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Students showcase STEM projects and social‑emotional work at board meeting
Summary
Second‑ and third‑grade students presented a STEM activity and third‑grade students read a book about friendship written in class; district staff highlighted "playful learning" and social‑emotional lessons for families and the board.
Principal Michael Lasky introduced second‑ and third‑grade students from Adrian Elementary and thanked the board and administration for giving the students a platform to present their classroom work.
"On behalf of our staff, students, and families, I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you," Lasky said before turning the floor over to STEM teacher Mr. Botar. Botar led a short, hands‑on demonstration of a STEM activity using construction pieces and ramps. He described the classroom approach as "playful learning," and a student helper summarized the pedagogical message: "Children know play is their superpower. … It fuels curiosity, sparks creativity, and inspires a lifelong love of learning."
Botar asked board members and the audience to try a quick build exercise and then guided several student volunteers through a ramp‑and‑car experiment to demonstrate scientific concepts such as gravity, friction and prediction. The presenter invited the audience to spot the five elements of playful learning — joyful, meaningful, actively engaged, iterative and socially interactive — while students described what they had learned.
Later in the meeting, Arc Connections teacher Mrs. DePio presented a third‑grade social‑emotional project on friendship. She compiled students' work into a book and read selections aloud. Students described what makes a good friend: "A good friend is kind," "A good friend is honest," and "We problem solve by finding a way to fix the problem together."
Principal Lasky and board members encouraged the families and said the district appreciated the students' work. Capel and other administrators thanked teachers and volunteers for supporting enrichment activities and noted that these presentations are intended to show everyday classroom learning and district priorities.
Ending: The board meeting included district recognition for sports achievements earlier in the agenda and the student presentations concluded the recognition portion before the board moved to routine business and board reports.
