Students, staff, families, board of education members and administrators from throughout District 30 attended the Valley Stream Council of PTAs’ 58th anniversary of the Lights On for Education program on April 11. The event which is held each year at the Memorial Junior High School, invites members of the Valley Stream District 30 community, along with those from the Valley Stream Central High School District, Valley Stream District 13 and Valley Stream District 24, to showcase student achievements in academics, the arts and more. 

During the opening ceremony, students performed and superintendents, administrators and students spoke and introduced the event’s theme, “Bright Ideas Come to Those Who Think.” Attendees were encouraged to walk around the school building during the evening to experience the array of programs that are offered in each district.
 
District 30’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jennifer Lewner, Administrative Director for 21st Century Learning Susan Rodriguez, building administrators, STEAM aides, DLCs (Digital Literacy Coaches) and teachers helped spotlight the district’s theme of “You and Media” during the event. With this 2018-19 theme and as the recipient of the Title IV Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant, the district wanted to be able to highlight the work that District 30 students have done with STEAM and digital literacy.
 
Students from Clear Stream Avenue School displayed their early invention projections from their Black History Month celebration. These early inventions set the stage to walking into the main room of coding robots to show the future of engineering and design. In the main space, each of the grade specific coding robots were set up, along with challenges for students and families to experience.
 
In addition, library media specialist On Kyung Joo set up three tables with engineering based literature for families to look at. She also had activities for families that were aligned to the texts. In the second room, two of the district’s FIRST Lego League teams displayed their research projects and robotic challenge boards from this year’s competition. The district also had five screens set up with video footage that showcased how digital literacy was alive in art, music, physical education, enrichment and library this year.
  
“Lights On! is a wonderful showcasing opportunity for all of the Valley Stream districts,” said Ms. Lewner. “I am very proud of the experiences we have been able to provide to our students this year in the area of Digital Literacy. Families were able to walk away with a true sense of how our students engage in the engineer and design process and had the opportunity to learn like a 21st century student in Valley Stream 30 for the evening.”