The annual Dimes for Dezy campaign held at Cherokee Street Elementary School in the Connetquot Central School District raised $1,215 to assist those struggling with cancer.

For two weeks, students emptied their change into a large water jug in memory of the late Connetquot resident Matt DiStefano (Dezy) and the Dezy Strong Foundation. With assistance from teacher Cindy Campenella, Matt DiStefano’s children, third grader Giuliana DiStefano and first grader Gio DiStefano, emptied the donation jug each day and sorted the money collected.

Each Thursday, students wore their Dezy Strong shirts, Mr. DiStefano’s former cancer treatment day, and decorated the lobby wall with ribbon pledges to demonstrate their own strength and their support of the annual fundraiser.

“We are proud to continue the legacy and be a part of something to help our community,” Ms. Campenella said.

 

Photo captions:

A: Cherokee Street Elementary School students Giuliana DiStefano and Gio DiStefano, children of the late Matt DiStefano, emptied out and sorted change donated by peers for the annual Dezy Strong Foundation fundraiser for which they raised $1,215.

 

B: Cherokee Street Elementary School teacher Cindy Campenella, center, is pictured with, from left, Giuliana DiStefano, Gio DeStefano, and Dimes for Dezy contributors David Jalloh and Vincent Dortona-Sanchez.

 

C: Cherokee Street Elementary School students signed #WeGetTo be Dezy Strong pledges, which line the hallway of Cherokee Street Elementary School.   

 

Photos courtesy of the Connetquot Central School District   

 

 

Sachem High School East recently hosted its first Grati-Tuesday when students participated in a letter writing campaign to show their appreciation to veterans as part of their buildingwide Project Happiness initiative. 

Students wrote cards during their lunch periods and created 150 cards in just five lunch periods. Additionally, students watched videos during lunch explaining the science of gratitude, the power of gratitude, humor around gratitude and demonstrating how gratitude can change the brain through practice.

 

Photo caption: Sachem High School East recently hosted its first Grati-Tuesday when students participated in a letter writing campaign to show their appreciation to veterans as part of their buildingwide Project Happiness initiative. 

Photos courtesy of the Sachem Central School District

Photo caption: The Sachem High School East Volunteer Club recently ran Operation Gratitude to collect leftover Halloween candy for deployed troops, local military units, veterans and first responders. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Sachem Central School District

 

East Islip High School’s varsity softball team participated in the annual Christmas Magic service project on Dec. 12. All of the returning players, including assistant coach Katie Wallace, shopped at Target in Bay Shore for elementary-age children in the Amityville School District.

Each player had $75 and a Dear Santa list. The gifts were then wrapped by the players, and will be delivered by East Islip coach Jason McGowan, who teaches at Amityville High School.

“This is my fifth year participating in Christmas Magic with the softball team,” captain Kyra Kreuscher said. “It is such a great experience to shop for children who do not have much. Each player gets paired with a child and their wish list. While I’m shopping, I think about how happy these children will be when they wake up Christmas morning and open these presents.”

“It shows me how fortunate I am,” Madison Sturtz said. “The experience that comes with giving back to these kids is so rewarding, especially around this time of year.”

 

IMG_6423: East Islip High School’s varsity softball team participated in the annual Christmas Magic service project on Dec. 12, shopping at Target in Bay Shore for elementary-age children in the Amityville School District.

 

Photo courtesy of East Islip School District

 

Members of the Builders Club at Wisdom Lane Elementary School in the Levittown Public School District are holding a coat drive for winter, and donations are already piling up. 

Multiple bags and bins are filled with coats perfect for the season, and more donations are more than welcome. Students can drop off donations near the front entrance of the school. 

The Builders Club is a service-oriented group with the aim of carrying out projects that benefit the school and surrounding community. 

 

Photo caption: Students in the Builders Club at Wisdom Lane Elementary School are running an already-successful coat drive. 

 

Photo courtesy of Levittown Public Schools