On four dates in February and early March, Islip’s SEPTA held its first series of wrestling clinics for elementary special needs students. Jason Spahn and his fellow coaches from the Islip Youth Wrestling program ran the clinic, assisted by the Islip High School coaches and the entire high school wrestling team.
The participants, who attend grades 2-5 in the district’s Commack Road and Sherwood elementary schools, were able to learn drills and wrestle “live” with the high school wrestlers and coaches.
Bolstered by the success of the clinics, SEPTA and Islip Youth Wrestling look forward to growing the program in the future.

IMG_9237: Islip’s SEPTA and the Islip Youth Wrestling held a series wrestling clinics for elementary special needs students.

Photo courtesy of the Islip School District

The students and faculty of Denton Avenue School proudly accepted a challenge from Herricks High School to participate in the Whip Pediatric Cancer dance initiative. Jordan Belous, Founder of the Whip Pediatric Cancer effort, paid a visit to Denton during the school’s Health and Wellness Night on Feb. 9.

The evening culminated with attendees gathering in the gym to present their Whip/Nae Nae dance moves to the beat of Silento’s famous song, “Watch Me.” The performance was captured on video and submitted to www.whippediatriccancer.org.

The clip can be viewed on the Denton Avenue school website, accessible through www.herricks.org. For those interested in contributing to the cause, donations can be sent directly to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Challenge, 633 Third Ave. NY, New York 10017. Please mention Whip Pediatric Cancer Challenge in the memo.

Caption: Denton Avenue students and staff members danced to Silento’s “Watch Me” in support of the Whip Pediatric Cancer effort.

Photo courtesy of Herricks Public Schools

Mepham High School social worker Theana Cheliotes and the school’s Key Club recently hosted a donation drive for formal wear, shoes and accessories for 100 Suits for 100 Men.

The nonprofit group, which normally collects businesswear for men who cannot afford interview-appropriate clothing, teamed up with Mepham staff and students to gather gently used prom dresses and accessories for young women living in homeless shelters.

“Felisa Sternbach is the parent of a Mepham alumnus who contacted me asking if our Key Club would collect dresses to give to underprivileged girls,” explained Cheliotes, who also serves as the club’s faculty adviser.

She said they collected more than 180 prom dresses and 30 pairs of shoes/accessories to be distributed at the Magical Moment event, held on Feb. 27 in Jamaica, Queens.

Story and photo courtesy of Bellmore Merrick School District

Rushmore Avenue School in the Carle Place School District recently held its 29th annual Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser.

More than 200 people participated in the two-and-a-half-hour event, which raised $18,707 for the American Heart Association. To date, the school has raised more than $450,000 for the cause with this annual fundraiser.

Photo courtesy of the Carle Place School District

The Long Island Ducks Junior Baseball League is partnering with Baseball Miracles and Team Up 4 Community to host a Baseball Equipment Drive. Please stop by and bring any used baseball equipment to donate to underprivileged kids around the world.

The LI Junior Ducks will be setting up drop boxes in the Baseball Heaven Cafeon Sunday March 6th and then again on Sunday March 13th. This a great opportunity to teach our kids the importance of giving back. Every one of us has old baseballequipment (bats, gloves, balls, tees, cleats, helmets, hats, etc.) that we have just stored up in our garage. Now is the chance to help someone in need!! Please mark your calendars and have your kids bring the Equipment to Baseball Heaven. The Equipment will go to benefit Baseball Miracles. Baseball Miracles’ mission is to serve others and see the joy of a child hit and catch a ball for the very first time. They strive to reach out especially to the youth who have never played the game. At no cost to the child, they provide instruction, gloves, bats, hats, shirts, and memories. Baseball Miracles is a team of baseball and softball instructors who join together to teach boys and girls with economic and environmental disadvantages throughout the world.

Donation Dates & Locations:
Sunday March 6th and March 13th, 2016 at Baseball Haven~ 8am-8:30pm
350 Sill Road, Yaphank
Friday March 4th and March 11th, 2016 at Baseball Player Magazine 7-9pm
200 Robbins Lane- Unit D2, Jericho