What Happens When High Schoolers Teach the Future
On the morning of Friday, March 13, 2026, the hallways of AMS IV transformed into something remarkable. Middle school students from across Queens arrived at our August Martin Campus for a first-of-its-kind Cyber Awareness Camp — and what they found waiting for them were not lecturers or outside presenters, but their peers: our own 10th-grade scholars from the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) program, ready to lead the room. Designed and organized by AOIT Instructor Mr. Oza and coordinated in partnership with the NYPD Cyber Unit, the camp was built on a simple but powerful idea: that the best teachers of digital safety for young people are young people themselves.
That 10/10 rating? It came from every single middle school student in attendance. Not most. Every one.
"Our 10th-grade scholars in the AOIT program were absolutely amazing presenters. They kept the middle school students engaged, incorporated interactive activities and assignment check-ins during their presentations, and received a 10 out of 10 from every middle school participant for the experience."
That 10/10 rating? It came from every single middle school student in attendance. Not most. Every one.
How It Unfolded
A Morning Built Around Real-World Knowledge
From the opening keynote to the hands-on Cyber Safety Lab, the day was designed to move fast, stay hands-on, and connect digital safety directly to students' everyday lives. Each visiting school rotated through dedicated workshops, ensuring every group received the full experience.
Visiting schools — including Emerson and Merrick Academy — each followed a customized rotation sequence, ensuring no workshop bottlenecks and keeping the energy high across all rooms throughout the morning.
Student Impact
More Than a Workshop. A Statement.
The Cyber Awareness Camp wasn't just about teaching password hygiene or explaining phishing attacks — though it did both with depth and clarity. It was about demonstrating what AMS IV students are capable of when given the platform and the preparation to lead. Our AOIT scholars stepped into the role of Cyber Ambassadors with genuine ownership. They incorporated interactive activities, built in assignment check-ins during their presentations, and held the room with confidence. The middle school students weren't passive — they were challenged, involved, and engaged from the first minute to the last.
Every participant left with a Cyber Awareness Certificate, a Cyber Safety Checklist for their families, and — just as importantly — proof that the students of this community are ready to lead it.
Recognition
The People Who Made It Happen
A special thank you to Principal Mr. Dieujuste for the leadership that makes events like this possible, and to Ms. L. Thomas, our STEAM Assistant Principal, for championing the vision behind it. This day came to life through the dedication of Mr. Oza, whose work organizing the Cyber Awareness Camp from the ground up was nothing short of exceptional. Thank you to Ms. John from our Work-Based Learning team for ensuring our scholars were prepared to lead, and to Ms. Burke and Ms. Ifill for coordinating the arrival of our middle school guests with care and professionalism. And of course, to the NYPD Cyber Unit for being incredible partners in this work — and to our Student Cyber Ambassadors, whose 10-out-of-10 performance reminded us all why we do this.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​