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Davis students spotlight writing, Black History Month projects and Long Island Sound stewardship
Summary
At a March meeting of the New Rochelle City School District Board of Education, Davis Elementary students presented argument-writing projects, Black History Month work and research from a Long Island Sound conservation club; the school also recognized two 10-year employees.
Davis Elementary School students told the New Rochelle City School District Board of Education on Thursday that classroom writing assignments are being used to give children practical experience in making change.
The presentations, delivered during the board's public session, were led by Principal Anthony Vambrola and Assistant Principal Lori Marinaro and included third-graders Leah Sanchez and Wes Walker describing projects from a recent argument-writing unit. "People in my class have all sorts of ideas on things to change," Sanchez told the board. Walker said, "I think our garden should be bigger." The students described how they learned to support opinions with real-life examples and multiple reasons.
The presentations were framed around student empowerment: Vambrola said the work is part of a K'5 progression in writing that teaches claim, evidence and ordering of ideas so students can "use those skills to make a difference and impact this world for the positive." Superintendent Reynolds told the board he was pleased to celebrate students and urged the community to "show up" to support their learning.
Teachers also described how schoolwide work for Black History Month used poetry and student-authored texts to prompt daily reflections. Assistant Principal Marinaro said the school built a word wall and displayed student work in the library hallway, and she cited Amanda Gorman and young literary activist Marley Diaz as inspirations for the unit.
Davis students and staff also described a community effort to rebuild the school's LEGO wall (referred to in the meeting as the "LEGO wall" or "Lehi wall"). Vambrola said fifth-graders and family volunteers worked together to reconstruct the display, with PTA funding and donated bricks. Teacher and resident artist Miss Costa coordinated a Sunday family build, and the project was presented as an example of student voice turning into tangible school improvements.
The Long Island Sound Project Club, a new after-school group formed with Mercy University and Jefferson Elementary as a mentor partner, presented research and fieldwork plans. Francesca Pertacaro, a Davis teacher and club leader, said the school is one of 10 selected for regional grant funding through the Long Island Sound School Network and USA Blue Schools. Club members said they researched seagrass meadows and water quality, tested pH and oxygen levels, and plan to build an underwater robot and run a plastic-awareness campaign. "It was amazing to be a part of something so big," student Abdul Rauf said of attending a regional symposium.
Vambrola closed the presentation by recognizing two staff members for 10 years of service: special education teacher Kathy Flood and social worker Diana Pileschi. The board offered applause and several trustees praised the student presenters.
The presentation preceded the board's budget workshop and public comment period; board members and the superintendent emphasized the district's goal of offering equitable curricular experiences across its 663 students and highlighted these student-centered programs as examples of that work.
