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West Hempstead
The West Hempstead school district is preparing its students for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 16, with a number of events this year. The Chestnut Street kindergarten center is recognizing the day through shared reading, art and writers’ workshop projects that speak to cooperation, equality and tolerance.
More than 75 students in the West Hempstead High School English department participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fine Arts and Essay display. Some 236 schools statewide participated and the state Office of General Services and the Department of Education will have the work displayed on the concourse in Albany to celebrate King’s memory and day. The theme of the program is: “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A day on, not a day off.”
Additionally, the high school participated in Hofstra University’s “Celebrating Ethnic Diversity” student essay contest in the fall — and received $200 because it submitted a large number of entries. The money will be used to purchase books for children in grades K through 12, which will be distributed at the district’s Family Literacy Night in March.
High school student Shane Williams received a $16,000 scholarship for his submission to a Nassau County sponsored essay contest related to King. Superintendent of school John Hogan and the West Hempstead Board of Education will honor Williams at its Jan. 17 meeting.
“Every day our students celebrate and share their ethnic diversity and it makes the West Hempstead school district an excellent place to learn and grow,” said English department Director Kathleen O’Farrell. “We are very proud of our students’ talent and creativity.”
Malverne
Students in the Malverne school district will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a number of events, including singing and other performances. The district as a whole will celebrate the day with its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award celebration — which started more than two decades ago after residents Lakeview, Lynbrook and Malverne joined faculty members in an effort to unite the entire school community.
