To address the safety and security of students and staff throughout the district, the Smithtown Central School District invited parents and community members to its spring Parent University School Safety Forum on May 7 at Smithtown High School West.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Grossane spoke about the safety and security practices in place including the visitor management system, security entrances and vestibules, security cameras and routine evacuation/fire/lockdown drills. 

District, county and law enforcement representatives were on hand to discuss the district’s emergency planning and responses in the event of a threat to school safety. Jack Blaum, the district’s security consultant, and Joe Rizzo, chief of security, spoke about the district’s safety measures, practices and procedures. They addressed concerns about keeping buildings secure, preventative measures, fire evacuation procedures and ongoing security upgrades.

Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services Mona Tobin addressed the audience regarding communication with parents and community members and reunification plans in the event of an emergency.

Fourth-graders throughout the district recently tied their learning activities in with donating to a local cause. As part of a Project Lead the Way activity, the fourth-graders were tasked with designing and modeling a system to unload boxes of food at a community food pantry. The students came up with different prototypes of systems to best deliver and unload the food. 

After completing the activity, Project Lead the Way coach Kelly Bigliani asked the fourth-grade class to participate in a local food drive led by area Stop and Shop supermarkets called Feeding Our Families. The elementary schools collected more than 700 pounds of nonperishable food items, which will be delivered to Island Harvest. On April 29, the Smithtown High School East girls varsity softball team also collected donations, a total of 3,000 pounds, along with Bigliani at the Stop and Shop in South Setauket.  

Showing off the many interactive, hands-on learning experiences available throughout the district, the Maker Space Club from High School East invited students and their families to Bull STEAM Ahead evening on April 20.

Maker Space activities ¬– with topics covering science, technology, engineering, art and math – were offered for students to experience. They checked out 3-D printing technology, made their own math origami, worked with circuits, videoed themselves on a green screen and used virtual reality glasses. 

Technologies of the past also made an appearance, and some students had fun learning to use a typewriter. STEM professionals from local businesses were on hand to answer questions, and the Mechanical Bulls robotics team set up outside the cafeteria to showcase their creations. Admission was free with a nonperishable food donation, which the Maker Space Club will collect for a local food pantry.  

Each year, the Torch Award is presented to Smithtown teachers who have significantly contributed to the growth and professional development of their teacher colleagues. This year’s Torch Award recipients are: Kelly Bigliani, Kathleen DeBono, Doreen Kelly, Amanda LaComb, Gillian Winters, Denise Cardinal, Diana Lanze, Kristi Hoenes and Sallie Culloton.

The Smithtown Teacher Center hosted a reception to honor all Torch Award recipients and nominees on April 23 at the Branch Brook Elementary library.

Fourth- and fifth-graders in the Cares Club at Mills Pond Elementary School worked up quite a sweat for a charitable cause on April 12.

The students, along with club advisers and teacher volunteers, participated in a boot camp fundraiser to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. In total, approximately 30 students were involved in the event, which required a donation of at least $5 to participate. In addition to raising awareness about the disease, the students garnered close to $700 in pledges. 

The gymnasium was set up in different stations, and students rotated throughout, doing sit-ups, planks, push-ups, relay races and jumping jacks in small groups. 

To raise money for its Parent-Teacher Association, get active and show their school spirit, Mills Pond Elementary School held a Boosterthon Fun Run in the gymnasium on March 9.

Garnering pledges from friends and family for each lap they ran, the students completed between 30-35 laps around the gym. In total, Mills Pond Elementary School raised close to $15,000 to help benefit the programs and activities provided by its PTA.

Dressed in their fun run shirts, the students had teachers and staff members cheering them on as they completed each lap. After each time around the gym, they received a check mark on the back of their shirt to show their lap count.