Westbury announces SEL fair, homecoming schedule and Saturday Academy with STEAM and AI units

Superintendent Dr. Chase told the board on Oct. 22 that the district will host a community social-emotional-learning (SEL) fair and encouraged broad participation, and student trustee Eli Hunt invited the public to homecoming events on Oct. 25.

Dr. Chase said the district's third annual SEL Fair at Westbury High School will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include free health screenings and classes focused on mental, emotional and physical well-being. He also said the district launched a ThoughtExchange strategic-plan engagement survey that will be available for three weeks with a QR code and translations to allow wide participation.

Student trustee Eli Hunt invited families to Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 25: a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., a parade at noon and a football kickoff at about 2 p.m. The student trustee said the Westbury team will play the Hicksville Comets.

The board also discussed Saturday Academy programming. Robin Barnett and staff described the district's Saturday offerings: a STEAM curriculum and a theater program for K–8 students. The district will contract with Mint Holdings (operating as Catalyst Academics) to run the STEAM program and appoint Lorraine Massillon as lead teacher; the first Saturday session in this contract year will begin Nov. 22 at Drexel Avenue. Barnett said this year's STEAM program will include instruction on ethical uses of artificial intelligence for elementary and middle-school scholars.

Ending: The superintendent asked families, alumni and staff to respond to the ThoughtExchange survey and to support Saturday Academy sign-ups when recruitment information is distributed.