For Wheeler Avenue School students, learning about the people who keep their community running meant stepping outside the classroom.
On Sept. 24, the Wheeler Avenue School PTA hosted its first Community Helpers Day in at least a decade, bringing local departments and organizations into the school for a morning of hands-on activities and conversations.
PTA Vice President of Programs Kat Guzman began planning the program in the spring after seeing an opportunity to connect what students were learning in class with the people working in their own neighborhoods.
“I wanted to bring the community into the school and give the kids an opportunity to meet and interact with the people who serve our community every day,” Guzman said.
Nearly 600 students took part in rotations throughout the morning, meeting representatives from the Valley Stream Fire Department, Valley Stream Department of Public Works and Nassau County Police Department.
The police department brought members of Community Affairs, the Bureau of Special Operations, along with its mounted and motorcycle units. The Valley Stream Fire Department brought an educational trailer and spoke with students about fire safety ahead of October’s Fire Prevention Month.
The morning also included representatives from the Valley Stream Library, Valley Stream Central High School District 13 Board of Education and the Valley Stream Beautification Committee.
The sights and equipment quickly became a draw. Guzman said students were eager to get outside and see what each department had brought.
“As they were walking out the door, they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to go see that,’” she said.
But the goal was about more than showing off police motorcycles or fire equipment. Guzman wanted students to see the people behind the uniforms and understand how their work affects everyday life in Valley Stream.
“These are the people who are right here in our own community that work every day to help and support them,” she said.
The PTA also wanted the lesson to go both ways. Michelle Cardinal, vice president of public relations for the Wheeler Avenue School PTA, said students should leave knowing that they do not have to wait until they are adults to make a difference.
“Most importantly, we want students to leave the event understanding that they can be community helpers, too,” Cardinal said.
Putting the program together took months. Guzman began reaching out to organizations in the spring and worked with school administrators to coordinate schedules. The Nassau County Police Department required additional planning because several specialized units were invited, while the Long Island Rail Road’s track safety team expressed interest but could not attend.
With so many students at Wheeler Avenue, the PTA divided the morning into rotations to keep the activities manageable and give each class time to interact with the visitors.
Guzman hopes the program becomes an annual tradition and would like to bring individual organizations back throughout the school year for smaller visits.
The students already had one request for next time: more time outside.
For Guzman, that was a welcome sign that the morning had made an impression.
“It was nice to show the kids, this is our town,” she said. “You have support.”
