Schools

Bellmore-Merrick Central School District to host 5K for charity

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The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District will host its first “One Voice, One Message” 5K run/walk at Grand Avenue Middle School on Saturday, March 21, at 9 a.m. Race-day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Dr. Joseph Netto, the school psychologist at the Central District’s Meadowbrook Alternative Program, said the 5K emerged out of discussions on how the district could better unite students at its six schools –– and ultimately residents throughout the larger community. Netto said it has been Superintendent John DeTommaso’s vision since he came to the district in 2013 to bring together the schools, including Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools, Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools, and MAP.

“We thought, what better way to bring the schools together than community service?” said Netto, who is helping to organize the 5K with Robyn Einbinder, one of the Central District’s two social studies chairwomen, and Susan Ellinghaus, the MAP principal. All proceeds from the 5K will go to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.

Netto said all runners and walkers will receive T-shirts and bib numbers, and a timing company will provide official results.

Parking will be available at Mepham High School, where shuttle buses will provide transportation to and from Grand Avenue. There will also be parking at the municipal lot at the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station, east of the school.

Several businesses have offered donations for the event, including coffee and bagels. Netto said local Kiwanis and Lions clubs are helping out as well.

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