On June 4, Maurice W. Downing officially opened the doors to its brand-new K-2 STEM Lab with an exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony! This bright, innovative space is designed to do exactly what our youngest learners do best: explore, create and ask big questions.

The morning kicked off with a warm welcome from Director of School Counseling Rebecca Gottesman, who thanked our district administration and the Board of Education for always championing programs that push our students to grow and discover from UPK all the way through 12th grade.

We are incredibly proud to share that this lab was made possible in large part by a generous $2,000 grant from the Alumni Education Foundation for Malverne. The foundation, started by dedicated Malverne grads, works hand-in-hand with the district to fund creative programs and scholarships. In fact, the school spirit was so strong that several alumni flew in all the way from Texas just to see the grand opening, including Dan Littaur (’63) and his wife Nancy, Mo Rucker (’88) and local resident LaTaya Carter (’01), who now has two daughters attending Malverne schools.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maria Rianna spoke about how far our graduates travel across the globe, yet their heartstrings always bring them right back to this close-knit community. She also noted how special the timing of the event was. While the district celebrates its oldest students at graduation and scholarship night, this lab represents an investment right at the ground floor of our schools, helping our youngest kids build skills that will carry them all the way up.

One of the best highlights of the morning was a hands-on showcase by kindergarten teacher Ms. Forsyth and her students, who gave everyone a tour of the new equipment. The celebration was bittersweet, as it also honored Ms. Forsyth on her upcoming retirement after years of incredible dedication to Malverne’s children. A huge thank you also goes out to District STEM Supervisor Dr. Debbie Langone for her work in bringing this space to life.

Once the ribbon was officially cut, guests got to see the lab in action. The room is filled with specialized learning centers and Lego tables complete with special plaques honoring our alumni. Best of all, our students were completely in their element, confidently showing our guests exactly how the new tools work. We can't wait to see all the incredible things our little scientists and engineers create in this wonderful new space!