Warring reignites innovation lab excitement with engineering project

Warring Elementary School reopened its innovation lab for the 2026-27 school year with a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The first activity for the students this year is themed “Engineer and Design,” which is being led by visiting instructor Elizabeth O’Raffity. O’Raffity is the president and founder of Growing STEMZ, a nonprofit that works to increase exposure for all students to STEM fields and advocate for equal access and opportunity to careers in those fields.

Throughout the month, Warring students will create and design inventions using cardboard pieces cut using Chomp Saws, kid-friendly tools for cutting shapes, available in the lab. Other activities coming up include making scientific observations and inferences using a large pumpkin.

Innovation Labs opened in most district school buildings last school year, another product of the district’s transformative Strong Schools Equal Strong Communities Capital Project, which has seen more than $150 million in building improvements across the district. Warring embraced the resource last year and welcomed several visiting instructors, including from area colleges like Dutchess Community College and Marist, who engaged the students in such lessons as how to make slime, how to build sturdy model bridges and other fun activities.