V.S. schools turn 'Lights On for Education'

Hundreds of students, parents and family members streamed in and out of the doors of Valley Stream Memorial High School on April 30, as all four Valley Stream school districts joined for the 54th annual Lights On for Education.

“It really is an all-student event,” said John Squadrito, assistant principal of Memorial Junior High School, who has organized the event for more than a decade. “It’s a chance for us to highlight all sides of education — arts, music, classroom projects — really everything that goes on in our schools. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, even community members without children currently in the districts, can come in and see what our students are doing and how they spend their time.”

The event featured displays and demonstrations from all 14 schools in Districts 13, 24, 30 and the Valley Stream Central High School District. In the cafeteria, attendees had a chance to hear from the Memorial Junior High School music department, as members of the Memorial drama department, wind ensemble and string ensemble performed while parents and relatives took a look at artwork produced by Central High School students. In the gymnasium, students from North High School demonstrated yoga poses, and in classrooms throughout the building, students from around the district displayed projects they completed in math, English, foreign language, science and history classes.

Elementary school students proudly displayed their artwork, including self-portraits, sculptures and paintings, in colorful and diverse showcases in the school’s auxiliary gym and library.

Gayle Steele, principal of the Wheeler Avenue School, said the annual event makes her proud to work in Valley Stream.

“It really is such a great event and a real opportunity for members of our community to come together, not just as a school district, but as an educational community through all of Valley Stream,” she said. “Every grade, every student is working on this weeks in advance. Teachers and administrators put real planning into this and we all work our best to ensure that every student is well represented here… We want our families, our parents, those in the community to see what everyone spends their time working on and the progress that’s being made in our schools.”

Putting the event together is a year-round job for Squadrito, who has already started preparation for next year.

“The first thing I’ll do the day after this year’s event is take out the calendar and start trying to carve out a date for next year’s,” he said. “Then, as we start to move the project forward, I’ll refer to notes I make throughout the night, as I walk around and talk to parents and students. I’ll make notes of what worked well, what didn’t work, and things that we should consider adding in the future ... we basically work to fine tune and plan the event from the day the previous year’s showcase starts, until this one finishes.”

Squadrito said the task of planning such a large event brings unique challenges, such as communicating and planning with districts that each operate on different schedules, ensuring that everything can come together for a cohesive night. All that work, he said, is more than worth it when he sees the pride it fosters.

Parents said they were glad for a behind-the-scenes look at what their children have been up to.

“I think the kids might be even more excited each year than the parents,” said Nancy Mennecke, whose son, Justin, is a first grade student at the Willow Road School. “He’s always pulling me in each direction trying to show me what he’s working on, what his friends are working on, or projects he sees older kids doing and is excited by.”

Liz Meaney, whose son, Matthew, is a fourth grade student at the Willow Road School, said the night is beneficial.

“I love coming every year to see not just his work, but his friends’ work, or what the grades above and below him are working on,” she said. “I think it’s important to display this work not just to let parents see it, but to reinforce the value of it to children. If you take their work and display it, give them a chance to show it off a little, they’ll take more pride in it.”