On board ships in the Great South Bay, Stewart and Stratford students learned about sea life from BOCES’ naturalists. Fifth graders from Stratford and Stewart schools are participating in a new initiative this year known as F.O.C.U.S. (Fifth Grade, Outdoor Education, Community, Unity, Service). Throughout the school year, the students will be participating in field trips and service activities that promote an appreciation for Long Island’s environment, the Garden City community, and each other.

On September 16, 2009, F.O.C.U.S. began with a kick-off event at the Garden City Middle School. Fifth graders met on the middle school field, sporting their F.O.C.U.S tee-shirts created by their classmates, ready to participate in several different cooperative challenges. One fifth grade student from Stratford captured the feelings of all, stating, “Project F.O.C.U.S. started off great! The kick-off was fantastic. I met so many new people from Stewart and became friends with lots of them. The teamwork games and activities were fun and creative. I also got to know some teachers and even more about my own classmates! I learned many cool things about my group. I can’t wait to come together with Stewart in sixth grade. Let’s not rush fifth grade though, it is going to be an awesome year!”

Members of Garden City’s Class of 2017 posed for a group shot before embarking on their marine biology trip. September “F.O.C.U.S-ed” on marine biology. Fifth graders went on a boating adventure on Long Island’s Great South Bay. While on board, BOCES naturalists guided the students in a plankton tow and a dredging of the bay floor. Many different specimens were collected and viewed under microscopes and in a touch tank. Water samples were also collected and tested for salinity, clarity, and temperature. The captain and crew of The Miss Freeport and The Dolphin taught the students about navigation and boat safety. A perfect ending to an already perfect day came when the crew led the students in a fishing session where many of the children even caught their own fish!

Fifth graders did a color and clarity check of the bay waters while on their field trip. The class of 2017 is looking forward to continuing the F.O.C.U.S. program throughout the school year. With such a successful start, the F.O.C.U.S. program is sure to be an experience that will always be remembered.

Here, students check the salinity levels in the bay.
Some of the students even caught fish while on their trip!