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Helping others has been a mission for students in the Massapequa School District as Thanksgiving approaches. 

Berner Middle School’s student council, under the direction of advisers Denise Robertson and Teresa Ferreira organized a food drive, collecting hundreds of nonperishable goods to help local families. On Nov. 8, the student leaders packed up the donations and traveled to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park, where they helped stock the food pantry and learned about the impact the donations will have.

The student councils at East Lake and Fairfield elementary schools also spearheaded food drives. At East Lake, nonperishable food and paper goods were collected for the food pantry at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa. Fairfield’s donations went to the Island Harvest food bank. Students from both schools made signs to hang around the buildings to promote the food drives.

Lockhart Elementary School not only held a food drive, but fifth graders also decorated paper bags with fall or Thanksgiving designs and made cards. The bags will be filled with food that will be given to local families in time for the holiday. This is the fourth year the school has done the bag decorating and the goal is to spread joy for Thanksgiving. 

 

Photo captions:

1: The East Lake Elementary School student council, joined by adviser Meggin Hall, held a Thanksgiving food drive for St. Rose of Lima Church’s food pantry.

2: Lockhart Elementary School fifth graders decorated bags with Thanksgiving and fall designs for families receiving food donations from St. Rose.

3: Fairfield Elementary School student council members, from left, Vincent Guardino, Hailey Reinle, Selara Fam and Dylan Sonntag showed donations for the Thanksgiving food drive for Island Harvest.

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District

Bethpage students and staff from Central Boulevard Elementary School recently raised $2,396 for Ronald McDonald House Charities through their Coins for a Cause fundraiser. The Ronald McDonald House was selected due to its important mission of supporting families whose children are battling pediatric illnesses. The fundraiser was coordinated by the school’s Thoughtful Thursday Committee and the school’s PTA.

Once a month, the Central Boulevard community celebrates Thoughtful Thursday by doing an activity, lesson or project based on kindness. The Coins for a Cause fundraiser kicked off on Oct. 19 (Thoughtful Thursday). On this day, each class watched and discussed a video about the Ronald McDonald House which was created by Central Boulevard’s Thoughtful Thursday Committee. Coin jars were placed in each classroom and flyers were sent home to inform families of the school’s mission to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. 

Students and staff collected coins until Nov. 9 and the donations were tracked in the school’s lobby. On Nov. 14, Central Boulevard students proudly presented their donation to a representative from the Ronald McDonald House. The Coins for a Cause fundraiser was a positive way for students to make a difference. 

 

Photo caption: Central Boulevard Principal Dominique Siebert (second from right), assistant principal Julianne Inghilterra (right) and students presented a check of $2,396 to a representative from the Ronald McDonald House (left) on Nov. 14 at the conclusion of the school’s Coins for a Cause fundraiser. 

 

Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District 

For learners and teachers at Mineola UFSD’s Meadow Drive School, finding a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a mission they take very personally. Since 2016, the school community has been steadfast and unified in its support for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and for students battling the disease.

According to teacher Christine Gayson, Meadow Drive’s push to raise awareness and funds started in 2016 when the family of kindergartner Marcelo Patron reached out to the school for support. “From that moment it’s been a yearly tradition,” said Ms. Gayson. “We look forward to supporting every year and we won’t stop until there’s a cure.”

In 2020 the Meadow Drive family was contacted again by a family dealing with a recent T1D diagnosis. This time it was Fiona McHugh, a pre-K student at Meadow Drive, and it took no time for the school to mobilize their support behind Fiona and her family.

Besides supporting and joining the McHugh’s in the JDRF walk at Eisenhower Park, the school holds an in-school walk-a-thon where all students can be engaged in the cause. During the event, held in October, the entire school community wears blue (Fiona’s favorite color) and walks around the school led by Fiona and her team dubbed “Fiona’s one-derful Warriors.”

“We are always happy to empower our learners to see how they can make a difference in the world,” said Meadow principal Jennie Fahey. “Fiona is not only making an impact toward finding a cure, but she is also a role model for her peers who may seek to make a difference in their own way.”

The district is so proud of our warrior Fiona and all her fellow students, friends and teachers that work together to lift each other up and put their energy and passion behind causes that will make the world a better place.

 

Photo captions:

 

1. Meadow Drive second grader Fiona McHugh lead the school’s Walk-A-Thon for JDRF held in her honor.

 

1. Fiona and her “Warriors” in the fight to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

 

1. Fiona and her second grade classmates sharing their love and support after the Walk-A-Thon.

 

Photos courtesy of Mineola School District

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School senior Sasha Amico recently donated another $250 to the school’s athletic department from her fundraising efforts over the summer. Amico sells small snack bags at various local events via her self-made Sasha’s Snacks initiative, with all of the proceeds given back to the John Glenn community. Specifically, the funds are used to purchase athletic equipment for student-athletes who might not be able to afford the necessary equipment to compete.

“Giving to others who may need a little help is a wonderful thing that Sasha continues to do for our community and student-athletes,” Athletic Director Dave Shanahan said. “Thank you, Sasha, for all of your efforts!”

 

DSC_3475, DSC_3476: Elwood-John H. Glenn High School senior Sasha Amico recently donated another $250 to the school’s athletic department from her Sasha’s Snacks fundraising efforts over the summer.

 

Photos courtesy of Elwood School District

Photo caption: The Business and Marketing Honor Society at Sachem High School East recently made a large donation to the Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology Center. Members donated various items including food and supplies that are needed to care for the many different types of animals at the site. BMHS adviser Mrs. Cannetti and Mr. Intravia, a High School East substance abuse counselor, transported the donation to the Ecology Center. They were told this one donation from High School East is the largest the center receives all year. 

 

Photo courtesy of the Sachem Central School District