School News

Sag Harbor Focusing On Joy And Respect

“Kindness Kupids” in kindergarten through fifth grade at Sag Harbor Elementary School recently performed small, kind, anonymous gestures for students in another class with the goal of learning how it feels to make a positive difference in someone’s day without recognition. School guidance counselor Michelle Grant said the students were excited to get involved. Deeds included making valentines and posters, donating pencils and art supplies to a class, and picking out some library books about love and kindness and leaving them in an assigned classroom for independent reading. One class even got permission from principal Matthew Malone to give other students an extra 15 minutes of recess time.

In Ms. Dohanos’s kindergarten class, a pouch with cards for each student was delivered on Valentine’s Day — messages included “Kindness Changes Everyone,” and “Dear Friend, you are surrounded by love.” Ms. Dohanos noted the gesture was similar to the one in a book her class is reading, “Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch,” about a grumpy man who is changed for the better when he receives an anonymous card. For their part, the kindergartners created valentines with ring pops, bakery twine, tissue-paper roses, and messages written on paper doilies, and then sneaked upstairs to leave them on desks for second graders.

“The idea for them is to start to understand the joy of giving without even a thanks,” Grant said.

At Pierson Middle School, students celebrated P.S. I Love You Day. They decorated classrooms with positive messages of kindness, perseverance, respect, and love. To share the experience, students in sixth through eighth grade gathered on the school lawn to form a giant heart.

Dancing And Its Impact

As part of their study of neuroplasticity in PLANT class (Preparing Learners for a New Tomorrow), Pierson Middle School sixth graders are learning about the positive effects dancing can have on the brain and memory. To gain a firsthand experience, teacher Eileen Caulfield’s students recently participated in a dance class at the AKT in East Hampton.

Students are learning that thought, movement, and sensation emanate from electrical impulses coursing through the brain’s interconnected neurons. When they fire together, the connections between them grow stronger, impacting perception, comprehension, and memory. Ms. Caulfield said that an important part of the classroom discussions focused on how dancing can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The PLANT program at Pierson emphasizes science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to prepare middle school students with a formative education and specific tools to help them excel in their high school years and beyond.

Bridgehampton Enhancing The Creative Process

Bridgehampton juniors and seniors recently attended a full-day poetry writing workshop at The Watermill Center.

The third annual event was led by English teacher Tom House. The students toured the center and listened to an introduction of its history and programs before selecting one of hundreds of fascinating objects in the center’s archives room on which to write ekphrastic poems — poems that take art or objects as their subject or inspiration. Students shared their impressive work at the end of the day in a roundtable discussion.

An Inspirational Pep Rally

The Bridgehampton School District thanks the Southampton Town Police Department for its continued partnership in bringing inspirational speaker Milton Creagh to share his words of wisdom and making good choices with the students during the pep rally before the last home game in the gymnasium. In addition, each grade-level participating in a friendly game of tug-of-war, and the school’s robotics team showcased their robot.

Honey Hive Café Opens

Bridgehampton School’s Honey Hive Café held a soft opening before the winter break. Students utilized many skills they have been developing during the school year. Along with teacher Christina Grass, the student entrepreneurs prepared, delivered, and used math skills to raise money for child abuse awareness. The students brewed coffee and served croissants and delivered them to their specific locations for a small donation.

A Love For Local Beaches

The members of the National Honor and National Junior Honor Societies braved a cold winter day to clean Havens Beach in Sag Harbor. In addition to learning about the local environment, the students learned to understand the significance their shared work has on making the local communities a better place for everyone.

A Great Skate

The Outdoor Club had an opportunity to roller skate at the American Legion Hall Burton Potter Post 185 in Greenport. For many of the students, it was the first time on skates, but the instant mood-booster encouraged them to focus on their balance, agility, and coordination skills.

Educational ER Experience

Bridgehampton students had a hands-on educational experience when they donned hospital scrubs and worked with staff members as they learned about the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, and respiratory systems. Fifth grade teachers Christina Guastella and Louis Liberatore provided this learning opportunity.

No One Eats Alone

Students at Pulaski Street Elementary School celebrated No One Eats Alone Day on February 14.

“Here at Pulaski, we don’t want any student to feel left out, lonely, or invisible,” Principal Patrick Burke said.

The student-led initiative aims to promote social skills and inclusion by empowering students to ensure that no one is excluded socially from mealtime bonding. Students were also encouraged to reach out to peers who may not have a playmate at recess. To head up the mission, the school appointed team captains, who were charged with making sure that no one at their lunch table or during recess felt alone. The day culminated with a library lesson on social isolation and tolerance.

“Students shared stories from their past that were heartbreaking,” said library media specialist Amelia Creedon. “We want school to be a place of learning, but also a place of love.”

Southampton Coats For Those In Need

Members of the Southampton Elementary School Student Council recently collected gently-used coats as part of an annual community service project to help those in need. The coats were dry-cleaned by Good Ground Cleaners in Hampton Bays and delivered to Heart of the Hamptons groups. The project is one of many that the student council has worked on this school year.

Authors Celebrate

Southampton Elementary School third graders in Kathryn Calarco’s class recently celebrated the conclusion of their information writing unit by sharing work with their second-grade buddies. During the event, they also passed on information that they learned during the past several weeks.

Westhampton Beach Community Read

Westhampton Beach Middle School recently hosted a community read event about the book “Eleven” by Tom Rogers.

Held at the school, the annual event culminated a monthlong community read of the work and featured a Skype talk with the author. Students and community members were able to ask Rogers about his writing and life.

“Hands-down, this is one of my favorite evenings of the year,” said Principal Charisse Miller. “It is tons of fun filled with learning.”

Math Lesson

In marking Black History Month, Westhampton Beach High School math students have been studying famous African American mathematicians. As part of the project, the students watched the film “Hidden Figures,” and then each selected a mathematician to research.

“Students are learning about the great accomplishments of these men and women and what they have achieved in the fields of mathematics and science,” said math teacher Kristen Regan.

Once their projects are complete, the students will present them using Buncee, a multimedia app from a Long Island-based company.

Adopt A Platoon

To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., several student organizations at Mattituck-Cutchogue Jr./Sr. High School took on the task of leading a monthlong school-wide service project to honor service men and women overseas, who volunteer their lives for American freedom.

Animal Shelter Lesson

Hampton Bays Elementary School students learned about the role that animal shelters play in a community when representatives from the Southampton Animal Shelter paid them a visit. They discussed the importance of the shelter and how it assists animals in need of homes.

desiree@indyeastend.com