Fourth grade students at Westhampton Beach Elementary School took center stage during a schoolwide social emotional learning assembly centered on the theme of responsibility. The student-led event served as a culminating celebration for Responsibility Month, an initiative developed by the school’s Equity Committee.

Under the guidance of teachers Anthony Cappiello, Kaleigh Diaz, Kathy Parez, Jamie Thom and staff members Amy Barry and Taryn Brown, the students created presentations that highlighted what responsibility looks like in everyday life.

Students in Thom’s class shared how they demonstrate responsibility by caring for their classroom pets, two geckos named Squiggy and Fonzie, explaining the daily routines and commitment involved in keeping them healthy. Parez’s class brought the message to life through a reader’s theater performance of “The Ant and the Grasshopper,” emphasizing the importance of planning and accountability. In a unique collaboration with the high school, students from Diaz’s and Cappiello’s classes produced a “Hurricane Watch” broadcast. During the segment, students interviewed staff and fellow students about what it means to be responsible.

 
Date Added: 2/3/2026