Westhampton Beach High School sophomores Sydney Anastasia, Sean Bass and Kaitlyn Mcdermott recently raised $1,300 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by collecting 644 letters to Santa as part of the Macy’s Believe letter-writing campaign.

To gather the letters, the trio, who work under the name the Golden Canes, put out a call to the community to write letters to Santa. They then decked out a golf cart in festive gear and drove around neighborhoods collecting the letters.   

Their efforts are now being featured as part of Team Up for Community’s Holiday Hero Video Challenge, where they have the opportunity to win a top prize of $3,000. If they win, they plan to donate it to Make-A-Wish. The Golden Canes are asking the community to log into Team Up for Community and vote for their campaign. Voting continues through Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. and can be cast here: https://www.teamup4community.org/l-i-holiday-sports-heroes-video-challenge-2020.

This is not the first time that the Golden Canes have participated in the Holiday Hero Video Challenge. Last year, they won $500, which they donated to Make-A-Wish. 

 

Photo caption: Three Westhampton Beach High School sophomores recently collected 644 letters for the Macy’s Believe letter-writing campaign. 

 

Photo courtesy of the Westhampton Beach Union Free School District

 

What started out as a simple request on social media has grown into an overwhelming response. Since March, Stella Shank, the director of special projects at Regency Assisted Living in Glen Cove, has watched as COVID-19 has taken a devasting toll on the facility’s seniors. For nine months, they have been unable to have visitors, feeling cut off from family and friends.  “It’s been beyond hard, bringing us to tears,” Mrs. Shank said. 

To help combat those feelings of loneliness, she posted her story to Facebook, enlisting the help of North Babylon School District mother of three, Dana Miller. Her sons — James, a sophomore at North Babylon High School, Ryan an eighth grader and Jack a sixth grader at Robert Moses Middle School — quickly got to work making heartwarming cards for the facility’s seniors.

In a week, the small request turned into teachers at William E. DeLuca Jr. Elementary School jumping on the opportunity to bring some cheer to seniors. Cards turned into cookies, treat bags, stuffed animals and holiday ornaments as well, creating the “North Babylon Polar Express Movement.” 

Mrs. Shank, whose own children, Gabriella and Jonathan, graduated from DeLuca, said, “Even though we are 40 miles apart, my seniors turned into everyone’s grandparents.”

To thank students for their generous gifts, Mrs. Shank shared their story with the MLB New York Mets, who sent 500 “NEW YORK TOUGH” masks for DeLuca’s students and teachers.

“This gesture is beyond special and giving a true meaning to the season of giving,” Mrs. Shank said. “DeLuca continues to create caring and thoughtful little humans that one day will influence this world.”

 

Photo captions: 

1. Masks1-2: Major League Baseball’s New York Mets sent 500 “NEW YORK TOUGH” masks to William E. DeLuca Jr. Elementary School students and teachers.
2. Regency1-3: Seniors at Regency Assisted Living in Glen Cove received holiday cards from students at William E. DeLuca Jr. Elementary School.

 

Photos courtesy of the North Babylon Union Free School District

 

Despite gathering and event limitations, Northport High School’s Tigerettes and Intro to Dance students still managed to spread messages of positivity with the patients Cohen’s Children’s Hospital. The students’ dance performances were taped and then broadcasted by the hospital to lift patients’ spirits during the holiday season. 

Each year, members of the Tigerettes and coach Kaylie LaLota pay a visit to the hospital to perform. Since in-person visits are not allowed at this time, they instead videotaped a performance choreographed by captains Brianne Chave, Grace Keating, Alexis McCreight and Erin Munson to be shared with the patients. The Tigerettes are also hosting a toy drive for the patients, led by Ella Lombardo. 

Rather than leave it at that, Kaylie LaLota enlisted the help of her Intro to Dance students to create a second lyrical dance video. The dance, originally choregraphed as a flash mob for World Kindness Week by Life Vest Inside, was performed by the various Intro to Dance classes and then compiled into a second video. Art teacher Pete May, along with students Dessa Kavrakis and Shane McGlone, edited the video so that students on varying hybrid days could both participate.  Students also created signs with positive messages which were shown at the end of the video.

“During this unit students were taught personal and social responsibility as well as learning how movement can be used to express a deeper meaning,” shared Dance Teacher and Tigerettes Captain Kaylie LaLota. “Research suggests that students gain cognitive benefits from coordinated movements such a dance, which is a lifetime physical activity. Additionally, empathy, social awareness, performance skills, critical thinking skills and reflective practice were demonstrated.”

Photo Caption: Intro to Dance students made positive signs for patients at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital.

 

Photos courtesy of the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District  

 

Guided by coach Jason McGowan, members of the East Islip High School varsity softball team recently shopped for underprivileged children in the Amityville School District as part of the team’s annual partnership with local nonprofit organization Christmas Magic.

 

Xmas Magic (1), Xmas Magic (2): The East Islip High School varsity softball team recently shopped for underprivileged children in the Amityville School District as part of the team’s annual partnership with local nonprofit organization Christmas Magic.

 

Photos courtesy of East Islip School District

 

Amityville Memorial High School students are continuing their tradition of spreading joy during the holiday season. The Warrior Awareness Club, commonly known as the WAC PAC, once again participated in the Christmas Magic program to provide toys to local youngsters.

Students met at the Copiague Target afterschool on Dec. 4 and 8 to shop. Provided with information sheets that included each child’s age, gender, clothing size and interests, the WAC PAC members then went on a shopping spree. They had a budget of $60 per child, provided by the Christmas Magic organization. 

Senior Keniese Pryce said she enjoys the challenge of taking the basic information on the each sheet and turning that into gifts the child would enjoy. Makayla Gunter said she helped out with the shopping because she wants to give children a great holiday.

“I want to contribute something to the community,” added sophomore Jaro Salazar. “This is a time of giving.”

WAC PAC adviser Jason McGowan said that this year, his students were fulfilling wishes for about 50 children in Amityville. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, they weren’t able to get together after the shopping days to wrap the presents. Instead, the gifts will be brought to the schools the children attend and picked up by the parents.   

 

Photo caption: Members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club, under the direction of adviser Jason McGowan, left, shopped at Target to fulfill holiday gift wishes for local children through the Christmas Magic program.

 

Photos courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District