At a regular meeting of the Levittown Board of Education held last Wednesday, members of the school board, together with administrators, took time to recognize and thank all the schools within the district for their assistance following the World Trade Center disaster.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Herman Sirois told those in attendance, which included representatives from each school together with their teachers, how much their help was truly appreciated.

"It was very important," Dr. Sirois said of how well teachers handled the situation, "especially the days immediately following the Sept. 11 attack. [The teachers] made our children feel safe and let them know that school was a safe place to be."

The school board, together with Dr. Sirois and other administrators, personally recognized each school individually and thanked representatives from each school for their efforts. Robert Davis, assistant superintendent for instruction, read a brief synopsis as to what each school did to contribute to the relief effort and to help other students get through the tough times following the tragedy.

Davis explained that among the activities students from Abbey Lane participated in included making cards for the rescue workers and sending them thank yous. In addition, the students sent snacks to those working at the Ground Zero site in Manhattan. Students at East Broadway donated thousands of dollars to various funds, including the Levittown Island Trees Emergency Relief Fund (LITE) to help in the relief effort. Students also made cards to the rescue workers and created a mural to show their thanks and patriotism. After making posters and cards for rescue workers at Ground Zero, students from Gardiners Avenue were told by a local clergyman that some of their posters were hung at the site in Manhattan. The students also made cards that were sent to hospital workers and recovery victims in city hospitals. Students at Northside made cards and wrote letters to rescue workers, in addition to raising hundreds of dollars for a widows and orphans fund. Students also took all the money they raised during a traditional fundraiser, which totaled approximately $2,000, and sent it to a relief fund. Lee Road students helped in the relief effort by selling baked items, patriotic pins and shirts to raise money to donate to various relief efforts. The students raised thousands of dollars. Students at Summit Lane wrote letters and made cards for rescue workers, in addition to raising money for relief efforts. The students also established pen pals across the country and communicated with them, telling them how things were in New York as opposed to the rest of the nation. The students also created a flag for the Levittown Fire Department. Middle School students at Salk participated in a number of fundraisers, including a car wash for a local relief effort, to help a local family who suffered as a result of the tragedy. Students also placed candles around the flagpole at the Levittown Fire Department. Students at Wisdom Lane Middle School raised thousands of dollars which were donated to the Levittown World Trade Center Fund. They also decorated their school with red, white and blue and had parts and supplies sent to rescue workers in Manhattan. Students at Division Avenue raised over $15,000 for the relief effort and distributed the funds in various ways, including establishing a scholarship for a local student who was directly affected by the tragedy. To raise the money, students participated in a number of activities including holding a car wash. In cooperation with Big Brothers Big Sisters, students were able to send five trucks filled with supplies and donations directly into Ground Zero to help rescue workers. MacArthur High School students sent truckloads of supplies to the rescue workers at the World Trade Center and raised a lot of money to help in the relief effort. In addition, students held an emergency blood drive coordinated by them and the school district in an effort to help those in need. Students at the LMEC's technical center helped raise supplies for rescue workers, in addition to sponsoring a food drive and holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in an effort to raise money for the relief effort. Davis pointed out that since many of the students who attend LMEC come from outside school districts, many of them spread the word back at their home schools and were successful in establishing fundraising efforts there.

Davis and members of the board recognized that students throughout the district participated in other efforts, including setting up lemonade stands throughout the neighborhood and holding candlelight vigils. Dr. Sirois noted that the district is incredibly proud of the students and thanks them for their efforts.

"It's very heartwarming to know that our children led the way, our students show how united they are," Dr. Sirois said of the students' efforts to raise money following the tragedy, referring to the district as a family.

"On behalf of the board and district, I would like to thank all the students and faculty for their extraordinary work," Davis concluded.