By Scott Brinton
The May 18 event, called the Bellmore-Merrick Challenge, pitted Calhoun and Seaford students against one another in a series of field-day-like races. Some 50 members of the Calhoun Athletes Helping Athletes club assisted with the event, which phys. ed. teacher Heather Kane organized.
Additionally, Calhoun students stopped off throughout the day during their gym classes to cheer the participants on. The event garnered much attention, with a host of Central District administrators joining in the fun, including Superintendent Dr. Thomas Caramore, Assistant Superintendent Arnold Goldstein, Central Athletics Director Saul Lerner, Calhoun Principal David Seinfeld and Assistant Principal Michael Harrington.
Lerner was instrumental in bringing the event to Calhoun. It began, he said, at Levittown-Division High School under the direction of Joan Potter. Potter recently retired from Division, and no one there wanted to take over the competition. So she called Lerner, who had supported the event in the past. He was happy to bring it to the Central District. Lerner hopes to expand the competition to include more schools in the future.
"It was truly remarkable," Lerner said. "It was just a wonderful event. We really made a difference in kids' lives. This is what you get into education for."
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
