Number of Participants: 26
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $879
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Girls Lacrosse
School: Gen Douglas Macarthur Senior High School
Date: May 9, 2019
Location:
General Douglas Mac Arthur High School
Old Jerusalem Road, Levittown
NY
About:
Students and staff throughout the Levittown Public Schools celebrated Autism Awareness Month in April by educating others, wearing custom blue T-shirts, hosting events and raising money for organizations that support those with autism.
From the elementary to high school level, students showed their support. Lee Road Elementary School students wrote what makes them unique on puzzle pieces which were displayed in the hallway. The pieces ranged in colors and shapes to represent the diversity of the people and families living with autism. At Summit Lane Elementary School, speech teacher Maryann Holzapfel and student council representatives started a T-shirt sale for World Autism Awareness Day to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism. The proceeds from the sale, along with a contribution from the school’s Casual Friday Fund, was donated to Nassau-Suffolk Autism Society of America. East Broadway Elementary School also supported the Nassau-Suffolk Autism Society of America by creating and selling T-shirts and having snack cart sales.
In addition, students and staff at Abbey Lane Elementary School participated in several schoolwide activities. This included creating a special segment on the school’s Abbey Action News and staff members visiting applied behavior analysis classes to read. Students in the ABA program also sold breakfast items on a food cart to staff and held a sale during lunch periods which included items that support and recognize Autism Awareness.
At the middle school level, the Wisdom Lane community wore blue throughout the month, watched video clips that promoted awareness and acceptance and sold puzzle hearts, pencils, stickers and bracelets with proceeds going towards the NSASA. Jonas E. Salk Middle School staff created Autism Awareness videos which were then shared throughout the building and teachers conducted lessons on autism. In addition, a student with autism created a T-shirt which was sold. The concept behind the shirt was that everyone has a super power.
Students and staff at General Douglas MacArthur High School continued their tradition of spreading Autism Awareness by decorating the hallways, discussing what autism is and raising money for the NSASA through T-shirt sales, special activities and Autism Awareness sporting events. For the district as a whole, it was a month filled with not only spreading awareness but also encouraging others to be proud of their uniqueness, while reinforcing kindness and acceptance.
“The Levittown School District prides itself on its motto of Success For Every Student. Autism Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate and share in the success of all students,” said Dr. Susan Farber, director of pupil services. “It is a time when general education and special education students, parents and staff, all come together for one cause and that is to promote inclusion of all students. Through the various programs and activities that are run districtwide, students are able to show off their talents, participate in unique activities, design T-shirts and raise money for such a worthy cause.”
Photo captions:
The MacArthur High School girls lacrosse team participated in a special Autism Awareness game at the end of the month.
