What’s new in East Meadow’s schools?

In the newsletter Steps to Learning for the fall of 2023, the East Meadow School District revealed that there were big changes implemented to both the elementary and middle schools throughout the district.

After laying the groundwork throughout the 2022-2023 school year, the district has introduced a new reading and writing program for all students in grades kindergarten through 5th grade called Core Knowledge Language Arts, or CKLA.

CKLA focuses on building on the students’ vocabulary and knowledge from grade to grade. Each grade is connected, and each year builds upon the previous year.

The curriculum is split into two different strands, knowledge building and foundational skills.

The knowledge building strand is mainly practiced with students in grades kindergarten through 2nd grade. A majority of the learning is hands on, and done through listening and speaking, rather than reading and writing.

The foundational skills strand focuses more on reading, and it utilizes a system of Fundations and Geodes.

Fundations focuses on the science of reading, and provides a new approach to teaching students phonics instruction, while Geodes books give the students an opportunity to apply and practice the skills they learn.

Students and teachers alike are happy with the change.

“It has been refreshing to educate our students about the world they live in, rather than solely concentrating on skills and strategies geared towards standardized testing” stated Jennifer Keicher, second grade teacher at Barnum Elementary School, in the newsletter.

While the elementary schools underwent changes to their ELA curriculum, the W.T Clarke Middle school is adding on to their technology department, including upgrades to their technology labs.

The labs were completely remodeled with new furniture and high-tech equipment, such as laser cutters, CNC routers, and even 3D printers.

These upgrades will help the school introduce the basics of computer science through hands-on experience. The newsletter said the labs are “introducing these learning opportunities helps to prepare our students for the realities of 21st-century business and industry.”

The district has also welcomed six new administrators, including two new assistant principals. East Meadow High School named Gustavo Loor, former Dean of Students at W.T. Clarke Middle school as their new assistant principal, while Woodland Middle School appointed Caitlin Hale, the former Chairperson of Music as their assistant principal.

Jason Supple, Michelle Shmuel, Rachel Barry, and Jose-Antonio Velasquez have also been appointed new roles as administrators.