Ghouls, goblins, super heroes and other costumed-clad students and staff gathered excitedly at Willow Road Elementary School to make their annual walk around the neighborhood with Principal Stephanie Capozzoli and Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen School District Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Assessment and Technology Dr. Shirley E. Martin in the lead. Celebrating an annual tradition, the Wonder Walk is not only a chance for the students and staff to parade their Halloween costumes, but a fun venue for raising money for the March of Dimes.

“The Wonder Walk is really a great way for the students to raise money for a wonderful cause,” Ms. Capozzoli said. “It’s a tradition here at Willow Road and the students and staff look forward to it each year.”

Students and their teachers gathered at the back entrance of the school where family patiently waited for their arrival. As the students made their way around the block, neighbors cheered them on and many parents took the opportunity to join their children on the walk. More than $3,200 was donated to the March of Dimes.

Photo Captions:
During the annual Wonder Walk, Willow Road Elementary School students dressed up as Pink Ladies.

Herricks High School athletes successfully organized a number of fundraisers iin October, demonstrating their good character and compassion for others. More than $5,000 in donations was collectively raised to assist veterans in need and to help in the fight against cancer.

The football team joined forces with the Vocational Independence Program to raise $1,700 for the American Patriot Heroes Fund, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the assistance of our nation’s honored heroes. VIP is a life skills program for students with special needs. Volunteers sold T-shirts throughout the week of homecoming, and members of the football team wore black camouflage jerseys for the game in honor of the cause. The game culminated with VIP student and team manager Liam O’Brien scoring a touchdown.

The football program also collaborated with Youth Against Cancer in coordinating the Herricks Tackles Leukemia fundraiser. The initiative benefited the pediatric cancer division at Memorial Sloan Kettering in honor of Ashley Kong, a Herricks High School student who sadly lost her battle with leukemia last year. Ashley, who underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, is remembered as a beloved student, athlete, friend, daughter and sister who had a passion for life and a courageous spirit.

The event, which raised approximately $3,000, took place during the Herricks vs. Port Washington football game on Oct. 31. Throughout the week, students sold orange T-shirts and bracelets that they, along with faculty members, donned at the game to represent leukemia awareness, research and support. Youth Against Cancer sold baked goods at the game as well, and Ashley’s brother Taylor did the opening coin toss. 

The girls volleyball team raised close to $700 in their annual Dig Pink fundraiser to support the Side-Out Foundation, which raises proceeds to support breast cancer research and treatment. The event took place on Oct. 26, when the team took on the Manhasset Indians. The players wore pink jerseys, sold T-shirts throughout the week, held raffles and sold baked goods during the game.

Photos Courtesy of Herricks Public Schools

1: The Herricks High School cheerleaders sported orange in support of the leukemia fundraiser on Oct. 31.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity football players recently scored two touchdowns in the name of community service.

On Nov. 1, the Port Jefferson team held a successful food drive to benefit Long Island Harvest. Then, the following day, the athletes sponsored a blood drive in conjunction with New York Blood Services. Players, coaches, faculty, administrators and community members donated enough blood to help 72-120 patients.

The team says the community service initiatives are a way of giving back to the community, which has always supported Port Jefferson football.

Photo Caption1: Port Jefferson varsity football players collected food for those in need.

Photo Caption2: Port Jefferson varsity football players recently held a blood drive at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School.

Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District

Rocky Point Middle School and High School baseball teams are not only strong competitors on the field but are strong advocates for service within the community. As has become a tradition, the teams joined together this fall to
volunteer at Maureen’s Haven Homeless Shelter.  

The teammates spent weeks preparing for their visit to the shelter, collecting items like hats, gloves, rain ponchos and baked homemade goodies like cookies, brownies and muffins. Additionally, they collected left over Halloween candy to make treat bags for the homeless and purchased over 50 gift cards to give as Thanksgiving and holiday gifts.

During their visit, students set up the shelter’s beds, set the dinning table and packed lunches for the next day. They spent a great deal of time at the shelter preparing the site for the homeless, making it look festive for the adults that just need a safe place to stay. The teams’ coaches noted that they have plans to return to volunteer again in March.  

Photo Caption: Rocky Point Middle and High School baseball teams volunteered and donated goods to Maureen’s Haven Homeless Shelter.

Photo provided by the Rocky Point School District

Seventh- and eighth-grade students from Sewanhaka High School participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk on Oct. 25 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

The students raised more than $500 to help fund research for the cure of Juvenile Diabetes. The students walked the 5K with Sewanhaka teacher Diane Ventura’s nephew Thomas Fitzsimons and his “Fitz’s Friends” group.  The
Sewanhaka students walked under the banner of “Fingertips of Steel.” 

Photo Caption: Sewanhaka students participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk on Oct. 25 at Eisenhower Park.

Photo courtesy of Sewanhaka Central High School District