With the current health crisis and the effect the pandemic has had on traditional instruction, there exists a heightened need for teachers to learn from one another. The district hosted a virtual countywide day of professional development, Suffolk County EdCamp for the Arts, on Nov. 14.

The EdCamp model allowed educators to collaboratively determine session topics for the day of the event and was free for participants across Suffolk County. EdCamps are an opportunity to network with other educators, pitch ideas, facilitate a session, and share contact information with those they’ve connected with to bolster their professional network.

Seventy-five art and music teachers registered to participate. Some of the art topics included: best practice and programs to use in art while teaching remotely; remote lesson plans; STEAM and online learning; and teaching elementary art on a cart.
Music teachers collaborated on topics such as: virtual ensemble rehearsals, performances and musicals; teaching general music remotely; safe performance and scheduling; recommended literature to use with special education students; and recording music.

First graders at Mills Pond Elementary School centered their reading and writing lessons in early November around Veterans Day. After reading about veterans and their courage and bravery, the students wrote thank-you letter to local veterans. They thanked them for keeping us safe and helping to protect our country. Their letters were delivered to the Northport VA Medical Center.

In recognition of Veterans Day, the Field of Honor flags are flying high at Smithtown High School East. Mr. Coderre’s leadership class assembled the Field of Honor on Woodlawn Avenue behind the school in time for Veterans Day. Flags were purchased and dedicated as a fundraiser for the future Wall of Heroes project.

First graders at Mills Pond Elementary School celebrated Election Day with their annual Election of the Forest. They were virtually introduced to three candidates: Fitzgerald Fox, Betsy Beaver and Bartholomew Bear through Google Meet. The students learned all about the election process and voted for their favorite candidate. This year’s election winner was Betsy Beaver.

The first graders at Accompsett Elementary School recently learned about the elections and voting process. The students listened to a story about animal candidates running for President of the Forest and then cast their vote in the ballot box for the candidate they felt would make the best President.

Two High School East ThINK Science Research Program students, senior Dylan McCreesh and junior Aman Mistry, will have their award-winning essays published this fall in the Stony Brook University Young Investigators Review Journal. The 2020 Young Investigators Writing Competition challenged Long Island students with writing about “dilemmas regarding one of four controversies in science including experimental therapy, neural algorithms, environmental policy, or sustainable engineering.”

Maria Zeitlin, High School East ThINK research coordinator, said, “I am so proud that two of the six students chosen from Long Island were East students. Reflection through writing is a tenant of the Science Research Program, and it was a terrific project we pursued into the summer months. Both Dylan and Aman are examples of dedicated student-scientists who have valuable perspectives on scientific topics relevant to society. In both papers, it is evident that most topics have diverse perspectives and an analysis must include multiple lenses.”

Aman’s paper, “Unraveling the Ethics Behind Experimental Drugs,” is timely and relevant during this global pandemic. His thoughtful discussion of “compassionate use” of experimental therapies engaged both sides of what we have recently experienced with the issuance of such drugs. Dylan’s essay, “Mitigating Automated Discrimination,” provides a mindful expository on the bias that may be present in algorithmic decision-making processes. Ultimately, humans develop AGD and their inherent bias may be difficult to be recognized and mitigated.