Coding for Kids
Coding can seem like a mystery to non-programmers. Children learn easily, but only if given the opportunity!
Our Fall 2024 Session
Introduction to Scratch Programming
Our Fall 2024 session is a 5-week Introduction to Scratch Programming on Fridays from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm.
- Friday, October 18, 2024
- Friday, October 25, 2024
- Friday, November 8, 2024*
- Friday, November 15, 2024
- Friday, November 22, 2024
* Note that there is no class on November 1.
Our classes are held downstairs in the PWPL Children's Computer Center. It is free of charge and open to students in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, with priority given to those with a valid PWPL library card who are able to attend all 5 sessions. Space is limited and will be on a first-come basis.
To register, please visit the PWPL site by clicking on the button below.
The Love of Coding
Ignite children's love of coding by letting them learn how to create animations and computer games with Scratch, a graphical programming language developed at MIT that is targeted at young coders. As students design Scratch projects, they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
Our Mission
We are a group of AP Computer Science high school students in Port Washington. Our mission is to give children from the community the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of computer coding in a fun, age-appropriate, and engaging environment. Our students need not have any prior programming knowledge or experience.
Founded in 2022 by Ian Laurence and now run by Christina Kent, Young Coders of Port Washington has introduced scores of children to the exciting world of coding. Thus far, we have successfully completed seven "semesters" with over 90 students having participated in our program. Our Fall 2024 session is being held on Fridays at 4:30 from October 18th through November 22nd. To register, click the Register button above.
Our Approach
We partner with the Port Washington Public Library to offer hands-on learning for each student. Our 5-week syllabus is as follows:
Introduction to Scratch Programming
- Week 1: What is Scratch? Programming and Basic Motion
- Week 2: Sprite and Backdrop Creation
- Week 3: Logic - Operators & Loops
- Week 4: Variables
- Week 5: Final Project
Photos from Prior Sessions
The Team
Christiana Kent - President
Christiana joined the Young Coders of Port Washington team in the Fall of 2023 as a Junior Instructor. In April of 2024, she took over from Ian as President and is now running the program as the founding team has graduated from Schreiber moved on to college. Christiana is a now a sophomore at Paul D. Schreiber High School. She started coding in elementary school through the block programming language Hopscotch. She has completed course work in Artificial Intelligence Search Algorithms at Columbia University and computer languages at both Adelphi University and Long Island University. She has experience in many programming languages such as Python, Java, HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Christiana plays on Schreiber’s Varsity Tennis Team.
Ian Laurence - Founder and Past President
Ian was an AP Computer Science student at Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington. In elementary school, he learned Scratch from the Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth and subsequently won first place in Science Olympiad regionals for Game On, a Scratch-based coding event. He has taken courses in Fundamentals of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins, Introduction to Logic at Stanford University, and Machine Learning at NYU. Ian codes primarily in Python and Java and was previously a tutor for the Port Washington Public Library’s ESOL program. He currently serves as Copy Editor for the Schreiber Times and has played on Schreiber’s JV Tennis Team. Ian feels fortunate for the opportunities he had to learn coding at a young age and sees Young Coders of Port Washington as a way to extend similar opportunities to other kids in the community. Ian is now a freshman studying Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Duke University.
Tej Parekh - Past VP
Tej was a senior at Schreiber High School. He loves programming, rock climbing, and spending time outdoors. Tej is passionate about exposing others to new ideas, whether the subject is computer science or classic rock albums. He takes delight in teaching others and is always enthusiastic to share and grow his knowledge. Tej is now a freshman at Brown University.
Alexa Saur - Past VP
Alexa has loved programming ever since block coding on Scratch, Tynker, and Code.org in elementary school. She participated in coding programs at Adelphi University, Pace University, the New York Historical Society, and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). At AMNH Alexa completed an internship studying ocean eddies with machine learning and is currently working with a professor at Columbia University to model star formation from interstellar gas clouds, in addition to taking Harvard CS50. Alexa has experience in multiple languages, including Python, HTML, CSS, Java, Javascript, C, and SQL. Wanting to share her love of STEM with others, Alexa has volunteered at 18 STEM events in Port Washington and has designed and taught over 2 dozen Zoom and in-person workshops for the PWPL.
Jack Senders - Past VP
As the youngest person to have completed both AP Computer Science classes offered at Schreiber High School, Jack has a vast knowledge of coding fundamentals and applications in both Java and Python. He has contributed to many non-school related coding open source initiatives and has even helped NASA with a coding project. Jack is an avid rock climber and a Captain in the Port Washington Fire Department Juniors. He has been a camp counselor for multiple years and loves working with kids. Jack started learning to code in middle school and believes that the sooner one begins their coding journey, the more success they will have. Jack is now a freshman at Northeastern University.