West Essex High Schoolers Teach Coding to Fellow Students

During Computer Science Week this month, West Essex High School Computer Science students in Mr. Vincent Carchetta’s classes worked with High School students on Monday and Middle School students at a special program in the Middle School Library on Wednesday to teach students coding.

“I think the Middle School students really enjoyed it,” Daria Wendell, a freshman from North Caldwell said. “Coding is starting to be really popular.”

Daria said she hopes that more students will get involved with coding next year as she showed Belmin Kolenovic how to code on a laptop.

“I think this was a valuable experience that I will never forget,” Belmin, an eighth grader from Fairfield said.

Nearby Kaan Avci, a freshman from Fairfield, worked with Gavin Yang, an eighth grader from Roseland on coding.

“I am learning new things that can help become a computer programmer,” Gavin said.

Kaan said he enjoyed working with the younger students. “The hour of code is a way to introduce more people to coding and hopefully help educate the next generation of coders.”

Freshman Julia Geiger of Roseland sat on a couch in the library and worked with students, helping them use coding to create snowflakes. “I think this will open up new career paths to students,” Julia said.

“Working with another student is better than just reading instructions,” Sonya Solomonov, an eighth grader from North Caldwell said.

Eman Jaber, a freshman from Fairfield, also worked with Leigha Capra, an eighth grader from Fairfield, showing her to use “Frozen” characters Elsa and Anna to create snowflakes using coding.

“I am very excited to work with Eman,” Leigha said. “I want to pursue a career in coding and I am taking advantage of every opportunity that I can.”

Middle School Librarian Catherine Spinella said the coding program in the library was “fabulous” offered during the middle school lunch study.

“It was great to see the partnership between the high school and middle school students. I was thrilled to see how interested and successful the middle school students were.”

High School students enjoyed pizza and learned coding on Monday. Danny Calix, a junior from Fairfield, worked with Alec Cinque, a junior from North Caldwell in Mr. Carchetta’s classroom.

“This is my first time,” Alec said. “This is really pretty interesting and I could see myself having a job in computers.”

Who’s Who in the Photo Gallery

Kaan Avci, a freshman from Fairfield, teaches computer coding to Gavin Yang, an eighth grader from Roseland.

WEHS Computer Science students work with middle school students during their lunch study Wednesday in the Middle School Library.

Freshman Eman Jaber of Fairfield (right) teaches coding to Leigha Capra, an eighth grader from Fairfield (left).

Daria Wendell, a freshman from North Caldwell, works with Belmin Kolenovic, an eighth grader from Fairfield.

Photos courtesy of Allison Freeman