Number of Participants: 300
Hours Donated: 1
Value of Time Served: $2,535
Event Type: Veterans & Military Families
Sport: Schools
Date: November 11, 2021
Location:
Bayport Blue Point High School
Snedecor Avenue, Bayport
NY
About:
Sylvan Avenue Elementary School students in the Bayport-Blue Point School District participated in a weeklong celebration of military heroes prior to Veterans Day.
The students congregated on the school grounds to welcome Suffolk County Police Officer Thomas Teufel and his K9 companion Maverick, who educated the students on the use of dogs in keeping the community safe. Also in attendance was Officer Brendan Gaynor, a Suffolk County Police dog handler, and his K9 companion Anthem. Both officers demonstrated some techniques they use in training and utilizing the dogs’ skills at work.
Teufel, who served in the army prior to becoming a police officer, explained how the dogs are used due to their special abilities to smell. He also talked to the students about listening to their teachers. “Everything we do depends on how they listen to us,” Officer Teufel said. “Just like how you listen to your teachers.”
At the end of the week, Sylvan Avenue students participated in a Wounded Warrior Project Walk to aid wounded warriors in gaining their independence. Organized by classes, the students and their teachers walked around the perimeter of the school parking lot to the beat of patriotic music. Army veteran Frank Dapolito, school speech pathologist and veterans events coordinator Christine Monahan’s father, attended the walk and waved as the students jubilantly trekked for a cause.
Ms. Monahan and speech pathologist and co-coordinator Laurie Katz said it is important that the students realize that veterans are men and women who served in the military to protect the nation. “It is also important for the students to know why they are off on Thursday [Veterans Day],” Ms. Monahan said.
Photo captions:
A: Left, Suffolk County Police Officer Thomas Teufel and his K9 partner Maverick and, right, Suffolk County Police Officer Brendan Gaynor and K9 partner Anthem are pictured with Sylvan Avenue Elementary School students and faculty after a Veterans Day assembly.
B: Suffolk County Police Officer and veteran Thomas Teufel demonstrated how his K9 partner Maverick works.
C: Suffolk County Police Officer demonstrated how his K9 partner Anthem listens to commands.
D: Sylvan Avenue Elementary School students dressed in camouflage to support veterans during the Wounded Warrior Project Walk and are pictured with (back-center) Principal Alane Dugan and veterans event coordinators, left, Laurie Katz and, right, Christine Monahan.
E: Left, Sylvan Avenue Elementary School Principal Alane Dugan started the school’s Wounded Warrior Project Walk by introducing, right, veteran guest Frank Dapolito, who attended the celebration with event coordinator and daughter Christine Monahan.
Photos courtesy of the Bayport-Blue Point School District