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A Look Back at Fox Lane's App Development Team

Cutting Edge Westchester County Competition

By Rich MonettiPublished about a year ago 3 min read
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Photo by Tony Alter

In 2015, Fox Lane fielded a team for the Westchester County App Development Bowl; Here's a look back at the moment...

For the last month, six students from Fox Lane have been embroiled in the Westchester Smart App Development Bowl. The agenda has had 28 county schools creating Apps, to help people with Alzheimer’s. Excited by the competition, Fox Lane’s teacher/advisor still understands there’s more to her students inspiration than just winning a prize.

“These are kids who love to solve problems not the kind who sit idly by,” said Jessica Fletcher.

County Executive, Competition and Creativity

In reference to Andrew Gregory, Austin Morretta, Vian Ambar Agustono, Sean Sacks, Daniel Delannes-Molka and Benjamin Coleman, Fletcher praised the students and their part in a competition, that was kicked off at the County Center, by County Executive Rob Astorino.

The CE drew on history to encapsulate the central processing potential of the young minds that were in attendance that day. “Not since Thomas Jefferson dined alone has there been so much brainpower in one room,” said Astorino.

But casting dispersion, rather than running projects in parallel makes the cream rise to the top, according to Dr. Bernice Houle, Associate Dean of the School of Computer Science at Pace University. “The best way to get kids involved is to create a contest,” she said of an endeavor that is partnering with the David and Minnie Berk Foundation.

In the run up, students will workshop at Pace to learn the technology, and then put their cognitive skills in play to make a difference. As such, Houle provided the example of dinner time to shed light on the role an App could play.

The sun going down and hunger approaching, anxiety usually elevates in the patient, and a distraction goes a long way. Caregivers typically finding TV inadequate to address the situation, an App focusing the patient’s attention on some kind of interactive play could be the elixir.

That said, Fletcher sees her students as having a leg up on their competition. “Two of my kids already developed the FLHS info and FLMS App for the high school and middle school, which provide schedules, calendars, links to lunch menus, sports, and other important announcements,” said Fletcher.

Fox Lane Already Experienced and Beyond

So Fox Lane students are already coming in with an independent mind set, and looking beyond, according to Houle. But she hopes the competition isn’t a one and done for other students either. “We want them to continue to develop the skills we give them, and keep trying to make a difference,” said Houle.

For Astorino’s part, he was happy to relegate his expertise to mastering ceremonies. “I don’t even know what an App is,” joked the County Executive.

But in all seriousness, Astorino expressed only awe. In other words, he’s never surprised by what kids come up with in their technological ingenuity, and can’t wait to see the results.

Fletcher, on the other hand, was mum on what her students have come up with to this point and outlined her role. “I’m the facilitator. They bounce ideas off me, and I provide feedback,” said the Math and Computer Science teacher.

In turn, a real world project has its rewards for the teacher, and serves as an instruction in leadership for the kids. “They all have their own strengths, and various issues cause leaders to emerge based on those strengths,” said Fletcher.

At the kickoff, Rye High School’s Isabelle Oktay could relate. A little slight on the bits and bytes, the freshman saw no reason to leave herself out. “I’m helping out with research,” said Oktay.

But understanding the affliction required not a single click of a mouse, which also provides a motivation she wishes on no one else. “My grandmother developed Alzheimer’s, and seeing her fade away was very painful. So I want to be part of helping figure out a way to not let this happen to others,” she said.

The kids from Fox Lane feel the same way.

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About the Creator

Rich Monetti

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