Shaw Ave. School holds night of thanks

Students, staff and administrators at Shaw Avenue Elementary School took time to say thanks last week, as the school held its first ever “Gratitude Night” to honor members of their community who have worked to benefit the school and its students.

The May 28 event was the brainchild of the school’s student council, according to Allison Hammond, a Shaw Avenue teacher who helped run it. She said students were inspired to expand the annual “Week of Gratitude” that has been held for years.

“Every year in our classes, we talk about the people we are thankful for and what we’re grateful for, and the students in our student council came and said that they wanted to do even more with that idea,” she explained. “So we got together as a group and talked about who we were really thankful for here in this community, and talked about ways we could thank them and show them what they mean to us.”

The result was Gratitude Night, which honored more than 20 individuals and organizations that impact the school and the village. Students, both on the student council and from the student body at large, as well as parents, teachers, staff members and administrators, submitted nominations for honorees. The nominations included teachers, PTA leaders, veterans, village officials and more.

“We really wanted this to be a diverse pool of people who were nominated,” Hammond said. “We wanted to thank people in all walks of life, from those that help our children while they’re in school, to those that make their home of Valley Stream a better place, that may not always get their due.”

Antoinette Hessing, president of the school’s PTA, was among the honored. She said that being nominated for Gratitude Night was a special thrill.

“I was so excited when I found out about the night, and that they wanted to include me,” she said. “It was so humbling, and it is really nice to know that your impact is noticed and is valued in a community.”

Village officials and employees were also recognized. SallyAnn Esposito, director of the community center, Jaclyn Kunz, children’s librarian at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, and Mayor Ed Fare were among those honored, as was the village’s Sanitation Department and other officials.

Fare said he was proud to be honored individually, but that the night took on a special significance when other members of his administration were honored as well.

“It really was great to be recognized tonight, whatever the reason, but what is even better is to see so many parts of what we do as a village recognized as well,” he said. “We have a great group of people working for our residents and they really deserve the thanks.”

Kunz said that being honored by the school felt validating, as she spends most of her time as the children’s librarian gathering resources and planning programs for students around the village to enjoy.

“I was nominated by the PTA, which was an absolute honor,” she said. “I work so closely with them and I have such respect for the work they do. Having them as an organization pick me out like that was unbelievable, and I really appreciate it.”

Hammond called the night “a celebration” of the hard work done throughout the year by students and the honorees. It began with a display in the school’s gymnasium, in which students made displays and posters to show what they were thankful for. The school’s student council performed a song for those in attendance, followed by a dance performance by the Zumba Club.