In honor of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Awareness Month, the Marion Street Elementary School Student Council in the Lynbrook Public Schools held a fundraiser to support the ALS Ride For Life Foundation and its search for a cure. With the help of student council advisers Kristen Keane and Kelsey Occhino, the members discussed the disease ALS at their meetings and facilitated an ice bucket fundraiser to get teachers and students involved. They created posters to promote ALS awareness and the fundraiser around the school. 

Each class at Marion Street Elementary School donated money and nominated teachers for the ice bucket challenge. Ice bucket participants included student council advisers Mrs. Keane and Mrs. Occhino, along with teachers Kara Boulay, Amy Brennan, Kelly Donovan, Tracey Reisert and Principal Theresa Macchia. Each class watched a video of the teacher’s ice bucket challenge and on May 20, all students and staff wore red to spread ALS awareness and honor Chris Pendergast. Mr. Pendergast was the founder of ALS Ride for Life, a hardworking advocate for ALS awareness, and an annual visitor at the school, who passed away last year from the disease. 

Together, the school community raised $2,151 for the ALS Ride For Life Foundation. Students in Anthony Simone’s fourth grade class raised the most money during the fundraiser and won the chance to slime their principal Mrs. Macchia outside the school. The fundraiser was a great way to raise awareness, honor Mr. Pendergast’s memory and support an important cause. 

 

Photo captions:

 

1) Marion Street third graders (L-R) Valentina Anselmo, Juliet Weiss, Slater Nonalaya and Ryan Kelly created beautiful posters to promote the student council’s ALS fundraiser. 

2) Third grader Riley Moffett had the perfect shirt which read “I Love Slime,” ahead of Marion Street Principal Theresa Macchia getting slimed for a good cause. 

3) As a reward for raising the most money, Anthony Simone’s fourth grade class slimed their principal Theresa Macchia. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Lynbrook Public Schools 

 

 

 

Southampton High School students participated in a wide variety of activities, led by the school’s mental health team, to mark May as Mental Health Awareness Month. 

To kick things off, high schoolers raised funds for the Dakari R. Brown: Everything You Are Is More Than Enough Memorial Scholarship through cupcakes sales and a face mask fundraiser featuring masks with positive messages. Positive messages were also found on the school’s bathroom mirrors and a Wall of Fame that included quotes about mental health from famous celebrities. Daily announcements provided positive affirmations. 

Additional funds were raised for the Hype Scholarship and Dakari’s Hope through plank challenges held during the month. The funds raised were generously matched by the Southampton Village PBA.

In addition, each Wednesday, students were encouraged to hunt down stress balls hidden throughout the building, and on Mondays participate in a “mindful minute” challenge.  

The month culminated with a color run aimed at raising awareness for mental health diagnoses. 

 

Photo caption: Southampton High School students culminated a monthlong mental health awareness initiative with a color run.  

 

Photos courtesy of the Southampton Union Free School District

 

Justin Martin is a member of Garden City High School’s senior class who has made a lasting impression on the people who have had the good fortune of knowing and working with him; teachers, coaches and students alike. They praise his kind spirit and humble demeanor, along with academic and athletic successes. 

Justin is described as a role model to his peers, eager to lend a helping hand and consistently thoughtful and respectful of others. He is known to be kind, considerate and creative, with a passion for animals, photography and computers. 

When not immersed in his studies, Justin fulfills many after school responsibilities including but not limited to a job after school where he works as an office sales representative. In addition to his academic endeavors, Justin has accomplished meaningful recognition as an American Red Cross junior lifeguard and has served the community as a member of the Miracle Club. He has volunteered at the INN, where his most recent philanthropic efforts assisted in a food drive where they collected necessities for the less fortunate.

Justin’s athletic talents have been observed through his fencing accomplishments – he is a member of the high school’s team and successfully competed as a Foil Fencer. He is also a member of the United States Fencing Association. 

He plans on attending Lynn University and pursuing a career that is fulfilling and meaningful.

 

Submissions are from staff, students, or parents. To nominate a GCHS senior, please contact Assistant Principal for Guidance and PPS Mandi Stefankiewicz at stefankiewiczm@gcufsd.net

 

Mineola High School students involved in the Student Service Center planted smiles on the faces of local senior citizens with “Mission Marigold.” Due to the constraints of the pandemic, student volunteers have been unable to see the senior citizen guests who typically are a part of the school’s Lunch Bunch. Mission Marigold is a way for students to still safely connect with the seniors, while carrying on the tradition of giving them a small potted plant each spring.

Mission Marigold took place over the course of three days. High school students first planted marigolds into pots. The next day, the student volunteers delivered the plants to some senior citizens locally. On the third day, the Student Service Center set up an outdoor drive-through at the high school to welcome Lunch Bunch guests who were picking up the flowers themselves.

 

Photos courtesy of the Mineola Union Free School District

 

 

A school community collaboration is the reason why Wellington C. Mepham High School was able to host its annual Chop Your Locks for charity event benefiting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

This year’s hybrid event raised nearly $22,000 and counting. Held in person on May 27, the fundraiser was simultaneously live broadcasted by the Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting program.

Social studies chairperson Robyn Einbinder praised teachers Kerry Dennis and Chris Patten for making this year’s fundraiser happen in a live setting.

“We have a generous community and we saw that last night and in the weeks leading up to the events,” added Einbinder.

Administrators and custodial staff were integral, as well as senior leadership class members. 

“Having an in-person event was so important to us not only for the participants but for our students to have a chance to see how impactful their efforts are,” said Dennis. “There is a feeling in that gym on a St. Baldrick’s night that is indescribable, and we were so happy to capture a little part of that.”

While participants were donating their hair in the gymnasium, event organizers had set up Zoom rooms on big screen televisions for friends and family members to view at home.

Students and staff were able to pivot the event’s coverage, offering live streaming and reporting via the Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting team, under the direction of Stu Stein Matthew Russell and Lisa Kalish. 

In addition to on-air talent of AJ Fried, Michele Spiller and Ava Scheffler, BMB had six camera operators and four students in the control room, a sound engineer, a boom operator and two student producers on the floor. 

Stein said they rely on the students knowing their assignments and trusting each other to all do their part. Nearly 50 students collaborated on the broadcast.

“Live coverage is the most exciting, most fun thing that we do,” he added. “Just because it is so unpredictable. They’re forced to work as a team, they’re forced to rely on each other, and they’re forced to problem solve in real time.  When we go live there’s only so much that Matthew Russell, Lisa Kalish and I can do. The kids really need to figure it out and to take opportunities when they present themselves. It doesn’t get any more ‘real world experience’ than a live broadcast.”

 

Photo captions:

1. Halle Wunderman prepared to shave the underside of freshman Sammi Rooney’s hair as Ava Scheffler from Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting interviews her. Sammi raised $100.
2. Chris Rosenthan, a Class of 2017 alumnus, was ready to shave his locks as social studies teacher Jacqueline Geller waved at his family and friends who were watching via Zoom. 
3. From left, Kelly Johnson, Halle Wunderman, Eliza Kraki and Ivan Suazo assisted at the welcome booth at the Mepham St. Baldrick’s fundraiser on May 27.
4. Mepham junior Nick Dato raised $250 this year.
5. From left, Matthew Manno, Michelle Spiller and AJ Fried worked at the Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting booth.
6. Social studies teacher/co-organizer Kerry Dennis, chairperson Robyn Einbinder, Assistant Principals Andrew Del Rosario, Chris Safina and Principal Eric Gomez.
7. Social studies teacher/co-organizer Chris Patten (center) performed with the Amityville American Legion Pipe Band as people entered Mepham on May 27 for the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser.

 

Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District