School Notebook: Long Island students promote positivity, kindness
Mineola Middle School students wrote positive messages - such as "spread kindness," "be positive" and "you are loved" - on rocks that were placed in the school's courtyard as part of Unity Day. Credit: Mineola School District
Unity and kindness have been popular topics at schools across Long Island.
Thousands of students recently embraced the traits through activities held in recognition of Unity Day, which took place on Oct. 20, and National Bullying Prevention Month, which spanned the whole month of October.
In Port Washington, students at Paul D. Schreiber High School and Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School participated in "unity walks" to emphasize the need to treat peers with respect and put an end to bullying. Meanwhile, children collaborated on an art project in which they used orange cups to spell "kindness" and "unity" on a fence at the district's Manorhaven Elementary School.
"Unity Day may only take place once a year, but the values and camaraderie it instills within our district is lifelong," said Port Washington Superintendent Michael Hynes.
In Wantagh, Mandalay Elementary School students engaged in grade-level workshops on such subjects as acceptance and inclusion, and then split into groups to review common bullying scenarios and what should be done in each instance. They also wrote positive messages on orange strips of paper that were linked to form "unity chains."
In Lynbrook, kids at Davison Avenue Intermediate School read books about kindness and discussed what it means to be compassionate. They also wore orange to show support for those who have been bullied and joined together to sing Michael Jackson's 1991 song, "Heal the World."
In East Meadow, Woodland Middle School students were visited by John Halligan, a Vermont man whose 13-year-old son, Ryan, killed himself in 2003 after years of bullying and cyberbullying.
Westbury Middle School welcomed sixth-grade students back for in-person instruction last month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school's new addition, which will be used as a learning environment for sixth-graders transitioning into middle school and as office space for administrators and secretarial staff. Credit: Benjamin Chateauvert
"Mr. Halligan has made it his life's work to spread the need for awareness and prevention of bullying," Woodland Principal James Lethbridge said.
In Huntington, Woodhull Intermediate School students wore orange to show support against those who have been bullied and participated in a challenge in which they were asked to complete random acts of kindness. They also brought home a "kindness scavenger hunt" to complete with their family and friends.
"We encouraged all families to do this together and to continue the conversation at home about the importance of kindness," said Woodhull social worker Catherine Juliano, who coordinated the school's celebration with colleague Mary Guzman-Lewis.
In Lake Ronkonkoma, children at Hiawatha Elementary School attended an anti-bullying assembly hosted by New Jersey-based Dialed Action Sports that featured a demonstration of BMX bike tricks combined with information on bullying and how to alleviate its effects. They were also asked by performers to remember the three "Rs": recognizing what bullying is, refusing to be a bully and reacting by reaching out for help.
Members of the Lynbrook School District's Board of Education recently unveiled the high school's new wing, named in honor of late board member Alicemarie Bresnihan, who served on the board for 45 years. Credit: Lynbrook School District
In Southampton, intermediate school students collaborated to create a "unity quilt" that featured their thoughts on acceptance, kindness and inclusion on squares sewn together and displayed in the school's hallway. The event was sponsored by the school's guidance department.
In Shoreham, Albert G. Prodell Middle School's Leadership Club raised awareness for mental health issues — as well as anti-bullying and environmental causes — by writing positive messages on sticky notes affixed throughout the school.
"Through this initiative, we hope … to encourage unity within our school community," said the club's adviser, Kaitlin Moriarty.
EAST MEADOW
Parade winners
Students at Babylon Memorial Grade School wrote positive messages on paper doughnuts that were displayed last month in the school's hallway as part of Unity Day. Credit: Babylon School District
Marching bands from W. Tresper Clarke and East Meadow high schools placed first and second, respectively, in New York City's 77th Annual Columbus Day Parade.
W. Tresper Clarke's performance featured Chuck Mangione's "Children of Sanchez" and Ralph Ford's arrangement of "Patriotic Finale," and East Meadow's performance included John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
"We are so proud of our students' work ethic, attention to detail and positive attitude," said W. Tresper Clarke's music chairwoman, Jessica Shenker.
LEVITTOWN
New principal
In Setauket, a group of sixth-grade Girl Scouts from Minnesauke Elementary School recently created and installed bat houses to combat mosquitoes at nearby Frank Melville Park. The students, members of Girl Scout Troop 655, tackled the effort as part of their Bronze Award project. Credit: Three Village School District
Madelaine Hackett has been appointed principal of Nassau BOCES Gerald R. Claps Career & Technical Center. She replaced Peter Dalton, who was principal of both Gerald R. Claps and Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center.
Hackett was previously the assistant principal of Joseph M. Barry.
"Career and Technical Education is something I'm passionate about," Hackett said. "Whether students end up in the field they studied or not, they leave with a sense of what it means to work and to be professional."
SMITHTOWN
New principal
In West Babylon, fifth-graders in Kaitlyn McNeely's enrichment program at Forest Avenue Elementary School participated in a "growth mindset" escape room challenge in which they decoded interesting facts about historical figures including Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Credit: West Babylon School District
Robert Rose has been appointed principal of Smithtown High School East. He replaced Kevin Simmons, who is now the district's assistant superintendent for instruction and administration.
Rose had been an assistant principal at the school for 16 years and has been a health and physical education teacher in the district.
"I've worked a lot with the other administrators and the staff to get the school to its current high level," Rose said. "I'm certainly looking forward to continuing that effort."
WESTHAMPTON BEACH
$30G Fun Run
In Bayport, Academy Street Elementary School students took advantage of the warm weather in October to participate in National Walk to School Day. Credit: Bayport-Blue Point School District
Westhampton Beach Elementary School students recently raised more than $30,000 for their school's cultural and academic programs through a Hurricane Fun Run, which culminated in the school principal sleeping atop the building.
The PTA-sponsored event asked students to gather pledges from family and friends based on their efforts running laps on the high school's football field. Principal Jeremy Garritano slept on the roof, keeping his promise to do so if students raised more than $20,000.
"It is remarkable what can be accomplished when we come together as a community," Garritano said.
ISLANDWIDE
Fire safety
Maisie Callahan, left, Leighton Dickerson and Maggie Cassino were among the students at Goosehill Primary School in Cold Spring Harbor who attended an annual picnic for students and families that included carnival games, music and snacks like popcorn and frozen slushies. Credit: Cold Spring Harbor School District
Many students learned the importance of fire safety in recognition of National Fire Prevention Month in October.
In Central Islip, hundreds of pupils in the district's elementary schools learned a range of safety tips — such as the function of smoke detectors and how to safely exit a burning building — during visits by the Central Islip Fire Department.
In Islip Terrace, children at Connetquot Elementary School explored fire trucks and were introduced to the assortment of equipment used by firefighters during a presentation by the hamlet's fire department.
In Cutchogue, East Elementary School students had a chance to interact with firefighters wearing full gear in an effort to prevent their being afraid of the first-responders during an emergency.
In Island Park, pupils at Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School and Lincoln Orens Middle School learned to stay low to the ground to avoid smoke and practiced the "stop, drop and roll" technique during visits from the Island Park Fire Department.
In Seaford, children were taught to have a family escape plan in the event of an emergency and practiced exiting through the window of a fire safety trailer at Seaford Manor Elementary School.
In Roslyn, Heights School students were introduced to equipment found on fire trucks — such as the Jaws of Life — during a visit from the village's Rescue Hook & Ladder Company 1.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
