Dalers Celebrate an Evening of Scientific Discovery

Gazing into a glowing plasma ball, a young student watches in fascination as purple lightning bolts dance toward his fingertips with every touch. This moment of discovery was one of many at Farmingdale High School on April 16, 2026, during the 7th Annual Elementary STEAM Night. Hundreds of community members gathered to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on play.

The high school commons and cafeteria featured over fifty interactive stations. Families moved from table to table, engaging in activities designed to spark curiosity and solve problems. Highlights included:

• Experimental demonstrations like A Shocking Development and The Science of the Electric Guitar
• Creative stations such as Whirly Swirly Pipe Making Sounds and Make Your Ice Cream
• Engineering tasks like the Slinky Fall, Fold, and Fly

Rather than just watching, participants became scientists and engineers. They asked questions, conducted experiments, and analyzed data in real-time.

The collaboration of student leaders and district staff powered the event. Members of the Robotics, Science Research Club, and Wi-STEM worked alongside teacher volunteers from the district’s six schools. High school students served as mentors, showing younger children that passion for STEAM can lead to exciting future opportunities.

This event required extensive planning from dedicated leaders. Dr. Kristen Cummings, the Director of Science, coordinated the evening with National Science Honor Society members, advisors Sara Whitaker and Mike Boyd, and STEAM Night coordinators Tatiana Hakimian and Nick Marino.

By bridging the gap between elementary curiosity and high school expertise, the district continues to build a robust foundation for the next generation of innovators. This celebration ensures a bright future for science in Farmingdale as the community looks forward to the 2026-2027 school year.

All of our spring concerts will be held in person this year! No tickets are required to attend. Performances will be recorded, and links will be posted on the district website a few days after each show.

How Interactive Games are Transforming Learning

In Ms. Pompa’s 2nd-grade classroom at Northside Elementary School, the line between "work" and "play" has officially blurred. By utilizing Canva Code, the class has moved beyond standard worksheets and into a world of interactive, digital learning games that students are begging to take home.

Canva Code has been an invaluable tool for enhancing classroom instruction in Ms. Pompa’s class. Designing activities that directly align with what her students are learning has not only saved her time but also enabled her to better support their understanding. Canva Code has made it easier for Ms. Pompa to provide relevant, interactive experiences that reinforce key concepts while meeting the needs of all learners.

The "Early Finisher" Phenomenon

For many educators, keeping "early finishers" engaged can be a challenge. In this classroom, however, it’s a reward. Ms. Pompa uses Canva Code to quickly create review games and activities for students who finish their assignments early, keeping them engaged in meaningful learning.

"I absolutely love Canva Code and use it all the time," says Ms. Pompa. "It is a great early finisher or extra practice activity. My kids have even asked me if they’re allowed to do the activities at home. That’s how much they love it!"

A Look Inside the Digital Arcade

The "code" used in these projects allows for a high level of interactivity that keeps 7- and 8-year-olds deeply engaged. Some of the standout hits in the classroom include:

• Silly Sentences: A literacy powerhouse where students click cards to toggle through determiners, adjectives, and nouns. With a multitude of possible combinations, grammar and parts of speech become a hilarious, never-ending experiment.
• Math Regrouping Adventure: This isn't your average math quiz. It features score tracking and visual placeholders for carrying tens and ones, making the complex regrouping logic feel like a quest.
• Place Value Builder: Using digital "tens rods" and "ones cubes," students physically build numbers (like 767) on a virtual chart, providing the tactile feedback needed for mathematical fluency.
• Number Line Estimation: A sleek, high-accuracy game that asks students to determine which "ten" a number is closer to, helping them master rounding and estimation with a simple click.

The success of these activities lies in their gamified feedback. In games like the Fall Number Builder, students get instant visual confirmation—seeing their "Tens Rods" appear as they click. This immediate response reinforces learning objectives much faster than a traditional red pen ever could.

Bridging School and Home

The ultimate testament to the project’s success is its portability. Because these games are built within Canva, the "code" is accessible anywhere. When a 2nd grader asks to "do math" at the at home on their Chromebook, you know you’ve found a winning formula.

A sea of determined young cyclists pedaling through the North Gym set the tone for an evening dedicated to healthy habits and community connection. On March 26, 2026, the Farmingdale School District Wellness Committee hosted its annual wellness fair, themed "Move, Play, Grow". The event transformed Farmingdale High School into a vibrant hub of health where families didn't just learn about well-being—they experienced it firsthand.

The Trike-A-Thon proved to be the biggest draw of the night, while others found a moment of calm in the Library during Yoga and Mindfulness sessions. In the cafeteria, healthy eats provided by Farmingdale Food Services were incredibly popular, with guests raving about the creative butternut squash brownies. The activity continued into the evening at the Aquatic Center at Howitt Middle School, where a large crowd of students gathered for a late-night open swim.

The impact of the fair was seen in the hands-on participation of our students, from medical assisting demonstrations to first responder safety lessons. Families left with more than just nutritious recipes; they left with a stronger connection to their community and a renewed focus on physical and mental health.

As we look toward the future, the district remains dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can thrive. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our journey toward a healthier Farmingdale.

A student at the March 19, 2026, science fair leaned in close to their display, carefully explaining how a custom-built bridge held the weight of hundreds of pennies before finally giving way. This moment of pride was one of many as students from across the district transformed months of curiosity into tangible experiments.

The event was organized by Julia-Anna Searson, who also served as a judge alongside fellow Farmingdale High School science teachers Brittany Clark and Jacob Murphy. Students from Albany Avenue Elementary School, Northside Elementary School, Saltzman East Memorial Elementary School, and Weldon E. Howitt Middle School gathered to showcase their findings. Adding to the excitement of the evening, Superintendent Paul Defendini toured the exhibits to speak with the young researchers about their hypotheses and the challenges they overcame.

Celebrating Achievement

The district is proud to recognize the 2026 winners and their impressive projects:

Beginner’s Category

• 1st Place: Bobby Humann (Albany Avenue) – "Which bridge design holds the most weight in pennies?"
• 2nd Place: Gianni Verde (Saltzman) – "Whether wood baseball bats or metal provide a further hitting distance."
• 3rd Place: Mark Iannotta (Northside) – "Board Crane Build"

Intermediate Category

• 1st Place: Boden Hopper and Kevin Orofino (Northside) – "Double Dip v. 5 Second Rule: Which grows more bacteria?"
• 2nd Place: Amelia Contardo (Howitt) – "Vegetation to Groundwater"
• 3rd Place: Kennedy Cinelli (Northside) – "Cereal Porosity"

These budding scientists remind us that the quest for knowledge starts with a simple question. As these students continue their academic journeys, the skills they learned—critical thinking, resilience, and observation—will serve as the foundation for the innovators of tomorrow.