Lights On For Education

Student work lights up Memorial Junior High

School community comes out for annual education showcase

Posted Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:57 am

Jonathan Val, a fifth-grader at Wheeler Avenue School, looks over some model bridges built by his classmates.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Memorial Junior High School Assistant Principal John Squadrito, who organized the event, welcomes guests to the 50th Lights on for Education program.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Olivier Previl, a sixth-grader at Wheeler Avenue School, checked out what art students in other Valley Stream districts are doing, viewing a kaleidoscope in the District 30 display.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Robert Briksza, left, and Joe Leib, 10th-graders at South High School, performed a puppet rendition of “Romeo and Juliet” and other Shakespeare plays, a project they did for English class, at the annual Lights on for Education program on April 14 at Memorial Junior High School.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

The Shaw Avenue School sixth-grade Select Chorus entertained visitors in the hallway near the two rooms of student art displays.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

District 24’s ESL and Spanish departments presented “It’s a Small World,” with tables representing countries from around the world. Diana Park, a third-grader at the Robert W. Carbonaro School, shared information about South Korea.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Willow Road students Laura Marturano, left, and Corinne Lima were curious to see what fellow fifth-graders have been up to at District 13’s other schools. Corinne’s parents, Patty and Sal, also take a look.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Jillian Ledesma, a fourth-grader at Robert W. Carbonaro School, was dressed in cultural garb of the Philippines while Elijah Bhatti, a fourth-grader at Brooklyn Avenue School, represented Pakistan.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Cosmetology students gave manicures to guest at the Lights on for Education program.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Kevin Goldman, a ninth-grader at South High School, showed off a 15-minute Monopoly game he made for social studies class about the religions of the world.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Roshna Ansara, a fifth-grader at Forest Road School, had a couple of pieces of pottery she made on display.

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Wheeler Avenue School students, from left, Matthew Lataille, Nicholas Tineo and Matthew Tineo, all 7, check out a project made by the Howell Road Construction Club.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Sana Qayyum, from Central High School’s cosmetology program, styles the hair of Jasmine Acosta with help from Laura Johansen.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Ben Thomson, the student council president from the James A. Dever School, joined by fellow District 13 student council leaders Julian Tineo, Justin Romano and Kyle Bonilla, makes a few remarks about education in the district.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Students from the American Sign Language class accompanied singers of the National Anthem to begin the April 14 program.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

After the opening ceremony, Central High School District Board of Education President Kenneth Cummings, joined by Superintendent Dr. Richard Marsh, right, and fellow board members, cut the ribbon to begin the evening of academic presentations.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Central High School senior Maggie Koenig and junior Phillip Leyesa talk about Leyesa’s photographs which he took for his Advanced Placement photography course.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

By Clarissa Hamlin

Memorial Junior High School was very lively after hours on April 14, when hundreds of parents, students, teachers, administrators and community members packed the halls. They were on a mission: to find every artistic and academic student display.

The displays and presentations highlighted the work of thousands of students in the community’s 14 public schools during the Valley Stream Council of PTA’s “Lights on for Education” showcase. This year’s theme, “The Energy that Lights the Way,” was creatively interpreted by district superintendents and students.

Running for the last 50 years, the event is well-known and popular. For some, it brings a familiarity and for others, it’s about discovery. There were plenty of bright smiles to go around, and looks of amazement from first-time visitors. The thrilling excitement of several visitors was undeniable — the whole community was united.

And the students were shining like stars. Just ask John Squadrito, the event’s coordinator and an assistant principal at Memorial. “It is the highlight of the hard work all students do all year,” he said. “It is great to see it across all grade levels and all schools…We did the 50th anniversary justice.”

The future and playfulness in District 13

Taking in all that students had to offer could have taken one’s breath away — literally. There were tables of imaginative sketches that made many laugh in the main gymnasium, which featured work from District 13 students. It was a fun spirit that hung over the room and several visitors felt it.

One person who enjoyed her time was Aliza Hussain, a Howell Road School parent. “This experience is really nice,” she said. “It has a lot of people and it is really fun.”

One of the most striking displays came from Howell, where students erected a Lego display, mimicking a futuristic world. Children stopping by were mesmerized by the innovation— calling it “cool.”

Josh Ocha, a Howell student, was loving every minute of it. “It is good to participate in lots of programs and good to be active,” he said.

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Student work lights up Memorial Junior High

School community comes out for annual education showcase

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