Sixth-grade Programs Reaching Out to Broaden Experiences students at John Lewis Childs School demonstrated their creativity and entrepreneurial skills during the school’s annual “Shark Tank.”
Prior to the event, PROBE students worked together in groups to develop prototypes of products that solve everyday problems under the guidance of teacher Janice Hyland. They created advertisements, financial plans that broke down necessary costs of their products and overhead, and a pitch to deliver to a panel of “Sharks,” similar to the television show “Shark Tank.” Floral Park-Bellerose School District Superintendent Michael Dantona, board of education Trustee Laura Trentacoste, sixth-grade teacher Robert DeBenedittis and parent Dean Patalano served as the “Sharks” and listened as the students presented their plans. They also asked questions about the financial investment they were seeking, future plans and how their profits would be spent.
The products presented included the All Holder, to hold items such as pens and books, a Study Clock, to help students keep track of their study time, the Crystal Ball 250, which provides new ideas to users, the Attach and Relax, a drawer that doubles as a school supply wagon for students, the Fox Box, a supply box that organizes school supplies, the Box, which charges multiple devices simultaneously, and Snappy Desks, which connects desks and tables to avoid having gaps in between. Ultimately, John DiMeo, Jake Urban and Lauren Patalano, the creators of the Snappy Desks, placed first in the competition.
Principal Susan Cvitkovich Fazio commended the students on the products they created and all of their hard work.
“Yes, the presentations were great, but I think the best part about this was the way the students answered questions from the Sharks,” she said. “We were so impressed by the way you were able to respond to the random questions that were asked; that tells us how much work and research you put into these products and into these presentations.”
