32 THE QUEENS COURIER • BACK TO SCHOOL • AUGUST 24, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
back to school
Three south Queens schools to
get enhanced computer science
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
Just in time for the new school year
this September, the city’s Department of
Education (DOE) is bringing an expanded
computer science program to three
public elementary schools in south
Queens, it was announced.
P.S. 97 in Woodhaven, P.S. 354 in
Jamaica and P.S. 181 in Springfi eld
Gardens have been added to the Soft ware
Engineering Program Junior (SEPjr) for
the 2017-18 school year. Th e citywide
program enables students from kindergarten
through fi ft h grade to learn various
computer science concepts through electronic
and “unplugged” lessons.
Th e initiative aims to give children a
jump start when it comes to learning concepts
such as coding and robotics. Th e
curriculum includes song and dance lessons
that teach children about computer
loops and functions, and creating “robotic
friends” in class in order to complete a
certain task.
SEPjr is part of the city’s “Computer
Science for All,” an expansion of computer
science in public elementary and
high schools across the fi ve boroughs.
Th rough public-private partnerships, the
DOE aims to have computer science in
every public school by 2025.
“As we continue to expand programs
like SEPjr, the AP Computer Science
Principles course and other computer science
pathways, we are ensuring that our
kids have the skills they need to be the
next generation of creators and leaders,”
Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement
on Aug. 16.
“SEPjr is a one-of-a-kind program,
and it demonstrates our commitment to
Computer Science for All — which means
providing even our youngest learners
with the opportunity to learn valuable
CS concepts and improve skills like collaboration,
creativity and problem-solving,”
added Schools Chancellor Carmen
Fariña.
Raevan Askew, principal of P.S. 354,
believes SEPjr has the potential to expand
her students’ critical thinking skills.
“I know that this program will equip
our students with the skills, both on and
off the computer, that they’ll need in middle
school and beyond,” Askew said.
Queens’ Finest help kids get ready for new school year
The men and women of NYPD
in northern Queens -- held a
Along with raffling off 250 backpacks
Patrol Borough Queens North --
“Back to School Bash” on Aug. 16 at
full of fresh school supplies, the officers
which encompasses all police precincts
the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst.
treated children to free food and
music and entertainment. There were
also free haircuts and makeup tutorials.
Photos via Twitter/@NYPDQueensNorth
