The cafeteria of John F. Kennedy Elementary School has some vibrant new artwork thanks to the work of artist Bren Bataclan. Sponsored by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Bataclan held a weeklong residency at John F. Kennedy from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1.

The week began with an engaging, interactive assembly for students to learn aboutBataclan’swork and share their own ideas. In addition to fostering creativity, he promoted the power of kindness and his mission to make the world a better place one smile at a time. Bataclan encouraged and valued student input for ideas on the new “We’re on our Way at JFK” mural featured in the cafeteria. Bataclan took the students’ ideas and designs and transformed them throughout the mural design.

Students were able to see the mural’s progression throughout the week and some students stopped by the mural frequently to admire it. The big reveal assembly on Dec. 1 was attended by West Babylon School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Yiendhy Farrelly, board of education, students, staff members and the PTA. Students viewed a culminating slideshow and watched Bataclan put his signature on the mural. The mural features all the continents, stamps, the State of Liberty and more, with plenty of yellow and blue throughout the mural to represent the district colors.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 12/5/2023

Students and staff at John F. Kennedy Elementary School spent the month of October collecting new socks for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. The initiative was spearheaded by members of the school quality team and the student council. Each grade level competed to see who could collect the most socks. While second and third grades were declared the winners, everyone was a winner in the end with 1,149 pairs of socks collected to help the homeless across Long Island. The school also partnered with Bombas sock company. Bombas donated an additional 500 pairs of socks for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.

Date Added: 11/28/2023

The first graders in Ms. McMahon’s class at Tooker Avenue Elementary School are getting into the Thanksgiving spirit with their writing assignment. The students created turkeys and came up with a list of rhyming words to write on each of their feathers. They decorated and colored their one-of-a-kind turkeys just in time for the holiday.

Date Added: 11/21/2023

Fifth grade enrichment students designed and created helping hand devices that can pick up, hold and release objects just like a real human hand. Future engineers!

Date Added: 11/28/2023

The fourth graders in Ms. Carbonaro’s class at Tooker Avenue Elementary School read “Balloons Over Broadway,” the true story of the puppeteer who started the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The students discussed the history of the parade with each other, retold the story, analyzed the timeline and progress through the years, compared the past to the current day and eventually designed their own floats for this project. Many students had never seen the parade before and are looking forward to watching it on Thanksgiving Day this year.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 11/21/2023