West Islip students from kindergarten through fourth grade kept their minds active during Summer Investigations, the district’s annual program designed to support math and literacy skills. Weekly themes integrate the curriculum to motivate students, who regularly visit the STEM lab and library for hands-on experiences and research. Students are invited from across the district to attend the program, held this summer at Bellew Elementary.

In “Passport around the World,” students researched countries such as Mexico, India, Nigeria, Brazil and China, including use of Google Earth; while in the lab, they created rockets and learned how airplanes fly. A visit from a West Islip Public Library representative included making Mexican masks and a reading of Mem Fox’s book about acceptance and diversity, “Whoever You Are.”  

“The students made wonderful progress each and every day, and we are all very proud of their efforts and positive attitudes,” said Bellew Principal Rhonda Pratt, who serves as summer coordinator for the program.