Awesome Autumn Happenings at Wantagh Schools

The fall season brings out the true colors of the students and staff in Wantagh. Despite Hurricane Sandy wreaking havoc on trick or treating this year, the Student Council members from Wantagh Elementary School were able to collect over 400 pounds of Halloween candy to send to our soldiers overseas.

They donated the sweet stuff to The Knights of Columbus Adopt-A-Battalion Program who shipped 22 cartons to Afghanistan. Led by adviser, Nicole Friedman, the Student Council also held a Thanksgiving food drive to help local families enjoy a holiday meal. Large boxes were placed in the school lobby and each day they would be filled with goodies like boxes of stuffing, cans of cranberry sauce and jars of gravy. Students collected and sorted the items and were thankful that they were able to help other children have a happy holiday.

The Wantagh 6-12 Association HUGS Committee in conjunction with the Wantagh Middle School Student Council held a Thanksgiving food drive at the Wantagh King Kullen and collected an impressive 25 carts full of groceries for local families. Dozens of Extra-Curricular Clubs at the both the High School and Middle School donated hundreds of dollars of gift cards to the cause. The Wantagh United Teachers also made a nice contribution to the effort. Members of the Wantagh Middle School Student Council, directed by their advisors Ms. Gentile and Ms. Harris, sorted the trimmings for holiday meals. Some of the students used their artistic skills to decorate envelopes that held gift cards and holiday wishes. Because of the severity of the damages cause by Hurricane Sandy, there was an increase in the number of families in need this year. Ms. Gentile and Ms. Harris delivered the packages to the families on Tuesday so they had time to prepare for Thanksgiving! Thank you to everyone that contributed, it was a very successful effort by everyone involved.

The spirits of the season might have been slightly delayed by the ravages of the storm but they certainly were not dampened as Mandalay Elementary students and families enjoyed a much needed evening of fun at the Fall Festival on Friday, November 16. Enthusiastic fifth graders supervised the games that filled the gym and parent volunteers cheerfully served tables full of goodies in the cafeteria. In the lobby, guests could add a little pizazz to their style with color hair extensions or bid on any of the bevy of coveted raffles! The evening culminated with the winners of the raffles being called. Whether or not you left with a prize, at least you left with a smile from an entertaining night out!

On Friday night, Nov. 16, 20 members of the Wantagh High School Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America, accompanied by their advisor, business education teacher, Ms. Christine Compagnino and Social Studies teacher Ms. Libia Burke volunteered at Parkview Nursing Home in Massapequa. The club members supplied lots of bakery treats, coffee and plenty of prizes for the BINGO winners - all donated by FBLA. Students also brought pink and blue flowers (from Numa's Florist in Wantagh). As the students introduced themselves to the seniors, they each handed a flower to one person.  The residents at Parkview laughed all night and thanked our students and faculty for a wonderful time.  In turn, the students received the intrinsic reward - to be able to provide laughter and fun for the senior citizens for the night.

At Forest Lake Elementary School they held their monthly morning program on Monday, Nov. 19. There were over 200 parents and guests present at this assembly who were treated to songs and poems. The Kindergartners performed a Halloween presentation while the first graders celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.

A festive Thanksgiving celebration took place in the Wantagh Elementary cafeteria for students in first grade this week. The eager guests paraded into the room dressed as pilgrims and Native Americans. The festivities began with all the students singing Albuquerque Turkey. Then each class stood in front of the group and recited a Thanksgiving poem. Finally it was time to serve the snacks of popcorn, corn muffins, fruits and veggies. Within no time the thankful first graders gobbled the goodies up!