Springs School News, January 30

Springs School recently hosted its third annual Diversity Institute, which was open to students and their families in grades six through eight. Ideas about cultural diversity and sensitivity in a complicated world were shared and participants worked together on an art project that celebrates the diversity at the school.

The school’s three Lego Robotics teams competed in their first qualifying competition at Huntington High School last weekend. As part of their project, one of the teams, The Robonackers, wrote a letter to East Hampton Town’s Director of Bay Management, John Barley Dunne, and the East Hampton Town Trustees asking if they could have a place to start a small oyster farm for our school. “We thought it was important to educate our school on the on shellfish and filter feeders to keep our waters clean from pollution,” explained team leader Judy Mullarkey. Mr. Dunne replied that the most practical thing would be to add a cage of oysters to one of their oyster gardens in Accabonac Harbor for the students. The Trustees would like to meet with the team to discuss further ideas.

The fourth and fifth grades are participating in a contest to see whose drawing will be featured on the cover of “High Tide.” The magazine features the writing and artwork of students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is published annually. The first-place winner’s illustration will be on the cover and the second-place winner will be featured on the back.

Students in physical education classes have started the annual “Jump Rope for Heart” program, which is now called the “Kids Heart Challenge.” Students are learning and practicing jumping rope and are collecting donations that will be donated to the American Heart Association.

The Student Art Festival at Guild Hall is now open and continues through February 7. It will feature artwork of students in all the East End schools. Admission is free.