Schools kick off the holiday season, celebrate accomplishments

Students from John Street School, Polk Street School and Washington Street School performed at the Franklin Square school district’s board of education meeting on Dec. 6 to kick off the holiday season.

The children played instruments or sang on stage for the crowd. They performed “Blue Christmas,” “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” among other holiday classics.

Music teachers Alexa Gottesman and Larry Rizzo from John Street School, Christina Mehserle and Robert Mutarelli from Polk Street School, and Jason O’Connor and Kelly Tesar from Washington Street School introduced the students before their respective classes performed.

After the musical performances, Washington Street School staff member Deborah Clark received a hero award for her quick action to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a student in November.

Superintendent Jared Bloom celebrated the accomplishments of the three school buildings in the district. John Street School, Polk Street School and Washington Street School all ranked above average for test scores and have an A- ranking on Niche.com. This ranking has continuously increased throughout the past five years.

John Street School has consistently ranked above average when it comes to closing the opportunity gap. This year, Polk Street School and Washington Street School were honored because they placed among the top 40 percent based on 2021 school year data.