Students at Lindell Elementary School put their energy to good use during the month of May, when they participated in a “Move it Forward” fundraiser that benefitted the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Held in conjunction with National Physical Fitness Month, the initiative promoted health and wellness and also supported the district’s emphasis on social emotional learning.

The project kicked off with a schoolwide assembly, led by representatives from the JDRF, physical education staff members and Teacher in Charge Carol Cintorino. They informed students about juvenile diabetes and the overall benefits of exercise and fitness.
On May 12, students and staff members put their greatest efforts forward for the cause during a fitness hour, for which they received donations from family members and friends. Participants walked and ran around the field as a sign of their support for all children with juvenile diabetes, and then rotated an assortment of exercise stations that featured activities such as jumping rope, hula hooping and relay races.

Photos Courtesy of Long Beach Public Schools

Congratulations to Covert Avenue School for placing first in Teamup4Community’s Spring Community Service Challenge for raising funds for the American Heart Association.
The school was entered into the competition after raising $16,300 during its Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart fundraisers. They then went head-to-head with other local schools that also completed community service for the opportunity to win a scholarship or grant. After a week of voting, Covert Avenue School came out on top, earning the most votes and a grant for $3,000.
Principal Mary Natoli and Assistant Principal Wellinthon Garcia were presented with the grant from the organization during a dinner at Chateau Briand in Carle Place on May 23. Natoli indicated that the students have voted and the funds will be utilized to purchase new backboards for the school’s basketball hoops. She also expressed her gratitude to all students who participated in the fundraiser and to physical education teacher Tim Smith and Student Council adviser Jessica Baumgartner for their hard work in organizing the efforts.

Photo Caption: Pictured (back row, l-r): Covert Avenue Assistant Principal Wellinthon Garcia, Principal Mary Natoli, Assistant Principal Cynthia Qasim, Student Council adviser Jessica Baumgartner and physical education teacher Tim Smith. Front row (l-r): Covert Avenue’s top fundraising students Tivanie Singhroy, Caleb Ordonez, and brothers Connor and Brendan Doyle, all of whom raised $1,000 for the American Heart Association.

Photo courtesy of the Elmont School District

Connetquot High School students, staff and faculty recently came together for an evening of fun physical activity during the Connetquot National Honor Society’s Hoops-4-Troops basketball tournament benefiting America’s soldiers.
Between registration fees, T-shirt sales, refreshments, and donations, the NHS raised more than $1,000, alongside collecting donations of new clothing for the local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers and the General Needs for veterans group. Both organizations are dedicated to providing support to service members and their families.
Connetquot NHS advisers Cheryl Sosa and Robert Bachisin extended their gratitude toward everyone that took part in this annual fundraiser.

Photo Caption: Connetquot National Honor Society recently hosted a Hoops-4-Troops basketball tournament to benefit America’s soldiers. Pictured here are several of the evening’s attendees.

Photo courtesy of Connetquot Central School District / Joe Maniaci

The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted a Dome Field Day in the DakotaDome and Sanford Coyote Sports Center Saturday morning.

Student-athletes hosted children from all over southeastern South Dakota, ranging from kindergarteners to sixth graders. The athletes supervised the children as they ran football drills with members of the USD football team, played with a parachute and ran obstacle courses with members of the track and swim teams and played knockout and dodge ball with the basketball teams.

Jamie Oyen, USD’s senior associate athletic director, said children came from schools all over the area.

“We have kids today from Elk Point, Jefferson, Beresford, Irene, Wokonda, Harrisberg, Vermillion schools, Yankton, just a great representation of area kids,” Oyen said “This is just a great opportunity for them to come play with our athletes, and our athletes to have time with them.”

SAAC, the representative body of USD’s student-athletes, puts on the Dome Field Day every year to give back to the community.

The athletic teams volunteer at the event every year, and each team holds a different game. This year, the golf team hosted an event where children tried to hit targets with tennis balls using a plastic club.

“A lot of kids kind of have a hard time having fun with golf,” said sophomore golfer Tommy Vining, who was participating in the event. “I was the same way, I just wanted to hit the ball and mess around. That is pretty much what they are doing right now. It is just a fun thing for them to do.”

The event has been going on for several years and has become popular among the children and athletes alike, Oyen said. Some children have been going to the event for six years in a row, she said.

“Oh, I’ve had so much fun,” said junior swimmer Kassidie Cornell. “It’s basically like a chance to relive my childhood in a sense.”

Cornell said she thinks the focus of the event is to make sure the children enjoy it.

“I’ve done it every year since I’ve been here,” she said. “My favorite part is seeing the joy on the kids’ faces.”

TEMPE, Ariz. – The George Washington women’s tennis team has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Atlantic Region Community Service Award winner in the organization’s annual year-end awards.

“I am extremely proud of our team and their efforts in the community,” said head coach Torrie Browning. “They involved themselves in so many service events this year it was hard to keep track.”

The eight-member GW women’s tennis amassed 300 hours of community service during the 2016-17 school year. The Colonials’ regional recognition puts them in the running for the ITA’s national award.

“The sheer number of hours they completed as a team is also impressive,” added Browning. “It’s great to see that they took such an interest in giving back to the community. They are a great group of well-rounded young women that time and time again do great work on the court but even better work off the court.”

The women’s tennis squad helped GW Athletic win its second-consecutive NCAA Team Works HelperHelper Community Service Competition, awarded to the Colonials this spring, as GW’s approximately 500 student-athletes logged over 3,000 service hours in the spring semester alone.

The ITA will announce its National Community Service Award winner on May 23.

Source: http://www.gwsports.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/051617aab.html