiague Middle School students are using their after-school time to brush up on their math skills, as well as help out their fellow classmates.
Students in Mr. Temme’s math research class meet once a month after school to work on their research projects for the Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University. Students prepare a 6-8 page paper on a math topic. After conducting their research and building their paper, the students translate it into an oral presentation on PowerPoint. They do a trial run of their presentations before the fair in May. The after-school activity is an excellent opportunity for the middle school math students to prepare for the math research class at the high school level.

Sixth to eighth grade students in the middle school Math Club spend their time after school prepping for the Math Team and Math Olympiads and practicing for upcoming competitions. The students also play math-based game and work on challenge questions when they meet every other week.

In the library after school, tutors work closely with their classmates on different math skills. Some assist with homework, while others may practice concepts and look over questions. 

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School students Marvin Lobo and Nicole Hernandez were honored at the NYSAHPERD Suffolk Zone Awards dinner. The pair were selected by their physical education teachers as representatives of this award. They were among 110 other high school seniors throughout Suffolk County to receive this award. Criteria for the award included physical education and health achievement, scholastically sound, outstanding character, physical education and health leader, schoolwide leader and a student role model.