During the week of Feb. 25, fourth-graders at Accompsett Elementary School participated in a hands-on learning experience. The food web program, sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Association’s Cultural Arts program, taught students all about the food chain using real life pond samples. Using digital microscopes and tablets, students viewed the microscopic ecosystem of a water droplet. Seeing the microscopic organisms opened up a world as the fourth-graders learned about the food chain using plankton. The students recorded their observations and worked together to identify the different organisms found in the ocean water.

Smithtown showed off the talent of its student body and recognized the accomplishments of students and staff during its Feb. 26 board of education meeting.

The meeting was held at Smithtown Elementary School, as the board of education is moving its meetings to different locations this school year in an effort to connect with the community. Smithtown Elementary fifth-graders showed off their performing skills with a sneak peek of a few songs from their upcoming presentation of “The Lion King” to start the meeting.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Grossane honored and recognized several teachers and a student. High School West senior Matthew Bizzaro was recognized for receiving first place in the Long Island round of the National Automotive Technology Competition. Four Smithtown teachers – David Junz, Kelly Bigliani, Glenn Rogers and Brian Cusati – were honored for being chosen as Project Lead the Way Master Teachers. Lastly, High School East math teacher Marianne Schoepflin was honored for achieving National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. 

Third-grade students in Laura McCoy’s class at Accompsett Elementary School are studying Kenya. As part of the unit, they were given the question: “Can human beings change their environment to meet their needs?” The students watched a video about how building sand dams in Kenya has changed the lives of the community for the better. The students built their own sand dams as an extension activity. They will modify based on the results, retest and reflect on their findings.

Accompsett Elementary School completed its Parents as Reading Partners from Jan. 28-Feb. 1. Themed “Adventures in Reading,” the school was transformed into an adventure island where students became pirates, exploring new ways to read in order to reach the buried treasure. By using their reading adventure map, they completed new adventures in reading various genres and in different forms and mediums.

Sporting their canes, walkers, shawls and glasses, elementary students throughout the district dressed as if they were 100 years old to celebrate the 100th day of school on Feb. 14.

Kindergarten and first-grade classes throughout the district centered their day’s activities around the number 100. At Dogwood Elementary School, students created hats and drew pictures of what they would look like at 100 years old. At Accompsett Elementary, reading and writing lessons focused on the number 100. Students colored in the number 100 and reflected on all they had learned during their first 100 days. Mt. Pleasant students also dressed the part on the 100 day and rotated through different centers focused on the number 100.