Students at West Islip’s Manetuck Elementary School raised a total of $4,521.92 during the past school year for the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, culminating in Manetuck’s 14th annual seal release last month. The seal was injured and rehabilitated at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation before being released back into the wild at Robert Moses Beach.
The students raised the money with a schoolwide “Rallying for Riverhead” event, earning donations from sponsors every lap that they walked around the school’s bus circle. The top three earned the chance to raise the door on the seal’s cage for its release.
During the rally, facilitated by teachers Kerri Ierardi and Sue Marullo, the importance of marine research and preservation was discussed in the classrooms, and each student at Manetuck created a work of art related to marine life for display art teacher Tom McGunnigle.
IMG_4557, IMG_4559: Students at West Islip’s Manetuck Elementary School rallied to raise $4,521.92 for the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, culminating in the school’s 14th annual seal release.
Photos courtesy of the West Islip School District
