Photos courtesy of the Connetquot Central School District
Pictured: Swellendam Primary Principal Jaco Swart and Swellendam High School Principal Nicolas Pelser are pictured with, from left, Ronkonkoma Middle School teacher Justin Bradley, interim Assistant Principal Mark Brodsky and Principal Joseph Licato.
Connetquot Central School District’s Ronkonkoma Middle School and Helen B. Duffield Elementary School showcased their buildings’ stellar educational programs and facilities during a visit by South African school administrators on Feb. 27.
Nicholas Pelser, principal of Swellendam High School, and Jaco Swart, principal of Swellendam Primary School, visited with Connetquot principals Joseph Licato and Lisa Farrell, who led the administrators through an itinerary of school activities so their guests could learn about best practices in first-world schools.
South African school administrators Jaco Swart and Nicholas Pelser toured a technology classroom at Ronkonkoma Middle School.
Mr. Pelser and Mr. Swart were in New York City for an education conference and thought it would be a great idea to witness education in the United States firsthand. Both administrators were interested in how schools and systems are managed abroad and were eager to learn about modern implementation of curriculum and other day-to-day administration.
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School kindergarten teaching assistant Rose Quaranta makes international connections to traveling and learning as part of her leadership role in the Ronkonkoma Rotary and invited the guests to tour the schools.
Right, Duffield Elementary School computer science and engineering teacher John Llanes explained some of the elementary-level technology being used to (l-r) South African school administrator Jaco Swart, Principal Lisa Duffield and South African school administrator Nicholas Pelser.
At Ronkonkoma Middle School, Mr. Licato and English teacher Justin Bradley led a tour of the guidance suite, auditorium, library and cafeteria. They also visited a communication, art, physical education and sixth grade science class. In addition to leading the guests on a tour of the building, Mrs. Farrell arranged a visit to a Fundations class, mindfulness class, a math lesson, a music lesson and science and technology class.
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School Principal Lisa Farrell, center, showed South African school administrators Jaco Swart and Nicholas Pelser the school’s new book vending machine.
When asked about their impressions of the schools, both Mr. Pelser and Mr. Swart said they were most impressed by the buildings’ use and availability of technology, the students’ self-discipline, the cleanliness of the buildings, the creativity in teaching and attention to remediation and closing pandemic gaps.
“You can instantly feel that this district is a wonderful place in which to teach,” Mr. Swart said. “I will try to incorporate many of the ideas I learned today into my own school in South Africa.”
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