The district’s robotics team met virtually on March 18 with fifth graders in Ms. Spata’s class at Tackan Elementary School. The team presented the exciting world of FIRST robotics, with the hopes of inspiring them to pursue STEM throughout their future school careers. The students were introduced to topics such as autonomous programming, the design process and building concepts. The team also showcased their current and past robots and answered the many questions students had about robotics.

The district has created a video series titled “Day in the Life” to highlight some of the staff members around our district who are going above and beyond. This video features Nesaquake Middle School speech teacher Bonna Gittleman.

Fourth graders at Smithtown Elementary School are learning about all the different types of energy. During their potential and kinetic energy unit, the students worked with Project Lead the Way coach Kelly Bigliani and engaged in hands-on lessons to demonstrate the types of energy.

Students used hand warmers and glow sticks to feel and see how energy is converted. They used a generator made from the Vex kit to learn about light energy and mechanical energy. The fourth graders used other examples to demonstrate how energy changes from one form to another. They each created their own kinetic or rollback cans using aluminum cans, weights, rubber bands and paper clips. The cans demonstrated the transition of kinetic energy.

This year, 87 students from High School East and High School West’s School of Business competed in the New York DECA State Competition. While the competition was only online, the students still worked with advisers virtually to prepare and uploaded videos of their presentations to a portal, where they were reviewed by judges. East and West students received 66 medals and trophies, and 18 students qualified to attend the International Career Conference. Students will be competing virtually against all the top winners from across the globe.

There were more than 3,000 students from across the state competing. The competitions included business topics such as: marketing, finance, public relations, accounting and entrepreneurship. Students competed in either tests and role plays or written manuals and presentations. In addition to students placing in their various competitions, they also were awarded chapter recognition for Promotional, Community Service & Advocacy Campaign for Smithtown High School East and Community Service & Promotional Campaign for Smithtown High School West.

The district congratulates the following DECA National students: High School East: Thomas Callan, Lily Chai, Kaitlyn Doukas, Christopher Figueroa, Samantha Micozzi, Gabriella Milano, Megan Reilly, Shannon Roche, Thomas Russo and Anthony Spiezio. High School West: Sophia Barazani, Sean Carroll, Emma Ehrhard, Katie Magee, Nicholas Percent, Abigail Portela, Danielle Wass and Alexander Weiner.

The following students were inducted into the 2021 New York DECA Honor Society:
High School East: Thomas Callan, Kaitlyn Doukas, Daniela Macias, Jacqueline Pedley, Shannon Roche, Jordan Romano, Alexandra Schulz and Abby Thaw. High School West: Kathleen Alexander, Caitlin Camilleri, Erika DiGiovanni, Jake Grinberg, Nicholas Percent, Deanna Vincenzi and Alexander Weiner.

High School West student Jenna Savino was selected as runner-up in the Daughters of Revolution Good Citizen Scholarship for the Anna Smith Strong Chapter. This award goes to a senior who exhibits leadership, patriotism, service and dependability. She was nominated by her social studies teacher at High School West. Pictured from left: Smithtown Central School District Director of Social Studies Ed Casswell, High School West Assistant Principal Annemarie Freund, Jenna Savino, High School West social studies teacher Erica Geldmacher and High School West Principal John Coady.