Massapequa High School’s Dog Rescue Club raised more than $1,300 for a pair of Long Island canine organizations. Representatives from Paws of War and Ruff House Rescue visited the school on June 20 to accept the donations.

Each organization received $680. Students in the Dog Rescue Club held bake sales, movie nights and T-shirt sales to raise funds throughout the school year. Advisor Christina Sabbiondo said that the students wanted to give to organizations that rely solely on donations. 

Lionel Bauman and his companion, Mr. Wrinkles, were on hand to accept the donation for Paws of War. He spoke to students in the club earlier this year about the role of service dogs and the work the organization does to provide dogs for veterans and first responders at no cost. All of the service dogs that Paws of War trains are rescues.

High school coordinator volunteer Jodie Cohen represented Ruff House Rescue, along with a pair of dogs up for adoption. Students from the Dog Rescue Club volunteered at numerous Ruff House Rescue adoption events this year. 

This is the Dog Rescue Club’s second year at Massapequa High School. It was founded by students to raise awareness about pet adoption and to support local organization that fulfill this mission. In addition to the recent donations, the group has held dog blanket, milk bone and toy drives this year.

“It’s really good to give to a cause that not a lot of people know about and I hope more people become aware,” Dog Rescue Club President Erica Hensler said. “Rescuing dogs, rather than shopping, is much better.”

 

Photo caption: The Massapequa High School Dog Rescue Club presented donations to Paws of War and Ruff House Rescue on June 20.

 

Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District

Students at Ronkonkoma Middle School recently took part in the school’s annual “Ramp Shot” fundraiser in an effort to raise money for a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

After contributing a $15 donation per player, students and their teammates were able to engage in fun and friendly competition in the school’s gymnasium for a few hours. Dozens of students put their skills to the test as they played the popular backyard game, which was created by Josh Bonventre and Kevin Texeira, both of Long Island. As a result of the fundraiser, the students raised $1,000 to support the cause. 

Student-winners of the competition went home with gift cards, and their very own “Ramp Shot” game to enjoy on summer vacation. The district would like to thank staff members Justin Hertz, Brianne Hertz and Chris D’Andrea for once again organizing the fun and exciting tournament. 

 

Photo caption: Several Ronkonkoma Middle School students and staff members took part and organized the school’s annual “Ramp Shot” tournament, which raised $1,000 toward funding ALS research. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Connetquot Central School District 

Islip High School students in the Athletes Helping Athletes program recently visited the district’s Wing Elementary School to work with younger students as part of Wing’s Wellness Week activities.

“The high school students were so excited about attending and could not stop talking about the visit the entire bus ride back to school,” said physical education teacher Patricia Whitehouse.

 

AHA 01, AHA 06, AHA 08: Islip High School students in the Athletes Helping Athletes program recently visited the district’s Wing Elementary School to work with younger students as part of Wing’s Wellness Week activities.

 

Photos courtesy of Islip School District

For Melanie Kane’s first grade students at McKenna Elementary School in the Massapequa School District, helping others is a way of life. Her class was declared food drive champions for their generosity during four sports-themed food collections this year.

It started in the fall with the baseball themed “World Cereal” challenge, followed by the “Souper Bowl,” the “March Madness” peanut butter and jelly and challenge and finally the “Stanley Cupboard” drive for non-perishable food items. Ms. Kane’s students collectively donated more food than any other class at McKenna in all four food drives.

Ms. Kane said that the competition for each trophy gets the children excited, which translates into more donations. Items go to local food pantries. Since the first “Souper Bowl” collection in 2014, Ms. Kane’s class has won five years out of six.

“We get a little competitive,” she said, “but it’s all for a good cause.”

 

Photo caption: Melanie Kane’s first grade class had the most donations in each of four separate food drives this year at McKenna Elementary School.

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District

This year’s fifth grade class at Fairfield Elementary School in the Massapequa School District will be remembered for a long time. As a fundraiser for various activities throughout the year, students sold personalized bricks.

More than 200 bricks were sold and placed together in front of the school sign, adjacent to the walkway leading to the main entrance. In the center of the brick arrangement is “Fairfield Class of 2019” with the paw print school logo, followed by “Where character leaves its mark and memories were made.”

While many graduating classes have donated benches to the school as gift, this year’s fifth-graders decided to leave their mark in a different way. The fundraiser supported activities such as the fifth-grade trip, sports day and the year-end bagel breakfast, which was held on June 12 just before the brick display was dedicated.

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District