On June 9, the Sewanhaka High School Students and Teachers Against Cancer (STAC) club held a Cardio and Kickboxing Class to help raise money for the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

In total, 60 students participated in the class, which was run by a professional personal trainer. A special thanks to Antonietta Cesare’s seventh-grade math classes and the varsity cheerleaders, who were the top contributors to the event. The STAC club was thrilled to raise $2,510 for this worthy cause.

Photo Captions:
Students participated in warm-up exercises at the beginning of class.

Photos courtesy of Sewanhaka Central High School District

Students at Dutch Broadway School donated $5,627 to Building Homes for Heroes thanks to their yearlong recycling efforts and the school’s third annual Walk-a-Thon to benefit the The Walk-a-Thon, organized by physical education teachers Debra Bennett and Glenn Saenz, began with a moving tribute to local veterans in attendance that represented posts in Elmont, Mineola and Hempstead. The veterans, which included two World War II Purple Heart recipients, were each asked to share their name and a bit of information about their military service, with some struggling to hold back tears. The ceremony featured fifth- and sixth-grade band students playing patriotic music and a bagpipe performance by Ed Geraghty of FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray also took part in the ceremony, commending the Dutch Broadway students for their community service efforts and thanking the veterans for their service to the country.

Retired U.S. Marine Bill “The Can Man” Urianek was also on hand, presenting the organization with a check for $1,501.50, which represented the students’ yearlong recycling efforts. Urianek visits the school each week to collect the donated bottles. He then recycles the bottles and saves the money in an account for the school. Urianek also presented Principal Walter Aksionoff with a new American flag for the school. Following the ceremony, students took to the field to participate in the school’s Walk-a-Thon, while veterans enjoyed refreshments with administrators and faculty.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Dutch Broadway administrators, teachers and students are pictured with veterans fromElmont, Mineola and Hempstead. Also pictured are Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray (seated, fourth left), Elmont Director of Pupil Personnel and Special Education Stephanie Muller (fifth, right) and Assistant Director of PPS Helisse Palmore (second, right).

Photos courtesy of Elmont School District

To conclude their inaugural school year as an official club at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club worked together to raise $400 for the Wounded Warriors Project. To garner the funds, Port Jefferson students James Murphy and Dylan Wennerod, with the help of their advisor Jesse Rosen, organized a well-attended, after-school donation-based speedball tournament for students and staff.

The club members hope to build on the success of the event next year and raise even more money for the Wounded Warriors.

Caption: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students James Murphy and Dylan Wennerod and their Varsity Club advisor Jesse Rosen.

Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District

As part of a new community service committee, 70 first-graders at Hampton Bays Elementary School teamed up to raise $800 for the Southampton Animal Shelter.

Under the direction of teachers Jonathan DellaSperanza, Diane Hutchison and Kristy Loper, the students met throughout April to organize and design a plan for the fundraiser and awareness campaign. They designed posters, which were hung around the school, made T-shirts to unify the committee and sold bracelets.

In May, the first-graders will meet with representatives from the animal shelter to present the money they raised and learn more about the shelter.

“These students, even at just 6 and 7 years old, really made a difference by working together,” said DellaSperanza.

Story and photos courtesy of Hampton Bays Public School District

The high school’s Athletes Helping Athletes Club is focused on mentoring the district’s younger students and serving as role models for those aspiring student. However, the club members recently took their devotion to a new level as they spent a Saturday volunteering at the Special Olympics held at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale. Juniors and seniors joined together, with 18 Locust Valley High School students helped with the set up of the track and field events throughout the day. Club Co-Advisor Tim Lomot accompanied the students and worked alongside them throughout the day. “I am so proud of these student-athletes who gave up their own time to do something for others,” Lomot said. “These young men and women exhibit the character that we hope to see in our athletes.” Nadine Pacifico is also Co-Advisor of the club and was attending another district event that day.

Photo Caption: Members of Locust Valley High School’s Athletes Helping Athletes volunteered at the Special Olympics.

Photo courtesy of the Locust Valley Central School District