Contest brings out the beauty in Merrick

Children squirmed and wiggled in their seats as they waited to walk the stage at Harold D. Fayette School to receive their awards in the annual Keep A-Merrick-A Beautiful contest.

The poster and essay contest has challenged students’ creativity for more than 40 years in the North Merrick and Merrick elementary school districts. The contest emphasizes environmental protection and community involvement. This year’s theme was “Living, Loving, Laughing and Learning in A-Merrick-A.” Children explored the important roles that education and kindness play in keeping the environment clean.

“LIVE your life in a clean fun way, and plant some flowers each and every day!” wrote Old Mill Road fifth-grade winner Hayley Lennon. “Help stray animals. Give them water and food.”

Parents flocked to their children and snapped photos of them as they received awards from Feller and the rest of the Board of Education and teachers. The contest accepted students’ work from kindergarten to eighth grade.

“In school we learn so many things and make a lot of friends, it’s so interesting at school and the fun here never ends,” wrote Old Mill Road fourth-grade winner Fiona Wong. She explored education in her winning poem. “Faculty and staff teach us great things, like how America broke away from the king.”

Each student explored different ways of expressing their yearning for a cleaner and kinder Merrick through poetry and storytelling. Third-grader Kaylee Wegener used the alphabet to tell a story, writing, “A-Merrick-A is a beautiful place to live and be happy. Beautiful Place to be in the world. Carnivals are fun. Dunkin Donuts is good for my lucky sugars.”

The Keep A-Merrick-A Beautiful committee, including superintendents Dominick Palma and Feller, review each submission. One winner is chosen from each grade in all six elementary schools in the Merrick and North Merrick school districts. The contest marks Feller’s last as he prepares to retire on June 30.