Schools: bringing fairy tales to life

Port Jefferson Station second-graders recently made their fairy tales a reality.

Eighty students at Boyle Road Elementary School recently celebrated "Fairy Tale Day" to recognize completion of learning about the short-story genre, dressing as favorite fairy-tale characters and sharing their own original tales with parents who attended the event.

Superintendent Joseph V. Rella joined the fictional fun by playing the part of King of Comsewogue School District, complete with a robe and crown in school colors.

"The children took something that they've always been exposed to -- a fairy tale -- and explored what elements go into it," said Boyle Road Principal Jen Polychronakos, who dressed as Cinderella. "Fairy tales are a major interest they have, so it's a great way to get them reading and writing."

As part of the festivities, the costumed kids -- dressed as everything from the Big Bad Wolf to assorted Disney princesses -- split into smaller groups to present their original tales to family members.

One piece was based around an environmentally conscious character with a mission to promote "the importance of going green," Polychronakos said. That tale was read aloud by Rella.

"These young authors tackled some very interesting and timely topics and did it very cleverly," he said.

AMITYVILLE

Making safe decisions

More than 125 students from Amityville Memorial High School recently camped out inside the school as part of an Awareness Weekend that included comedy skits, sports and "late-night pillow fights," school officials said.

The weekend was designed to teach teenagers the importance of safe and positive decisions. Former NBA player Chris Herren, the event's motivational speaker, told students about his past drug abuse and discussed his book, "Basketball Junkie."

"Chris was unbelievable -- possibly the most inspirational speaker we've had to date," said Jason McGowan, the event's coordinator.

COLD SPRING HARBOR

A visit from 'The Fonz'

Actor, producer, director and author Henry Winkler, best known as "The Fonz" in his role as leather-clad greaser and auto mechanic Fonzie on the 1970s TV sitcom "Happy Days," recently spoke to fourth-graders from Lloyd Harbor Elementary School during a visit to the Barnes & Noble in East Northport.

The students were the first reading group on Winkler's national tour for his new book series, titled "Ghost Buddy," about a young boy, Billy, whose friend, Hoover the ghost, helps Billy when he's bullied at school.

During the visit, Winkler urged kids to achieve all they can. "Every single one of you has greatness inside of you," he said. "Your job is to figure out that greatness and share it with the world."

MIDDLE ISLAND

Legislative breakfast

More than 200 representatives from 29 school districts and Eastern Suffolk BOCES gathered at Longwood

Middle School last month to discuss key state and local issues affecting public

education in Suffolk

County.

Topics addressed during the Eighth Annual Longwood Regional Legislative Breakfast ranged from foundation aid to unfunded mandates to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposed budget.

Officials in attendance included Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), Sens. John J. Flanagan (R-East Northport) and Kenneth P. LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) and Assembs. Steven Englebright (D-Setauket), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown), Alfred Graf (R-Holtsville), Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham), Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) and Fred Thiele Jr. (I-Sag Harbor).

ISLANDWIDE

Charity Champions

Twenty-one Long Island schools have received, or will receive, $1,000 grants this school year from Charity Champions, a program of MSG Varsity and Cablevision's "Power to Learn" initiative that promotes volunteerism and encourages area high schools to raise funds for a charity of their choice.

Each school also receives $500 for the furtherance of the students' charitable activities.

Recipient high schools are Commack, Garden City, Kings Park, Long Beach, Mattituck, Mineola, Mount Sinai, Shoreham-Wading River, Smithtown East, Smithtown West, Southold, Southampton, Connetquot in Bohemia, H. Frank Carey in Franklin Square, Harborfields in Greenlawn, Holy Trinity in Hicksville.

Also: Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, Sanford H. Calhoun in Merrick, St. Dominic in Oyster Bay, Ward Melville in East Setauket, and Wellington C. Mepham in Bellmore.

(Cablevision owns Newsday.)