Holiday spirit was in the air as administrators, board of education members, faculty, students and families gathered in the Levittown Memorial Education Center on Dec. 11 for the district’s annual gift wrapping night for their Adopt-A-Family Program. Under the direction of Esta Lachow and Gina Interdonato, the community came together to donate toys, clothes, food and household items to more than 220 families this holiday season.

“After nine years it never gets old,” said Interdonato. “I think the kids, parents, everybody, gets it that there are people out there that are in need and this is an amazing thing that we do jointly as a district. We are very lucky.”

 

Photo Captions:

1. Members of the MacArthur High School varsity cheer team put their present wrapping skills to the test.
2. (L-R) East Broadway fifth-grader CJ Mastropierro with Jonas E. Salk Middle School sixth-graders Ariana Mastropierro and Nicholas Keefer during the Adopt-A-Family gift wrapping night.

 

Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

Due to their dedication and enthusiasm in supporting the Hoops for Heart Program, Summit Lane Elementary School in the Levittown Public Schools was recently recognized as a New York State Hoops for Heart Champion at the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s Amazing People Awards Ceremony.

The school received a plaque for their high involvement, where they have been a top earner for the Hoops for Heart Program in New York State for the past three years. Hoops for Heart is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Society of Health and Physical Educators to educate students on healthy habits while enhancing their basketball skills and highlighting the value of community service.

 

Photo Caption: Summit Lane Elementary School students proudly held up their Hoops for Heart Champion plaque from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

 

Photo courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

Massapequa High School’s Key Club recently held a successful holiday toy drive, benefitting about 140 children at a local preschool. Students and staff at the school donated toys during a two-week period, which were then wrapped by members of the Key Club and delivered to the Amityville Head Start.

The Key Club is a service organization affiliated with the Massapequa Kiwanis Club. It has hosted the toy drive for more than a decade. Adviser Michael LaBella said students learn about the importance of doing for others through community-based projects.

“This is a time to be appreciative of what we have and to give back to the community,” said junior President Kayla Collins.

On Dec. 20, the Key Club visited Head Start to hand out gifts to the young girls and boys. Mr. LaBella dressed up like Santa Claus, and Key Club members sang Christmas carols.

 

Photo captions:

1: Massapequa High School Key Club members collected toys for children at the Amityville Head Start preschool.

2: Key Club officers, from left, Samantha Carroll, Kayla Collins and Samantha Cupolo were busy wrapping presents.

 

Photos courtesy of Massapequa School District

Connetquot High School senior Marina Duszak continues to assist the Connetquot community with her altruistic efforts. This year, Marina took it upon herself to spearhead a fundraiser with the help of the high school students and staff, and on Dec. 22, she presented a check in the amount of $1,986 to Alexis Alpert, community relations coordinator for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Marina has a passion for giving to others and this December she coordinated a well-received fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish, a national organization with a vision of granting the wish of children diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

Through a “wish” ornament drive, Marina inspired her peers and high school staff to purchase paper ornaments for their homes, trees, offices and classrooms. The ornaments were sold for a $1 each. Additionally, Marina collected more than 2,000 letters to Santa through Make-A-Wish and delivered them to the local Macy’s department store.

A Connetquot High School senior, Marina is a member of the cross-country team, is the Student Government president, ranks in the top 10 percent of her class, and has survived cancer. Diagnosed with leukemia in her freshman year, Marina endured almost three years of chemotherapy. In her junior year, the side effects of the medication became less debilitating, allowing her to rejoin the cross-country team, and spend time paying forward good deeds toward her community.

 

Photo caption: Connetquot High School senior Marina Duszak recently spearheaded a fundraiser, which collected $1,986 to be donated toward the Make-A-Wish foundation. She is pictured with Santa Claus just before donating the check to the organization.

 

Photo courtesy of the Connetquot Central School District/Joe Maniaci

In December, the members of the Copiague Middle School Builders Club were busy organizing a collection of nonperishable food items for the Island Harvest Food Bank to help Long Islanders in need. The club participated in the “Students Feeding Students” challenge and thanks to the generous donations of students and staff, they collected 548 pounds of food to supplement 457 meals.

 

Photo courtesy of Copiague School District