Community News
www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I JANUARY 2018 23
In addition to building the lab and
teaching educators how to operate
them, a teacher will come to each each
school and explain how to incorporate
the curriculum developed by the non-profit.
Teachers also have access to
online videos that explain concepts
like hydroponics, horticulture and pest
management.
“The P.S. 122 teachers in the sci-ence
labs report that students liv-ing
in an urban environment often
have little connection to nature and
where food comes from,” said P.S. 122
Principal Anna Aprea. “By bringing
what is typically outdoors inside the
classroom, we hope to connect our
students to the greater environment.
Ultimately, we hope to build on the
natural curiosity of the students to
provide an elevated set of skills, a
broader perspective on the issues
facing our communities, and to foster
environmental leadership.”
According to Robards, New York Sun
Works also brings in a professional to
figure out how to educate the broader
community about what students are
learning in the lab.
Students and teachers have incorpo-rated
their teachings into farm stands,
harvest festivals, cooking demos and
have created initiatives like growing
vegetables for senior citizens in the
neighborhood.
New York Sun Works also installed
hydroponic labs at P.S. 70 in Astoria this
summer and will construct labs at P.S. 84
and P.S. 126 in Long Island City in the
summer of 2018. Constantinides secured
more than $3 million for hydroponic sci-ence
labs, STEM lab updates, solar panels,
technology upgrades and other facilities
updates during the last budget cycle.
Photos courtesy of Councilman Costa Contantinides
By bringing what is typically outdoors inside
the classroom, we hope to connect our
students to the greater environment.
COSTA CONSTANTINIDES
Councilman
