Students and staff throughout the North Bellmore School District’s five elementary schools donned various shades of yellow for Go Gold Day on Sept. 29, an annual effort to raise awareness of childhood cancer.
At John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, children signed gold paper ribbons, which were then hung up on a bulletin board outside the main office. The PTA used yellow cups to create two ribbons and two hearts in the fence adjacent to the bus loop.
Principal Faith Skelos noted that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and that holds significance at the school because past and current Dinkelmeyer students have overcome the disease.
“We want our students to know that people face different challenges,” she said. “Go Gold Day is about creating a sense of community and sending positive energy toward people who are facing those challenges.”
Park Avenue Elementary School raised more than $1,000 for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This year’s theme for Go Gold Day was “Whip Pediatric Cancer.” Students lined the hallway that morning to dance to “Whip Nae Nae” and they all received pencils that read “Park Whips Childhood Cancer.”
“We want to show support for everybody battling this dreadful disease,” said Principal Eileen Speidel, who added that past, current and incoming Park Avenue students have fought cancer.
Families could make a donation and purchase a paper heart in honor of someone who has battled cancer. The hearts, which were outlined in gold and had an image of gold ribbon in the middle, were hung on the bulletin board in the main lobby to prominently display the messages of support from the Park Avenue community.
Photo Captions:
1: John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School Principal Faith Skelos, standing right, was joined by students and teachers who wore gold to school on Sept. 29 in support of childhood cancer awareness.
2: Park Avenue Elementary School students from kindergarten through sixth grade supported the cause.
Photos courtesy of North Bellmore Public Schools
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