Students and staff members throughout the Port Jefferson schools helped
spread holiday cheer through festive concerts, toy and food collections
and seasonal carol-grams.
The elementary, middle school and high school winter concerts were joyful celebrations throughout December.
Members of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s chorus delivered holiday
carol-grams to the delight of recipients and onlookers. Their songs of
the season surprised and delighted classmates, teachers, staff members
and administrators.
With the generosity of so many in the schools and community and various
clubs and school organizations, 17 families in the Port Jefferson school
community were gifted with food baskets and other needed items. Members
of the National Honor Society, along with advisers Mary Lacita and
Kathi Galvin, hosted a food fundraiser, which was all donated to the
program run by social worker Kristin Britt. The high school Student
Organization, under the leadership of adviser Gina Fedler, joined in the
giving by creating breakfast baskets for all of the families also.
Along with Port Jefferson Middle School teachers Christina Marino and
Kayleen Everitt, the National Junior Honor Society collected gifts to
donate to children in need as part of a toy drive for the Long Island
Coalition for the Homeless.
“Our goal was to make a difference and bring some holiday cheer to the
families in need,” Ms. Marino said. The students and staff donated a
total of 60 gifts to the coalition.
At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, under the leadership of guidance
counselor Jessica Peterson, staff, students and parents collected toys,
gift cards and other items and worked along with members of the Port
Jefferson Library and Port Jefferson Fire Department to ensure a happy
holiday for eight families with 17 Port Jefferson children in total.