By:Carrie James
First daylong school festival set for Saturday, March 31
After three years educating East Meadow School District parents about issues such as new state standards, members of A Community Committed to the Educational Success of Students decided that it's time to party.
This Saturday, March 31, Project ACCESS will host a daylong celebration, the Festival of Learning, at East Meadow High School that will feature the district's many strong points, said Yvonne Amato, a Project ACCESS member.
"We thought, 'Gee, wouldn't it be nice to celebrate how great our district is,'" Amato said. "It's an event to celebrate our great programs and how we all work together to make a really great school district."
The idea initially came from Project ACCESS member Theresa Masopust, who also serves on the East Meadow High School Parent Teacher Association.
"Many times people focus on the negative aspects of a district or community," said Masopust, who co-chaired the event with Amato and Marie Ventimiglia. "But we have a very nice district and community, and we wanted to celebrate that."
Since last September, the Project ACCESS team has worked on the Festival of Learning. They involved as many parents, teachers, administrators and community members in the planning to make the event special, Amato said.
"We had meetings. We talked at schools. We gave Power Point presentations to administrators. We spoke with teachers," Amato said regarding Project ACCESS's efforts to gain support. "In the community, we went out and met with organizations like the East Meadow Kiwanis and Chamber to drum up support. The community does a lot for the schools."
Festival of Learning, which goes from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and is open to everyone, includes more than 100 different workshops and presentations with many touching on at least one curricular area such as math or art.
One event that Project ACCESS members said the public shouldn't miss is the East Meadow Town Meeting, scheduled from 11 a.m.-noon. It will feature state, county and town legislators who will discuss issues facing the area, as well as what their jobs entail, Amato said.
Other highlights include an event known as History Alive, which will involve high school students recreating historical events. The public also shouldn't miss presentations given by many of the district's school music and theater classes.
The festival planners, however, said the public should take advantage of as many of the workshops as possible. They are all worth highlighting, said Ventimiglia, a member of the Woodland Middle School PTA.
While Project ACCESS is yet to address making the festival a regular event, Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Gooding said it's a possibility if all goes well Saturday.
"What we really hope happens is that people celebrate the district, participate in learning experiences and experience some of the wonderful programs that are going on in our schools," she said. "I think it will impact the children in a couple ways.
"First, a lot of children will see what they will experience as they go through school in the future. Also, it will give children a chance to show off a little. Show people here's what I am doing now."
What: The Festival of Learning
When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: East Meadow High School, 101 Carmen Ave.
Who: Project ACCESS, contact Dr. Kathleen Gooding's office at (516) 228-5224 for a schedule of events or more information.
