Computer Science Education Week is designated as December 8-14 and in observance, most students within LTPS observed the international movement "Hour of Code."  This is a one-hour introduction designed to demystify computer science and show that anybody can learn the basics. 

Primarily led by technology and robotic teachers Linda Miller (elementary), Lonny Robtison (middle school), and Karen Rubinstein (intermediate school), the "Hour of Code" took many forms within LTPS classrooms.  Additionally, Jeanne Muzi, K-3 gifted and talented teacher, worked with first and second graders doing device-less coding for cup stacking.

Third graders used characters from the movie "Frozen" to write code and learn all about algorithms, programming, STEM, logic and igniting an interest in future careers in computer science.  Students used programming blocks, which indicate direction, pixels, and degrees, to move the character Anna and Elsa from the movie "Frozen."

Middle School students learned code via "Angry Birds" and "Scratch Holiday Card" activities.

View one third grader's success!

Intermediate School students programmed using the code.org website and tried code using Google's Blockly drag and drop programming language.  Students have been using "Scratch," a program developed at MIT, in their media lab.  Having tech lab as their "special" this marking period, 6th grade students learned about binary code. One day classrooms streamed a live chat with Jack Dorsey, Twitter creator, who related he got started with computer science as part of the "Hour of Code" experience.

Julia with Amy Valentino, Slackwood 2nd grade teacher

Julia Koziatek, 2nd grader at Slackwood Elementary School, was selected as a calendar art winner in the Anti-Bullying Awareness Art Contest sponsored by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Her poster was selected from artwork submitted by students in grades K-2 throughout Mercer County and will be featured as a page in the 2015 Anti-Bullying Awareness Calendar.

Congratulations to Lawrence High School (LHS) art teacher Khalilah Sabree for her exhibition of large-scale, mixed media paintings entitled "A Series of Meditations: Khalilah Sabree," at the Silva Gallery of Art at The Pennington School now through January 16, 2015. Read more here.

The American Heart Association and the NFL's Play 60 program recognize students across the country who demonstrate healthy living, wellness, and who are examples to others through being active and physically fit. Lawrence Intermediate School (LIS) students Rebekah Kargbo (Gr. 6) and Jack Yamniuk (Gr. 5), both Presidential Physical Fitness Award winners, were recently recognized through this program at the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins game in East Rutherford, NJ. The students and their parents were given free tickets to the game and walked out onto the playing field to be honored. LIS students circled in photo: Rebekah, front row; Jack, back row.

LTPS and Superintendent Crystal Edwards were mentioned in the most recent edition of "School Administrator," the publication of the American Association of School Administrators, for our district's distinction of being named a National District of Character.  See page 35!