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In recognition of Veterans Day, the Student Council at George Washington School in West Hempstead organized a heartfelt project to honor the brave men and women who have served the country. 

Students across all grades crafted handmade cards expressing gratitude and appreciation for local veterans within the West Hempstead community. This initiative, led by the school’s Student Council, reflects George Washington’s ongoing commitment to community service and civic engagement. Each card was created with care and sincerity, offering messages of thanks and remembrance to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting the nation’s freedoms.

Throughout the year, the George Washington Student Council has worked to identify opportunities to give back to West Hempstead through acts of kindness and service. The Veterans Day card collection is just one of several initiatives planned to strengthen connections between the school and the wider community.

 

Photo caption: Members of the George Washington School Student Council collected handmade Veterans Day cards created by students to honor local veterans in the West Hempstead community.

 

Photo courtesy of the West Hempstead Union Free School District 

Photo caption: John Pearl Elementary School in the Connetquot Central School District collected a generous amount of nonperishable food items throughout November to support local families in need this Thanksgiving. Students helped decorate and assemble the donation boxes, making the effort a true schoolwide community project.

 

Photo courtesy of Connetquot Central School District

This September, in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Daniela Conte Foundation launched its 3rd Annual Gold Shoelace Campaign — and the response across Long Island was truly inspiring. More than 30 high schools and over 15 youth sports programs took part, with many hosting Gold-Out Games to honor children fighting cancer and to raise awareness within their communities.

From student-athletes to coaches, teachers, families, and entire athletic programs, participants laced up in gold to send a powerful message: no child battles cancer alone. Teams across Long Island shared photos, stories, and messages of support, sparking meaningful conversations and encouraging deeper community involvement.

Wearing gold shoelaces and hosting Gold-Out Games helped raise critical funds that directly support local families whose children are in active treatment. These funds assist with medical expenses, transportation, and day-to-day costs, helping families focus on what matters most — caring for their child. The campaign also served as an important educational opportunity, helping young people and community members better understand the realities of childhood cancer and the challenges families face every day.

One especially memorable moment this year came from East Meadow High School, where the stands were packed with gold-clad fans. The event was a heartfelt tribute to children battling cancer and a powerful demonstration of unity and hope. It showed how even a simple act — like lacing up in gold — can create a lasting impact for families navigating incredibly difficult times.

The Gold Shoelace Campaign continues to grow each year, with more teams joining, more families being supported, and more individuals choosing to stand with children fighting cancer.

We are deeply grateful to every athlete, coach, parent, school, and community member who participated. Through your involvement, awareness is turning into action, and hope is becoming tangible support for families in need — one gold shoelace at a time.

The generosity of ninth graders at the Massapequa High School Ames Campus will ensure that local families have a bountiful Thanksgiving this year. The National Junior Honor Society recently concluded a food drive that resulted in the collection of hundreds of nonperishable items.

The drive ran from Oct. 9 to Nov. 14 and there was a steady stream of donations over the five weeks. Students could leave items on a cart outside the classroom of NJHS adviser Michelle Grossi each day. The donations ranged from canned vegetables to jars of gravy to boxes of pasta. 

Honor society members made dozens of posters to promote the food drive, which were hung throughout the school. Once the food drive ended, they also helped to sort and boxed up the food, which would be donated to the food pantry at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park. 

Ms. Grossi said the Thanksgiving food drive has been a long-standing annual tradition, and the promotion efforts of the NJHS members help make it a success every year. Students added that it feels good to give back to their community, like ninth grader Hailey Stalzer, who noted that it takes only a small donation to make a difference because when many people contribute, it adds up.

“Contributing to those in need during the holidays can make those families feel loved,” Noemi Purificato said. 

Added Luci Bernstein, “Things that people take for granted can be something that other families greatly appreciate.”

 

Photo caption: The National Junior Honor Society at the Massapequa High School Ames Campus organized a nonperishable food drive for Thanksgiving.

 

Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District

The CNS Boys JV and Varsity Volleyball teams once again rallied together for a powerful Make-A-Wish Week,  a tradition rooted in teamwork, gratitude, and giving back to children in our community who need it most.

This year’s events included two special matchups: CNS vs. Liverpool on 10/22 and CNS vs. Baldwinsville on 10/27. Fans were encouraged to wear Make-A-Wish blue or school colors, and each supporter received a volleyball sticker as a fun keepsake. The gym was filled with energy and purpose as athletes, families, and community members united around a shared mission.

Both nights featured bake sales and basket raffles, with all proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish of Central New York. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, the teams raised essential funds to help grant life-changing wishes to children battling critical illnesses.

Make-A-Wish Week extends far beyond the games themselves. Each athlete wears a Make-A-Wish bracelet throughout the week to spark conversations and raise awareness. Some programs invite Wish Families to share their inspiring stories, while others create custom T-shirts to display their support and broaden the reach of the message.

This initiative is embraced across the region — with Syracuse City, Cicero-North Syracuse, Fayetteville-Manlius, East Syracuse-Minoa, Liverpool, Oswego, Central Square, West Genesee, and Baldwinsville all participating. Each team selects a home contest and hosts its own fundraising effort, making announcements throughout the event to highlight the impact of Make-A-Wish.

The week culminates in a powerful tradition: during Sectional Finals, all coaches come together to present the final donation check to a Wish Family and Make-A-Wish staff — a moment that truly reflects the heart of high school athletics: compassion, leadership, and community.

A huge thank-you to the CNS volleyball community and all participating schools for continuing to show what it means to play for something bigger than yourself. Your impact is real — and it helps make wishes come true.