Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School is the place to be in the afternoon, as the popular afterschool enrichment program has returned for the district’s fourth- through sixth-graders.

Principal Robyn Santiago said 236 students are taking part in the program, known as Park Avenue Clubs. Activities include art, dance, gaming, journalism, martial arts and robotics. There is also a character education program hosted in partnership with United North Amityville Youth Organization.

The robotics course, led by fifth-grade teacher James Replak, engages students through hands-on projects. The young engineers can build robots from Lego Mindstorm kits, or they can create their own from available pieces in boxes of spare Lego parts. Mr. Replak said that whether children choose to follow a plan or free build, they develop problem-solving and teamwork abilities.  

“They’re very engaged,” he said. “Many children like the freedom to create based on their imaginations. They also enjoy the opportunity to try something and improve upon it.”

The journalism course is led by former sports reporter John Boell. Students explore both news and creative writing, and learn how to generate story ideas. They are planning to publish their own newspaper before the end of the year. 

In the dance class, with teacher Amanda O’Connell, students learn basic dance moves and choreographed routines. During the holiday season, they performed for other students in the afterschool program and led an interactive dance activity. For February, students are putting together a routine for Park Avenue’s Black History Month celebration.  

Teacher Joanna Conboy leads the gaming class. Using the Skin in the Game curriculum, students learned the elements of board games by playing games with different styles, then creating their own. As the program progresses, students will then design video games, which will give them an introduction to computer programming.  

Alessandra Pons, a sixth-grader at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, was chosen as the elementary school-level winner in the Youth Art Month Flag Design competition, sponsored by the New York State Art Teachers Association.   

Her artwork will be featured on the New York State display panel at the Youth Art Month Museum Exhibition during the 2019 National Art Educators Association Conference in Boston.   

Alessandra’s sponsoring art teacher is Susan Zaratin. She will receive a student award of art supplies valued at $100 from Sargent Art for her effort, and the Park Avenue art program will also receive supplies valued at $300. 

Several students from the district have been chosen to participate in regional music festivals.

Amityville Memorial High School sophomore Alex Diaz and Edmund W. Miles Middle School seventh-grader Madeline Shingleton were selected to Long Island String Festival Association ensembles. Alex played the viola with the secondary school orchestra on Jan. 12 at St. John the Baptist High School. Madeline will showcase her skills on the cello with the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra on Jan. 27 at Hauppauge High School. 

Dr. Fran Fernandez, the district’s director of fine and performing arts, said the selection process for LISFA ensembles was extremely competitive. Students were chosen based on their New York State School Music Association evaluation scores from the spring 2018 festival and on teacher recommendation. 

Alex and Madeline were also among six Amityville students selected for the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s All-County music festival in March. Alex will represent the high school while Madeline will join bass clarinet player Donovan Graham McRae from the middle school. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School choral students Tiffany Asbell, Sydney Carter and Brianna Cuevas will share their vocal talents.   

Music teachers for the students include Megan Ashe, Michael Bonasera and Bianca Ferrante.

Ryan Daly, a fifth-grader at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, had her work selected for the Long Island-based Child Abuse Prevention Services 2018-19 calendar. Ryan was one of 12 winners selected from more than 600 entries. 

As a fourth-grader, Ryan and her classmates took part in the Steer Clear of Bullies program led by CAPS educators, then were given a chance to enter the contest. Her “Before You Speak, Think” design appears on the January calendar page.