Bethpage Schools' monthly Board of Education meeting continued its tour of the district's campuses on April 21, this month making a stop at JFK Middle School. The evening opened with a dynamic student-led presentation that put JFK's robust STEAM offerings front and center – giving board members, parents and community members a firsthand look at the innovative, hands-on learning happening inside the building.
Held in JFK's auditorium, examples of student projects from across the school's STEAM electives were displayed in front of the stage as audience members filed in. Principal Erin Hayes welcomed the crowd to campus before introducing the student presenters who would take the floor.
Sixth graders Elizabeth Johnson, Mackenzie Ruppert and Zaryana Meyer opened the presentation with reflections on STEM Discovery, an elective course that invites students to explore their individual learning styles while studying topics ranging from brain function and probability to forensics and coding. The trio highlighted standout projects, including analyzing evidence from a mock crime scene, before demonstrating the robot they had built and programmed in class, guiding it through a course using 25 coding blocks.
Seventh grader Max Bacon presented his science research project on solar ovens, comparing models built from an Amazon box and a pizza box to determine which was more effective at conducting heat. Max spoke about the freedom the class affords students to pursue their own curiosities.
Fellow seventh grader Aryanna He spoke about the project that earned her third place at the SAAWA (South Asian American Women's Alliance) BrightMinds Sparkle STEM Competition earlier this year: a Heatstroke Prevention Wearable, a cooling hat engineered to protect against dangerous heat exposure. This was a project that grew out of her studies in science research class.
The science research spotlight continued with eighth graders Sureena and Amiyah Kaur, who took first and second place, respectively, at the same BrightMinds competition. Sureena's Proximity Activated Child Lock, an assistive safety device, claimed the top prize, while Amiyah's project, A Walk to Footprint Zero, focused on environmental sustainability. Both students reflected on how the class had built their confidence and empowered them to investigate topics they genuinely care about.
My favorite part of Science Research is coming up with an idea that can actually solve a real-life problem, one student shared.
Rounding out the presentation were seventh grader Minahil Nasir and eighth grader Kylie Benintendo, who highlighted the creative freedom they've found in Design and Engineering. Both students showcased pieces they created using laser engravers, including a wood-engraved US Open design and custom Islanders LED lamps – demonstrating the way the course blends artistic vision with technical skill.
The breadth of JFK's STEAM electives reflects a clear, intentional goal: equipping students with the hands-on, transferable skills they'll need for high school, higher education and beyond. The current course offerings include STEM Discovery and Computer Applications for sixth graders; Computer Programming, Science Research, and Design and Engineering for seventh graders; and Web Design, Science Research, and Design and Engineering for eighth graders.
These programs are brought to life by a dedicated team of educators: Mr. Perez (STEM Discovery and Science Research 7), Mrs. Grossman (STEM Discovery), Mr. Carroll (Science Research 7 and 8), Mr. Wettengel (Design and Engineering 7) and Mr. Attard (Design and Engineering 8), under the leadership of Director of Science Chris Pollatos and Director of Technology Andrew Choi.
The presentation was a testament to what becomes possible when students are given the space – and the encouragement – to ask big questions and build real answers.
