The Riverhead Central School District held its eighth annual Crazy Sports Night on March 1. During the sold-out event, students and their families cheered as district teachers competed against each other in a hula-hoop race, a three-point basketball shoot-off, a balloon race, a ball hop relay and a “Human Hungry Hippo” game. The event raised $500 for the Simonsen family. Detective Brian Simonsen was tragically killed by friendly fire in February.

 

Photo courtesy of the Riverhead Central School District

The Carle Place Middle/High School’s annual Battle of the Classes titled “Battling for a Cause,” once again has made a huge impact for another great cause. The event, which is sponsored by the Carle Place High School Key Club and Student Organization, raised approximately $23,000 for the Long Island chapter of the Tourette Association of America.

            This marks the 12th year of the Carle Place Battle of the Classes. Support has grown tremendously since its inaugural year, when students raised money to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, funds for the Long Island Tourette Association were raised through online and direct donations from the community, as seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen pledged to battle for bragging rights in a series of challenges held at the school on the night of March 1. This year’s events included coin wars, badminton, basketball, a class skit, spelling bee, spike ball, tug of war, volleyball and more. The seniors took first-place bragging rights.

            Long Island Tourette Association was selected as this year’s charity based on sophomore Victoria Argenzio’s work with the organization. Victoria is inspired by her brother, Stephen Argenenzio (Class of 2018), who lives with Tourette Syndrome.  

            “We are so happy that the students chose a charity that impacts the Carle Place community directly,” said Key Club adviser Maddalena Buffalino. “This event is the highlight of the school. The night is fiercely competitive, but it is all in good fun! Ultimately, unity is achieved through charitable work!”

 

Photo Captions:

 

Photo 1: Carle Place students and staff presented a $23,000 donation to the L.I. chapter of the Tourette Association raised from this year’s Battle of the Classes.

Photo 2: Juniors perform a skit during this year’s Battle of the Classes.

Photo 3: Volleyball was one of several competitions at Battle of the Classes.

 

Photos courtesy of the Carle Place School District

Students at Mattituck Jr./Sr. High School added another goal to their busy schedules during the months of January and February. As they gathered and sorted donations for the annual Adopt-A-Platoon program, their goal was to exceed their previous efforts and they did just that.

The high school’s SADD club, CSO/Interact club and the Leo’s club all joined forces to spearhead the program sponsored by the Southold Youth Bureau and the Brookhaven Veterans Association.

This year’s event had special meaning since the students were collecting items for two Mattituck Jr./Sr. High School graduates who are currently serving overseas, William Goggins, Class of 2011, and Zachary Hinsch, Class of 2012. Personal items including books, toiletries, socks, hand warmers, games, candy, soups and hot cocoa were collected by the students. SADD adviser Andrea Nydegger and CSO/Interact advisor Jean Mahoney as well as Leo’s club president Teagan Nine organized the students’ efforts at the high school. The student leadership advisers at Cutchogue East Elementary School helped spearhead this event. Students decorated and personalized old VHS plastic cases for each of the platoon members. The packages also contained letters written by third-graders thanking the platoon members for their service.

The school district thanks both Zachary and William for their brave and important service and also wishes to thank everyone for a truly collaborative school/community effort. Bob Duffin from Brookhaven Veterans Association/Adopt-A-Platoon and Southold Youth Bureau visited the district and presented plaques of appreciation.

 

Photo captions:

1-2, 4: Mattituck Jr./Sr. High School students broke their previous record for collecting more than two truckloads of donations during their participation in the Adopt-A-Platoon program.

3: Both the Brookhaven Veterans Association and the Southold Youth Bureau expressed their appreciation to the students for their outstanding efforts.

 

Photos courtesy of the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District

Photo caption: The varsity club at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its coffee and hot chocolate café on March 7 and 8 to raise money for the AHRC’s annual Polar Splash. The club raised $140 during the two days and enjoyed making hot chocolate and delivering coffee for their teachers. Club members will attend and participate in the Polar Splash on April 13 at the Bay Shore Marina.

 

Photo courtesy of Copiague School District

Clear Stream Avenue School students in Valley Stream District 30 kicked off “Movement March” with a Pennies for Patients assembly and video presentation on March 6. The special month, which is not only about staying fit, also encourages students to make a difference in the community to help others get healthy.

Students and staff gathered in the school gymnasium to hear from Keri Stein, Pennies for Patients campaign manager. Stein spoke about giving back with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients program. The organization’s mission is to find a cure for childhood blood cancers. Led by the student council, Clear Stream Avenue School participates in the program each year. Last year, students and staff worked together and raised more than $3,000 to go toward the cause. Principal John Singleton hopes to surpass that number this year.

“One of the things that we love to do in March is give back,” he said. “Clear Stream has always been a community that gives back to the outside community so that we can all benefit as a society.”

Stein spoke about heroes, noting that patients are her heroes. She also educated students on the important jobs that red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets play in a person’s body and spoke about what these look like in someone who is sick. Students learned about the important people that support patients, ranging from doctors to family members. Stein grouped these individuals into a “Hero Squad” and encouraged students to join the team.

Each student received a Pennies for Patients box to collect donations. Stein told students that every penny counts and offered suggestions on how to raise money such as helping around the house.

“What seems like a small amount of change can really make a big change when we work together,” she said.   

After the presentation, Mr. Singleton shared a video created by sixth-grader Adaobi Okammelu. The video highlighted exercises that students could do to stay active during the month. Each Friday, students will be encouraged to wear a specific color and fill out a healthy choices raffle ticket, documenting the choices they made that week. One student from each class will then be chosen as a winner. To end the presentation on a high note, a jump romp contest took place between custodian Johnathan Stampfl and third-grader Joy Murray. Students cheered as they both showed off their skills, getting the whole school ready for a month of fun and fitness.

Photo Captions:

1) Pennies for Patients campaign manager Keri Stein spoke to students at Clear Stream Avenue School about the Pennies for Patients program.

2) Keri Stein from Pennies for Patients (middle) taught students about red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Pictured with Clear Stream Avenue kindergartners Faith Dieudonne (left), Eric Posada (bottom), Khaleb Ward (second from right) and Ryan Robinson (right).

3) Third-grader Joy Murray (right) competed in a jump rope contest with custodian Johnathan Stampfl.

4) Third-grader Joy Murray showed off her jump roping skills.

 

Photos courtesy of Valley Stream District 30