The 14 dedicated members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 27 – all Harborfields students – recently completed a terrific Bronze Award service project in the courtyard at Washington Drive Primary School. Their creativity can now shine in the form of colorful paddles, boats and sea creature designs.

“From the beginning stages where the Girl Scouts were collecting bottles and cans, to raising the funding and soliciting donations, to the countless hours creating, staining, painting, sanding, installing and planting, I could not be prouder of these remarkable group of girls,” said Troop Leader Rebecca Waldren. “Their excitement to make the courtyard beautiful for all of the little children of Washington Drive was the driving force behind all their hard work, and we hope the students can enjoy it for years to come.”

 

DSC_0007, DSC_0011, DSC_0019: The 14 dedicated members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 27 – all Harborfields students – recently completed a terrific Bronze Award service project in the courtyard at Washington Drive Primary School.

 

Photos courtesy of Harborfields Central School District

 

The Garden City Public Schools recognize the devastating impact that the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks had on the community and the entire nation. In commemoration of Patriot Day, which acknowledges this date’s place in history each year, a variety of activities and tributes honored the lives that were lost and the heroism that was demonstrated by first responders and all those who helped.

Each building held a moment of silence to remember the individuals and families who were directly impacted. Many students and staff members wore red, white and blue, and teachers read books that describe the events of September 11 in age-appropriate ways. 

Hemlock students heard the story Fireboat by Maira Kalman and learned about ways that people can help the world. Some classes wrote thank you notes and drew pictures to give to helpers, and all students created their own patriotic pinwheels that they proudly displayed outside. Students from Homestead and Locust schools wrote powerful messages of thanks to the Garden City Police Department, the Garden City Fire Department, health care workers at Winthrop Hospital, Veterans and nurses. Homestead classes also created paper American Flags that were displayed on classroom windows, and Locust students and staff members wore red as a symbol of appreciation on Sept. 13 when Town of Hempstead Councilman Thomas Muscarella picked up the letters to be sent out. 

Stratford Avenue School held grade-level read alouds that featured books about the day and conveyed the importance of helping others. Stewart School shared morning Words of Wisdom announcements that focused on heroes. Garden City Middle School presented a thoughtful morning announcement, and many teachers made connections between their subject areas and the events of Sept. 11.

Garden City High School also made a statement during morning announcements and installed additional flags around the building’s Sept. 11 memorial on Rockaway Avenue. Students are selling commemorative pins at their home football game and will donate funds to a 9/11 related charity. 

These are just some of the many activities and lessons that were held throughout the district to remember Sept. 11, 2001 and honor Patriot Day.

 

Photo Captions:

Locust 1 & 2: Locust students displayed the cards that they made for Veterans, which Town of Hempstead Councilman Thomas Muscarella picked up to distribute. 

Hemlock 1 & 2: Students at Hemlock assembled and waved their Patriotic Pinwheels on Patriot Day. 

Homestead 1 & 2: Students at Homestead wrote letters and made flags in honor of Patriot Day. 

Cards: Cards that students made for healthcare workers are displayed at Winthrop Hospital to greet employees as they arrive at work each day. 

 

Photos courtesy of Garden City Public Schools

 

On Sept. 10, the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District officially began its football season with a special Sept. 11 Remembrance event honoring those lost and those who continue to risk their lives for the sake of others.

All Cold Spring Harbor community residents were invited to attend including active and retired members of the military, fire, police and first responders along with staff and students who lost a loved one as a result of the attack on Sept. 11. 2001. These groups were invited to participate in the ceremony held on the football field. 

Superintendent of Schools Jill Gierasch opened the ceremony by welcoming those in attendance. “Thank you for coming to support our students and to pay tribute to our heroes on the 20th anniversary of the horrific Sept. 11 attack on American soil. Tonight, we respectfully recognize and honor our heroes, the brave members of the armed forces, our local fire and police departments, survivors and the loved ones we lost 20 years ago. We must let those who were lost know that Cold Spring Harbor holds them all close to our hearts and on this anniversary know they will not be forgotten. To show our strength and solidarity, we bring our community together to show our respect for our heroes and this great nation.”

The remembrance ceremony featured the district’s elementary students who carried American flags and recited the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Cold Spring Harbor High School student Isabelle Apostolakos singing the national anthem and the varsity cheerleaders presenting a large American flag while representatives of the groups being honored gathered on the football field. Throughout the ceremony, the Brass Ensemble under the direction of Brent Chiarello played the “Hymn to the Fallen,” “Grand Old Flag,” “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.” Special thanks to the district’s Director of Technology Joseph Montasero for his touching closing remarks and for his invaluable assistance in organizing this memorable event.  

The ceremony was followed by the first official game of the football season against the Seaford Vikings. While the outcome of the game was not what the Cold Spring Harbor fans were hoping for, everyone left with a greater sense of appreciation, patriotism and unity. 

 

Photo captions:

1. Cold Spring Harbor CSD Superintendent of Schools Jill Gierasch welcomed those attending the district’s Sept. 11 Remembrance event.
2. Cold Spring Harbor elementary students proudly held American flags while they led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. The Cold Spring Harbor CSD varsity cheerleaders unfurled a large American flag during the district’s Sept. 11 Remembrance event.
4. Those being honored for their service and those being acknowledged for their losses as a result of attach on Sept. 11, 2001 gathered on the Cold Spring High School football field as high school student Isabelle Apostolakos sang the national anthem.
5. Cold Spring Harbor CSD leadership team joined Superintendent of Schools Jill Gierasch (second from right) to organize and present the district’s Sept. 11 Remembrance event.

 

Photos courtesy of Cold Spring Harbor CSD

 

Deer Park High School classmates Emily Franciscovich and Dimitra Pavlatos both recently received gold medals for the Suffolk County Distinguished Youth Award. The students were honored at a ceremony by the Suffolk County Legislature. Promoting and recognizing achievement in four categories, the program challenges Suffolk County youth to become more involved in their communities by requiring 200 hours of volunteerism, 100 hours of personal development, 100 hours of physical fitness and visits to 15 different Suffolk County parks.

Through hard work and sheer determination, Franciscovich and Pavlatos exceeded the 200-hour goal of volunteering at various nonprofit organizations. For personal development, Franciscovich improved her skills in photo and video editing, while Pavlatos enhanced her cooking and baking skills. Both students improved their tennis game for physical fitness and both visited the required number of parks as part of the exploration category.

 

DPHS DYA: Deer Park High School classmates Emily Franciscovich and Dimitra Pavlatos both recently received gold medals for the Suffolk County Distinguished Youth Award.

 

Photos courtesy of Deer Park School District

 

Harborfields students and staff at Oldfield Middle School, Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School and Washington Drive Primary School dressed in red, white and blue on Sept. 10 in honor of Patriot Day. Second graders at Washington Drive created heartfelt American flags to show their love and sense of community.  

 

WD Patriot Day 01, WD Patriot Day 02: In honor of Patriot Day, Harborfields second graders at Washington Drive Primary School created heartfelt American flags on Sept. 10 to show their love and sense of community.

 

Photos courtesy of Harborfields Central School District