Students and faculty at Woodland Middle School in the East Meadow School District opened the Memorial Day holiday weekend on May 25 by helping to “stuff a bus” – three in fact – with donations collected for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. A monetary donation of $1,000 was also submitted along with the donation of the goods in the bus.

After filling one bus, students created a human chain from the second floor of the school, through the stairway and out the main entrance to produce an assembly line to “stuff” a second bus. The two buses, along with a third bus of students, staff and remaining donations, were transported to the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park for unloading.

Now in its second year, the “Stuff a Bus” fundraiser is spearheaded by the school’s National Junior Honor Society. Last year, the society decided to focus the school’s collective efforts on benefiting one charity. Woodland’s service clubs and organizations responded by donating within a specific category of need, such as cleaning supplies, disposable products or pantry items. The clubs held individual fundraisers to collect the necessities or to raise funds to purchase the products themselves. Parents, faculty and community members also contributed by dropping off donations in the school lobby’s collection bin throughout the year.

The district extends a special thank you to all donors and to the Guardian Bus Company for graciously providing their services.

 

Photo captions:

1: A student-made banner hung from a first-floor classroom window at Woodland Middle School during the “Stuff a Bus” event on May 25.

2: Students formed an assembly line to move items from inside Woodland Middle School to buses lined up in the main entrance.

3: Students and teachers loaded a second bus with donations that were delivered to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

 

Photos courtesy of the East Meadow School District

Davison Avenue Intermediate School in the Malverne Union Free School District hosted a Third-Grade Fun Run on June 8 for charity.

The run asked students to wear purple and walk around the high school track five times to benefit The Quinn Madeleine Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that seeks to aid in the prevention of Niemann-Pick Disease Type A, a rare genetic disease that is always fatal in toddlers. Students raised more than $800 for the cause.

 

Photo caption: Davison Avenue third-grades ran to support The Quinn Madeleine Foundation.

 

Photo courtesy of Malverne Union Free School District

Fifth-graders at Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School in the Harborfields Central School District spent time creating goodie bags for Birthday Wishes, an organization that helps provide the joy of a birthday party for homeless children, on June 6.  

In an effort to make a small difference in the lives of children who don’t have homes, students from Robyn Weber and Dr. Gervaise Jordan’s fifth-grade classes each brought in something fun to donate to help a child in need experience the joy of a birthday party. Each item brought was required to be enough for 24 goodie bags, and each group was made up of seven students. Within groups, students created an assembly line-like system, rotating bags around the desk and stuffing one of every item into each. The students had fun working together for this cause, and completed the task speedily.

“It’s a great organization that makes it really easy for anyone to get involved,” said Ms. Weber, “and it’s always important to teach kids how to give of themselves to others who aren’t as privileged as they are.”

Photo Captions:

1. Students Viraj, Allie, Logan, Eliza and Owen enjoyed working together to help children in need on June 6.
2. Students at Thomas J. Lahey put their efforts towards bringing joy to those in need on June 6.
3. Students worked together in an assembly line-like manner to stuff goodie-bags for the organization Birthday Wishes on June 6. 

Photos courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District  

 

Sewanhaka High School students participated in and raised money for Emma’s Mile, part of the Hance Family Foundation’s Beautiful Me 5K Run/Walk on May 19.

The race starts at the entrance of Centennial Gardens and tours the streets of Floral Park. Sewanhaka junior Nicole Ruiz sang the national anthem at the beginning of the race and seventh-grader Sam Hodiwalla placed third in the mile run.

 

Photo Caption: Sewanhaka High School students participated in and raised money for Emma’s Mile.

 

Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Students at Riverhead Central School District’s Riley Avenue Elementary School improved their heart health as part of a student council fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Participating in the AHA’s Jump Rope for Heart program, students in all grade levels raised $6,346 in sponsorships to participate in a variety of jumping activities during their gym periods on June 5.

Leading up to the event, the students learned about heart health and ways they can make a difference in the lives of those with heart conditions.

Photo caption: Riley Avenue Elementary School students raised $6,346 through a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser.    

 

Photo courtesy of the Riverhead Central School District