During a recent Project Lead the Way lesson, second graders in Barbara Haining’s class at Mills Pond Elementary School had to design different structures using just popsicle sticks. Using the grooved sticks, the students created rural and urban structures. The lesson was part of an English language arts and social studies unit on the three community types: rural, urban and suburban.

The first and second graders at St. James Elementary School have a longstanding holiday tradition of performing “The Nutcracker” each year for family, friends and classmates. Through their 12th annual performance had to be reimagined due to social distancing requirements, the students conducted the ballet featuring the sweet sugarplums and broadcast it virtually for all to enjoy.

High School West student Julia Savino has been named a top 300 Scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. The competition is the oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors in the nation.

Julia conducted her research in the High School West science research laboratory during the last three years. During this time, she focused on understanding the mechanism by which glutamate receptor activation causes a cascade of events that result in excitotoxicity, according to Joanne Figueiredo, High School West science research teacher. She has used the model organism Nematostella vectensis. Her recent work has developed into an analysis of the evolution of calmodulin and its kinase. She hopes that by elucidating the steps in this mechanism, she will aid in the development of strategies that mitigate the excitotoxicity that occurs in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

“It is always great to hear that your student has been selected as a Regeneron Semifinalist but this year it has special meaning,” Dr. Figueiredo said. “Julia has persevered despite all that has gone on. She is a student who always does the best she can possibly do and I have no doubt that she has a bright future.”

Fifth graders at Mills Pond Elementary School spread joy in their community this holiday season. The students created cards and crafts for seniors at the St. James Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center across the street from their school. The students walked to the center to sing carols. They also created cards for servicemen and women in local hospitals.

High School West Leadership students in Joan Havranek’s class recently completed a project to recognized the hard work of the intensive care unit staff at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Smithtown. The class assembled 54 care packages – each containing a candle, Chapstick, hand cream, hot chocolate, a snack and a handwritten card –thanking the COVID warriors for their bravery and hard work during these past nine months. The students hand-delivered the packages to the hospital on Dec. 15.

The community service club, the Peanut Butter Gang, from Great Hollow Middle School held a food drive in December to support the Smithtown Food Pantry. Thanks to donations from the school community, the pantry helps supports those in need this holiday season and beyond.