West Hempstead hosts Family Literacy Night

The West Hempstead district’s sixth annual Family Literacy was held on Thursday, Feb. 28, at West Hempstead High School from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for all of the community members of the West Hempstead and Island Park School Districts.

Over 600 community members participated including 200 middle and high school volunteers who worked with the elementary students. The parents were amazed by the quality of the K-12 students’ displays and each child went home with prizes and free books. Characters like the West Hempstead Ram, Winnie the Pooh, Elmo and Blues Clues made the children smile.

The elementary principals and Assistant Superintendent Ann Peluso sported favorite literary characters costumes. The children participated in interactive read aloud activities, games, arts and crafts, and they engaged in conversations with our partners from the West Hempstead Public Library.

Special thanks to ninth grader Kareem Dingwell and West Hempstead High alum Chad McCou for performing on the steel drum and piano to kick off the evening. The students had a great time playing with their teachers and administrators thanks to the West Hempstead PTA, PTSA, SEPTA, National Honor Society, the Boy Scouts, World Language Club, Relay for Life Committee, and Theresa Mc Spedon.

Mrs. O’Farrell, K-12 Director of English, is proud of the way the program grows each year and grateful for the way this voluntarily event is part of our students’ educational legacy and fully aligned with our mission: “lifelong quest for learning.”