By Ravyn Malvino
The New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Board of Education announced on Monday that new technology is being implemented throughout the district in an effort to enhance students’ experience.
After a moment of silence was held to honor the death of beloved teacher’s aide, Ethel Nunez, the board introduced Vincent Marquardt to orchestrate a musical performance of Christmas carols from students of the Garden City Park School and the New Hyde Park Road School.
Superintendent Jennifer Morrison, reported that the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District will be launching a new website by the end of this year.
“We have a new, beautiful updated website,” said Morrison. “I know we did this once before, but it wasn’t up to my expectations so we had to enhance it and make it even better.”
In addition to parents using the web to view the new website, kindergarten registration will also take place online in January.
Morrison explained, “Once parents complete the electronic form, they’re forwarded to a site that allows them to select an appointment to come in and register.”
She added:
“If any family needs access to a computer they can visit the public library or they can call our office and we will arrange to have one ready for them upon arrival.”
Students are also using technology directly in the classroom as they learn Lego Robotics. The third-grade Lego Robotics Club began the first week of November in all four schools in the district.
Morrison said, “Ms. Weaver, the assistant principal, conducted a lottery at each school for the 24 seats at the bigger schools and 12 seats at the smaller schools.”
Morrison announced that due to the high demand for the program and having 40 names on the waitlist, a spring session will be held for those students to participate.
“I went by and I actually saw the Lego Robotics club in motion at [New Hyde Park] Road school,” said Morrison. “It’s absolutely amazing. I just want to thank the board for including that in the budget last year.”
Updated technology is also being implemented into classrooms in the form of new smartboards. The Technology Advisory Committee met in November to select the next generation of smartboards for the district.
“We have smartboards and they are old,” said Morrison. “They’re only 10 years old, but they are old and as they are phasing out, we can’t replace them because they are obsolete.”
A technology committee of about 30 people will be choosing a new smartboard which will be purchased in the future to replace old boards as they break.
Morrison continued explaining the importance of adapting to new technologies as they emerge.
“Technology moves really fast,” said Morrison. “The phone that you had 10 years ago is not the phone you have in your pocket now. You probably had a flip phone 10 years ago that’s not the case now because we upgrade. That’s what we have to do with our smartboards.”
Aside from the new technology, the board also addressed the new No U-turn signs on Hillside Avenue at the crosswalk at Manor Oaks installed in November. Morrison warned not to make the U-turn, as police will continue to hand out tickets to those who violate the law.
