At the board of education meeting on June 9, hosted at Dutch Broadway School, the Elmont community came together for an evening of celebration and gratitude, recognizing the outstanding achievements of its scholars and honoring the dedication and contributions of its staff as the school year draws to a close.

Following a reception celebrating retirement and tenure recipients, the board meeting began with the presentation of the colors by the Dutch Broadway Color Guard, as well as beautiful renditions of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Alden Terrace School sixth graders and “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Dutch Broadway sixth grade chorus.  

“This evening, we have the privilege of recognizing three groups in our district; our students, our retirees and our tenure candidates,” Superintendent of Schools Marlon C. Small said in his welcome remarks. “All of them play a key role in contributing to the lasting impact on our school district. They have all helped to make our schools and our community a place where it is a great place to live, work and learn.” 

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Pamela Stamidis began the celebrations of numerous impressive scholars, recognizing them for their accomplishments in science research, the arts, writing and community engagement. 

On April 30, science research teams from all six school buildings proudly represented the district at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair. Several teams earned recognition and were honored at the NYSSEF Awards Ceremony on June 9. Stewart Manor School Science Research students Tristan Canedo and Abdul Moeez presented their project on “The Effect of Magnet Quantity on the Performance of a LEGO Robotic Claw in a Simulated Ocean Cleanup” and Kimberly Matthews presented her project on “The Effect of Ferrofluid Concentration on the Removal of Microplastics from Water.” The Stewart Manor teams earned first place in the engineering category and second place in the environmental category. Dutch Broadway’s science research students Anne Bernardin and Sydney Campbell were recognized for their project on “How Microplastics Affect the Growth of Mealworms.” They earned first place in the environmental category. In addition, Bernardin and Campbell have been invited to submit their project to the national competition, an honor reserved for only the top 10% of middle school submissions nationwide.

Alden Terrace’s fourth grade dance team was recognized for their participation in this year’s ArtBeat LI Color of the Rainbow Team Match, held on May 11. The team earned a first-place gold medal in recognition of their outstanding performance. ArtBeat LI provides enriching dance opportunities and experiences for students throughout the district.

Each year, scholars participate in the Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade Youth Art Contest, which celebrates the rich history of Elmont and the excitement surrounding the Belmont Stakes. Alden Terrace fourth grader Olivia Roem, Covert Avenue fifth grader Jaime Carranza Campos, Dutch Broadway fifth grader Nancy Benny, Gotham Avenue fifth grader Amaya Turnball and Stewart Manor fifth grader Matthew Preis were selected as winners this year and were recognized at the Belmont Stakes Parade. 

The student recognitions continued, with the PTA Reflections Arts Program winners. Dutch Broadway fourth grader Chimela Crick-Iwu advanced to the state level for her film production submission, and Dutch Broadway sixth grader Abby Duplan advanced to the state level for her dance choreography submission. Both students and their families attended the Nassau Region PTA Reflections reception. 

Covert Avenue fourth grader Isabella Briant and Stewart Manor third grader Grayson Cheng won the Humane Society of New York Essay Contest, sponsored by the Office of the Nassau County Executive and other community partners. Each student read their award-winning essays aloud for the audience, sharing what they would do to help animals if they had a magic wand. 

The scholar recognitions concluded with the Elmont Elementary Teachers Association Sixth Grade Awards, which are presented annually to students from each sixth grade class at all six buildings. These scholars are recognized for their outstanding achievement this school year. In addition to a Certificate of Recognition, each student received a $50 Amazon gift card to explore their interests.  

            The district also celebrated the commitment to community service demonstrated by its students and staff throughout the year. Under the leadership of Dutch Broadway physical education teacher Deborah Bennett, students and staff across the district participated in several impactful fundraising initiatives benefiting important causes. EETA proudly supports a variety of charitable organizations, including an annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaign and Go Red for Women campaign. Thanks to the remarkable generosity of the school community, EETA raised $8,505 for the American Cancer Society and $5,750 for the American Heart Association. In addition, Dutch Broadway hosted its 13th annual Building Homes for Heroes Walk-a-Thon, raising an impressive $14,226 to support the organization’s mission. 

Attention turned to the staff, as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Administration Dr. Johane Ligondé recognized the employees moving on to their next chapter of retirement. 

“Together, they have contributed an extraordinary 233 years of service to Elmont. That is absolutely worth celebrating,” Dr. Ligondé said. “Elmont is absolutely better because of each and every single one of you.” 

The retirees are: Clara H. Carlson Principal Stacia Walfall, Covert Avenue Assistant Principal Valerie Donoghue, Bibiana Carrera, Carmela Correale, Maria Lobascio, Patricia Loeffler, Sheryl Turk and Marie Rogers. Covert Avenue Principal Alison Gunn spoke on behalf of Mrs. Donoghue, who served the district for 31 years, and Clara H. Carlson Assistant Principal Richard Mansfield and Jamaica Square Civic Association President Claudine Hall spoke on behalf of Mrs. Walfall, who served the district for 26 years. 

“Throughout her remarkable career, she has helped shape the fabric of our school community through her leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to children,” Ms. Gunn said. “Throughout the years, Mrs. Donoghue has worked in nearly every school in this district, building strong relationships, supporting students and staff, and becoming a source of unmatched knowledge and experience.”

“Mrs. Walfall, on behalf of everyone whose life you have touched, congratulations on this incredible career,” Mr. Mansfield said. “We wish you nothing but happiness, health and wonderful adventures, but in the words that you say to your students every single day, ‘You are amazing. You are important. You are awesome. You are intelligent. You have a future. You have served your purpose. You will always be needed and always be loved.’”

Additionally, 23 teachers received tenure as a testament to their excellence, perseverance and steadfast commitment to the students and families of Elmont. Each tenure recipient was introduced by their building principal with kind words and compliments shared. Those receiving tenure are Cara Augugliaro, Emily Avila, Stephanie Balsamo, Juliana Brito, Kelly Connor, Daniell Dorsainvil, Rachel Felix, Jessica Ferer, Gianna Giovanniello, Eric Gonzalez, Jennifer Jiminez, Christopher Johnson, Corinne Joyce, Taylor Kellogg, Richard McBane, Brittany O'Keefe, Allison Rattoballi, Janine Schwendemann, Alyssa Strype, Kayla Tierney, Katrina Truglia, Jacquelyn Walker and Breanna Washington. 

 

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