Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School in the Harborfields Central School District recently
unveiled its new Butterfly Friendship Wall, part of the school’s fourth annual No Place for Hate initiative.
Holocaust survivors Meir and Doris Usherovitz participated in the event and addressed the attendees.
Art teacher Stephanie Hansen read “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss to third and fourth grade students and “The Butterfly” by Patricia Pollaco to fifth graders. Each class participated in a discussion about the importance of helping others in need. The students painted ceramic butterflies for placement on the Friendship Wall and discussed how the butterflies are symbols of resilience and hope.
As the survivors walked to the courtyard, students lined the hallways to pay their respects. Two students from each class attended the unveiling as well as staff and community members who helped with the project. The remainder of the student body was able to view the ceremony via streaming into the classrooms.
Registering to Vote
The Huntington League of Women Voters has been busy helping high school students to register or pre-register to vote, resulting in nearly 1,000 high school students sign up.
The league has also held workshops teaching high school students how to host events to register their peers. Many students are surprised and pleased to hear that the youth demographic makes up 40% of the voting population, giving them significant influence in election outcomes.High schools in Huntington that participated in the drive were: Walt Whitman, Huntington and Elwood John H Glenn.
Pianist Helps Veterans Program
Mariano Schwartz, a sophomore at St. Anthony’s, has raised $10,000 to donate to Bronx Veterans Medical Research Re-Walk program using tips he’s received while playing the piano at a restaurant in Farmingdale. He plans to present Bronx Veterans Medical Research with the donation on Saturday at the restaurant 317 Main. Members of this organization and disabled veterans using the Re-Walk system will be there Saturday to receive the donation.
Planning to Serve
The South Huntington School District recently held its annual military breakfast for the Walt Whitman High School graduates heading for military service. Local dignitaries and veterans joined family, administrators and school board members at the James Kaden Administrative offices to applaud the three seniors who will be joining the United States Armed Forces after graduation.
Emma Kowalczyk will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Emma will study systems engineering when she becomes one of 4,000 cadets attending West Point in the fall.
Kaiet Coraizaca will be attending the United States Air Force Academy. Located in Colorado, the first Air Force Academy class graduated in 1959. Kaiet will become one of more than 4,000 cadets enrolled in programs from aeronautical engineering to geospatial science to military and strategic studies.
Brayan Jimenez Avila is joining the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps was born in 1775 when the first recruiting center was set up in Philadelphia. After recruit training, Brayan will join the ranks of the more than 177,000 active duty members of the USMC.
“We identify students going on to Ivy League and higher forms of education, but we need to identify the people that are devoting themselves to protecting the ideals of America and the foundations of what our country is built upon,” said Dr. John Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction. “Being someone that grew up in a military family and traveled around the world as a child, I understood the sacrifices that people make when going into the armed services, all for the good of others, because they’re really there to protect everyone else.”
The military recognition breakfast has become an annual graduation tradition in the district purposely held on June 6 to coincide with the anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe to defeat Nazi Germany.
5 Win Music Scholarships
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame has awarded its 2023 Music Scholarships, including a special scholarship in memory of Pat DeRosa who in addition to being a LIMEHOF inductee also taught music in Huntington and South Huntington.
Five students from around Long Island were awarded Distinction in Music scholarships; the Pat DeRosa Memorial Scholarship went to Coleman Schubert of Babylon High School. Other winners were Chris Hummel, Harborfields High School; Jacob Leshnower, Half Hollow High School East Alexis Pabebianco, Mineola High School and,Luca Alexandru, Syosset.
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- Hummel
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- Leshnower
Library Programming for Summer
The New York State Education Department and New York State Library are partnering with 1,100 public libraries and neighborhood branches statewide to launch the annual Summer Reading at New York Libraries program, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. This year’s slogan, “All Together Now,” connects students of all ages through the theme of friendship, kindness, inclusion, and diversity. Public libraries across New York will host exciting activities and events throughout the summer with the goal of bringing children, families, and communities together for reading and enrichment programs. Activities for all age levels will include performances, craft programs, story times, workshops, author events, and more.