Boxes and boxes of school supplies were delivered to Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District on Sept. 11 thanks to the United Way’s Stuff-A-Bus program. United Way chose the date to coincide with the National Day of Service.

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., a big yellow school bus pulled up, provided by Educational Bus Transportation, one of the district’s transportation providers. United Way volunteers emerged and unloaded dozens of boxes. Members of the middle school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions club also helped out.

Jeannine Darcy, a member of United Way’s Resource Development Department, said the Stuff-A-Bus program is in its 11th year and has helped thousands of children at multiple Long Island school districts. She said this year United Way collected and distributed approximately 185,000 school supplies including backpacks, notebooks, binders, rulers, pens, pencils and more. 

“We want children to have the best start to the school year so they can be successful,” she said.

Middle school social worker Beatriz Offitto said that this year was the first time Amityville participated in Stuff-A-Bus. She said that the donations will be provided to any child in need of supplies, and also will be given out to new students enrolling at the school. After the items were sorted by students from the SADD club, supplies more appropriate for younger students were delivered to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School.

“I’m excited that we are able to help students by giving them supplies, to make their learning easier,” Ms. Offitto said. “Having good school supplies makes their educational experiences better.”

 

Photo captions:

 

1: Volunteers from United Way dropped off school supplies at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Sept. 11 through the Stuff-A-Bus program.

2: Students from the middle school’s SADD Club helped unload boxes from the bus, and later sorted the supplies.

 

Photos courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District

 

Many hands made light work at Eastport Elementary School as fifth and sixth grade students worked together on Sept. 11 to host the fourth annual First Responder Bagel Breakfast and Car Wash, showing their appreciation for local first responders and the sacrifices they make for their community each day. 

With supplies funded by a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Grant, sixth grade students teamed up to wash police vehicles and fire department apparatus from departments such as the Eastport Fire Department, New York State Police, Southampton Police, Suffolk County Police and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. As the first responder’s vehicles were being washed, fifth grade students served them delicious bagels and coffee donated by Bagels N Brunch in Speonk.

“We try and teach students to do something kind without getting anything in return,” said Maria Plitt, a teacher assistant at the school. “The students love it and we continue to do it each year.” 

 

Photo caption: Eastport Elementary School students worked together to clean the vehicles of local first responders. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Eastport-South Manor Central School District

More than 70 families recently stopped by Hemlock School in Garden City for a special afternoon of decorating the building’s main entrance with warm, welcoming messages.

Hemlock’s Chalk the Walks event provided young students with the opportunity to draw fun and inviting illustrations and write inspiring, positive messages on the walkway and sidewalk at the main entrance of the school. Siblings and Hemlock graduates were also invited to partake in the fun!

Chalk the Walks events are held in August throughout the country. They are designed to spread joy, optimism and inspiration through the use of simple sidewalk chalk. They also motivate young students to be creative and demonstrate their quality character traits.

 

Photo caption 1: Hemlock School students welcomed everyone back with warm messages  during their Chalk the Walks event.

Photo caption 2: Youngsters enjoyed showing off their creative skills during Hemlock School’s Chalk the Walks event. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Garden City School District

 

Students braved the waves on Sept. 10, when they attended the annual Surfers Healing Surf Camp in Lido Beach. Members of Long Beach High School’s Life Skills program and the district’s special education program joined attendees from neighboring schools for an uplifting and sensational experience.

Professional Surfers Healing instructors fit participants for life jackets and accompanied them into the water on long boards. They paddled out and guided the students in eventually standing and riding waves back to the shore. Many administrators and staff members cheered them on from the sand, and high school volunteers were on-site to distribute medals share encouragement. 

Surfers Healing seeks to enhance the lives of children and teens with special needs, specifically those with autism. The organization’s stellar team, coupled with the ocean’s therapeutic effect, has been making a difference in the lives of its participants for more than 18 years. This was one of many one-day Surfers Healing camps held across the nation and was organized in partnership with the Town of Hempstead.

 

Photo Captions:

1. Isabella Catania receives her medal after a successful surfing experience. 
2. Kamila Leon Goris proudly accepts a surfing medal.
3. Devin Fitzpatrick Murray rides a wave back to shore. 
4. Jason Gonzalez enjoyed a day of surfing. 
5. Fabrizio Lobaton shows off his surfing skills. 
6. Isabella Catania had an enjoyable surfing experience. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Long Beach School District

 

Photo caption: At the Sept. 10 board of education meeting, Smithtown Central School District recognized 7-year-old Dominick Chiuchiolo, a student at Tackan Elementary School, for his fundraising efforts. Setting up his own lemonade stand at the St. James Farmer’s Market, Chiuchiolo raised $11,700 to support childhood cancer research in just one week. After finding out his mother is a childhood cancer survivor, Chiuchiolo set his initial goal to raise $8,000 in one month but far surpassed his expectations thanks to the support of his friends, family and local community. He is pictured with board of education trustees Mandi Kowalik and Jerry Martusciello. 

 

Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District