A delayed celebration of Pi Day turned into a Pie in the Face day for teachers, when Lynbrook South Middle School hosted a creative fundraiser for Autism Speaks on April 28.
Their original celebration of Pi Day in March was cancelled due to a snow day, so students and teachers decided to reschedule during Autism Awareness Month. Succumbing to this clever play on words for a worthy cause, dozens of teachers donned plastic cover-ups, shower caps and goggles, and let students pelt them with whipped cream pies. The event raised $450 for Autism Speaks, an organization that promotes advocacy and research to serve the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
“We thought this would be a fun way to celebrate Autism Awareness Month,” said teacher Robyn Freiman, who helped students organize the event. “In addition to having fun, we raised money and awareness for a worthy cause.”

Photo Captions:

Whipped cream went flying as eighth-grader Justin Comack pied teacher Jeffrey Plett at the Pi Day fundraiser for Autism Speaks.

Photos courtesy of Lynbrook Union Free School District

Residents of the East Meadow School District joined students, faculty and board of education members for the district’s ninth annual “Run with the Rams” 5K fundraiser, sponsored by the W.T. Clarke Athletic Department, on April 29.

​Bright and early on a warm Saturday, participants of all ages gathered in Clarke High School’s gymnasium to check in, register and pin their timing bibs for the one-mile “fun run” or 5K street race.

​Organized by Josh Friedman, the athletic chairperson for W.T. Clarke High School and Middle School, both races began and ended outside the athletic complex, circling through the neighborhood, with water stops managed by student volunteers.

​The fundraiser accumulated $2,000 to benefit a local family in need and the W.T. Clarke Athletic program.

Photo Captions:
Members of the W.T. Clarke High School softball team posed for a picture with their timing bibs prior to the race.
Participants of the East Meadow School District “Run with the Rams” fundraiser were all smiles as they finished the race.

Photos courtesy of the East Meadow School District

In honor of NYPD Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, who was killed in the line of duty last November, the West Islip and North Babylon varsity baseball teams and their respective communities joined together on April 24 to play a tribute baseball game at Bethpage Ballpark.

Both teams wore custom jerseys adorned with Sgt. Tuozzolo’s badge number, and community support was strong, with more than 1,000 people in attendance. Throwing out the first pitch was the late sergeant’s wife, Lisa Tuozzolo, a North Babylon alumna and the assistant principal at West Islip High School, joined by her two young sons, Austin and Joseph. Also in attendance was Sgt. Emmanuel Kwo, who was wounded in the incident, but whose life was saved due to Sgt. Tuozzolo’s heroic actions.

Money raised from the memorial game will help fund a scholarship in Sgt. Tuozzolo’s name in both communities.

Photo Captions:

In attendance at the West Islip and North Babylon varsity baseball game in tribute to slain NYPD Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, were his widow Lisa, their sons Austin and Joseph, and his fellow officer Sgt. Emmanuel Kwo; both teams wore custom jerseys with the Tuozzolo’s badge number.

Photos courtesy of the West Islip School District

Glen Cove High School’s Student Senate, under the direction of adviser Ellen Lynch, hosted a dodgeball tournament on April 26 to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The group’s “Glen Cove Big Red” team is taking part in North Shore’s Relay for Life on June 10. Thanks to the generosity of the school community, the team raise $880 at the dodgeball tournament, earning their team’s logo a spot on North Shore’s Relay for Life T-shirt.
to all of the students who came out to play and worked the tournament, as well as those who filled the bleachers. A huge thank-you to Assistant Principal Allen Hudson and teacher Christopher Contorno for refereeing the game, it was a double elimination tournament and the Yellow Team, “Average Joe,” won! The students are looking forward to doing it again next year and going for bragging rights.

If you’d like to donate to the “Glen Cove Big Red” team, visit the fundraising page:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/?fr_id=79274&pg=team&team_id=2186256

Photo Caption: Pictured are the winners of Glen Cove High School’s Student Senate Volleyball Tournament, which benefited the American Cancer Society. Dodge ball referees Assistant Principal Allen Hudson (right) and teacher Christopher Contorno are also pictured.

Photo courtesy of the Glen Cove City School District

Members of East Islip High School’s girls varsity lacrosse team volunteered during the EJ Autism Foundation’s 11th annual four-mile Jigsaw Run/Walk for Autism on April 23. The team, which participates in the event each year, ran one of the water stations during the race, held at the East Islip Marina.

Players who volunteered included Hannah Bernardos, Hannah Calarco, Allison Chiarelli, Kaitlyn D’Amico, Julia DeMaggio, Kate Flamio, Alexa Fusco, Lindsay Guzzetta, Kendall Mittleman, Jenna Murphy, Taylor Roth, Rachel Schlesinger, Melissa Sconone, Nicole Surace, Madalyn Von Hassel and Sara Wright, along with coach Steve Levy.

Lax Run 01, Lax Run 02: Members of East Islip High School’s girls varsity lacrosse team volunteered during the EJ Autism Foundation’s 11th annual four-mile Jigsaw Run/Walk for Autism on April 23.

Photos courtesy of the East Islip School District