Gotham Avenue Students and PTA Brighten Holiday

The PTA and Student Council of Gotham Avenue School again embarked on their annual joint venture food drive. They realize that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner due to financial or medical hardships. They asked each Gotham Avenue child to bring in one canned or boxed food item for the holiday food drive.

The results were excellent. The parents and children collected 18 cases-enough food to provide seven needy families with huge boxes of food fit for a king's meal. This is a good example of Elmont people working to help their neighbors. The entire staff was very pleased with the way the school building again united to support this very worthy drive. Dr. Donna Cooper and Yvonne Richards, PTA co-presidents, and Soshana Pierre Louis, student council president, are to be congratulated on their fine efforts in organizing this food drive.

Gotham Avenue School Spells 'Champion'

On Tuesday, Nov. 25, the children of the Gotham Avenue School sat quietly and attentively while 12 of their classmates participated in the annual school spelling bee. Stacey Cropsey, fifth grade teacher, organized and hosted this annual event. Joann Conran, school librarian, served as the reader and Thomas Mills and Rowena Costa judged the participants.

After a few tense moments, Abhay Nair, a fifth grader, was declared the school champion. Michael Sotalin, a fourth grader was selected as the second place alternate. Abhay Nair will go on to compete in the Long Island Regional Semi-Final Spelling Bee. The other Gotham Avenue super spellers that participated in this event were: Richard Rivera; Shelly Robeniol; Sheldon Jackson; Sheina Banatte; Abhay Nair; Adenike Adewuyi; Jennifer Borgella; Gijo George; Karyn McCormack; Jamel Joseph; Michael Sotalin and Steven LaMonte.

Marshall Zucker, principal, commended all the participants on their superior performance after the assembly. Everyone at Gotham Avenue School is very proud of them.