Benjamin Receives CS100 Award

The Benjamin School was recently granted the prestigious CS100 Award in recognition of the school’s commitment to computer science. Benjamin is one of only six schools to receive the designation in Florida and the only independent school in the state to receive the high honor conferred by the Computer Science Teachers of America.

Kelley Hook, lower school Coordinator of Admin. Services, spearheaded the program, attending a computer science program during the summer through the organization.

“The CSTA encouraged schools to join the CS100 and the CS100 ‘All In’ program. This year, lower school has scheduled computer science for all grades K-5,” said Hook.

In the lower school, students in Kindergarten and Grades 3-5 receive weekly computer science lessons. Grades 1-2 receive quarterly lessons. 

CS100 Awards recognize a school’s commitment to teaching 100 percent of their K-5 students computer science. Instruction may not include computer skills instructions such as keyboarding or software skills. Recognized instruction includes coding, robotics, “unplugged” CS instruction, and creative computational-thinking instruction. 

“We are very excited that the review team approved our technology innovation curriculum to meet the requirements for the CS 100 All-In Award,” said Hook.

“At the lower school, we are providing robotics, 3D design and printing, and engineering in the tech classes and the STEM classes, but also offering coding, underwater robotics, and solar racing car clubs after school,” she said.