East Islip High School’s varsity softball team continued its partnership with local nonprofit organization Christmas Magic in December, participating in a longstanding tradition of shopping for needy Long Island children. This year, the students and softball coach Jason McGowan shopped at Target in Bay Shore for Long Island Against Domestic Violence, a shelter for children age 1-16 who suffered from domestic violence within their residence. 

“I’ve been doing this every year since eighth grade,” said senior Lauren Crawford. “It feels great to know that I am making someone who is less fortunate than me have a better Christmas.” 

IMG_3537: East Islip High School’s varsity softball team continued its Christmas Magic partnership by shopping for children from the Long Island Against Domestic Violence shelter.

Photos courtesy of East Islip School District

Varsity wrestling teams from Division Avenue High School and General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown Public Schools recently participated in a Wrestling Takes Down Drugs Day in the Jonas E. Salk Middle School gymnasium. 

Sponsored by Friends of Long Island Wrestling, the Nassau County Police Department and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Wrestling Takes Down Drugs campaign strives to educate middle and high school students on Long Island about the dangers of opioid abuse and ways to prevent addiction. It focuses on the sport of wrestling which builds self-esteem and promotes self-discipline in young athletes. The campaign also supports local wrestling programs and drug counseling and recovery centers.   

On the day of the event, the two teams gathered for a dual meet. Prior to their wrestling match, Town of Hempstead Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., police officer and Friends of Long Island Wrestling executive board member Kevin Murphy, along with Friends of Long Island Wrestling President Jerry Seckler and Vice-President Pascal Perri, spoke to the Levittown student-athletes about drug prevention. General Douglas MacArthur High School Principal Joseph Sheehan and Division Avenue High School Principal John Coscia, accepted plaques on the behalf of their schools. The plaques were a pledge signed by both teams to stay off of drugs and be a positive influence in the Levittown community.

Photo caption: Varsity wrestling teams from Division Avenue High School and General Douglas MacArthur High School pledged to take down drugs prior to their dual meet. 

Photo courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools 

Photo caption: Smithtown High School East Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club made 28 holiday wreaths for residents at Mills Pond Nursing Home. The club members visited the nursing home on Dec. 10 and played Pokeno with the residents. The wreaths were prizes for the winners. At the end of the game, all the residents got a wreath.  

Photos courtesy of Smithtown Central School District

Members of Deer Park High School’s Red Cross Club and Community Service Club recently visited Island Harvest, a food bank in Hauppauge, to package food prior to the holiday season. These charity-minded students sorted and packaged over a thousand pounds of food for delivery to needy families across Long Island. 

IMG_0929: Members of Deer Park High School’s Red Cross Club and Community Service Club sorted and packaged over a thousand pounds of food at the Island Harvest food bank.

Photos courtesy of Deer Park School District

In the spirit of giving, East Islip High School’s boys and girls bowling teams, and coaches Harold Cooley and Judith Fischer, decided to help North Babylon bowling coach Sonny Casale, who recently lost his home to a house fire several weeks ago.  

EI’s bowling community hosted a fundraising event on Dec. 8 at East Islip Lanes which included bowling and a large basket raffle. The two local teams donated a gift basket with $100 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets, which was raffled off as one of the grand prizes and collected $400 in donations from students for a gift card for Casale, which was presented to him by East Islip team captains Natalie Mavrich and Sonny Pico.

“Coach Cooley and I are very proud of how the kids eagerly responded to help another coach and give so generously of their time and money,” said Fischer. 

IMG_4340: East Islip High School’s boys and girls bowling teams helped raise funds for North Babylon bowling coach Sonny Casale, who recently lost his home.

Photos courtesy of East Islip School District