An introduction to animation and code was part of a recent lesson for first-grade students at Grundy Avenue Elementary School, led by Technology Integration Specialist Claudia Camassa.

To begin the activity, Camassa read an excerpt from the Joshua Funk book, “How to Code a Sandcastle,” where students were introduced to popular coding terms like block code, sequencing and looping. Using iPads, students then accessed the coding program Scratch Jr. to choose a character, customize a background and then select commands for their character to follow.  

The activity was an excellent introductory experience for students, as they will participate in additional coding activities in the future. 

A collaborative effort among students was key to cracking the code during a recent Valentine’s Day-themed Breakout EDU activity in Allison Poffenbarger’s third-grade class at Grundy Avenue Elementary School.

As part of the challenging activity, students were tasked with solving multiple puzzles to get clues that would provide the combinations for a series of locks. The students’ goal was to open the box that held Cupid’s bow and arrows after he locked them in the box last year and forgot the combination. 

Working together, the student groups successfully solved each puzzle and unlocked the box.  

Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III recently presented Grundy Avenue Elementary School fifth-grade students Michael Rivera and Cole Friedman with a proclamation in recognition of their extraordinary efforts collecting winter clothing for families in need as part of the legislator’s annual Community Coat Drive for Every Child’s Dream. 

Earlier this school year, Michael and Cole approached building Principal Laura Amato with an idea to collect winter coats, blankets, gloves, hats and scarves for people in need. Deciding that they would contribute the donations they received to Legislator Lindsay’s coat drive, the ambitious duo created posters, made announcements and a donation box to raise awareness of the cause throughout the school. The students collected 12 full bags of various winter clothing for donation.