On Patriots Day, Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School held a symbolic stair climb to honor Sept. 11 victims and first responders. Students, faculty and staff marched to the stadium bleachers, led by social studies teacher Thomas Hayes and K-12 social studies director Dr. Stephen Posselt, where they climbed 2,200 steps, representing 110 floors of the former World Trade Center building in New York City.
Prior to the stair climb, the concert choir, under the baton of teacher Daniel Graf, expertly sang, “God Bless America,” streamed for students throughout the building. Hayes, along with Principal Salvatore Alaimo, also expressed comments about this special remembrance.
“Remember, every step represents a life, a story, a family forever changed,” Mr. Hayes poignantly said. “This is not just a workout. This is remembrance. This is respect.”
Later in the afternoon, students wanting to participate in a day of service collected in the school’s courtyard for a cleanup of the pond and grounds.
Photo captions:
A: Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School students and faculty participated in a symbolic Patriots Day stair climb, climbing 2,200 steps to symbolize the 110 floors of the World Trade Center building.
B: Social studies teacher Thomas Hayes addressed the student body prior to the stair climb saying that the event is about remembrance and respect.
C: The Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School concert choir sang “God Bless America” prior to the Patriots Day stair climb on Sept. 11.
D: The Eastport-South Manor Patriots Day stair climb was well attended by students and faculty on Sept. 11.
E: Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School senior Katelyn Byrnes, left, and junior Evan Pfluger, back, participated in the school’s courtyard cleanup with, center Director of K-12 Science Dr. Jessica Mintz, center, and Director of K-12 Social Studies Dr. Stephen Posselt on Patriots Day.
Photos courtesy of the Eastport-South Manor Central School District
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