Islip High School’s varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams held their annual Dig Pink program on Oct. 14, raising $700 for the Islip Breast Cancer Coalition through sales of custom T-shirts, baked goods and beverages.
Led by varsity coach Natalie Hamilton and JV coach Mary-Kate Foley, the teams played exciting matches against Shoreham-Wading River, with the JV squad earning a victory. Islip Breast Cancer Coalition representatives attended the event, commemorating the athletes’ efforts with gifts of pink roses and gym bags.

“Congratulations to both teams for a great season and their achievement in community service,” said Hamilton.

ISLIP HS DIG PINK: Islip High School’s varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams raised $700 for the Islip Breast Cancer Coalition at their annual Dig Pink program on Oct. 14.

Photo courtesy of the Islip School District

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STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook women’s soccer team welcomed its newest member on Friday afternoon with the signing of five year-old Rylie Laber from Seldon, New York.

“We are very excited to add Rylie to our team and program today,” said head coach Brendan Faherty. “When recruiting, we are looking for certain attributes in players and Rylie displays all of them. She is hard-working, competitive, passionate about soccer, outgoing and likes to have fun. When building our program, those are the adjectives we want associated with our student-athletes.

“The two things that really separate Rylie from others is her laugh and her ability to score goals. We are very fortunate that we will be able to hear her laugh and watch her score goals on a regular basis with Stony Brook women’s soccer.”

The Seawolves connected with Rylie through Team Impact. The organization’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses by establishing and expanding vibrant team-based support networks.

Rylie suffers from Shwachman’s Diamond Syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome which primarily affects the bone marrow and digestive system. The disease makes Rylie more prone to catching colds and infections and makes it difficult for her to digest food.

Rylie joined the Stony Brook women’s soccer team in late September, bringing with her an unmatched exuberance, energy and positive attitude. She attends as many practices as possible and has been on the Stony Brook bench for every home match since first connecting with the team.

Since her arrival, the Seawolves have rattled off six straight wins and sit in first place in the America East standings with one game remaining in the regular season.

Rylie will wear the number #05 at the team’s remaining home matches as the Seawolves head into the America East playoffs.

http://stonybrookathletics.com/news/2016/10/21/stony-brook-welcomes-rylie-to-the-womens-soccer-program.aspx

The junior class at John F. Kennedy High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District hosted a pancake breakfast fundraiser to help a younger member of the community.
Short Stacks for a Tall Cause was held on Oct. 16 to benefit the family of a 12-year-old Merrick boy fighting a rare form of cancer.

Nearly $1,500 was raised for Jake Lonigro and his family. Jake has an older sibling that attends Kennedy.

“The whole event and planning for it has been the most rewarding outside of the classroom experience for me,” said social studies teacher Kristy Faulkner.

Photo Caption: Members of Kennedy High School’s junior class who participated in the fundraiser.

Photo courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Students, parents and staff from the middle school and high school did their part to clean up the community by participating in the fourth annual Beach Cleanup at Wildwood State Park recently.

During the event, which was conducted as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, all volunteers worked together to remove trash left behind in the 767-acre park.

Each year, International Coastal Cleanup Day results in the collection of 16 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways around the world.

Lindell Elementary School students and staff members headed out onto the boardwalk for their annual “walk it forward” fundraising event on Oct. 6. This year, the effort supported the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The compassion and teamwork of all involved resulted in $2,200 in donations to help save lives through this cause.

Classes marched to the beat of Lindell’s drummers, Shaquile Johnson, Micheal Rossi and Alonso Espinet. Students proudly held up a banner, signs and posters filled with positive messages.

The group then recited several cheers and performed their school song, all based on the themes of respect, acceptance, compassion and helping others. As in years past, boardwalk patrons stopped to applaud this rally for kindness.

Story and photo courtesy of Long Beach Schools