Hewlett Elementary School became a mini-New York City on March 25, as students and families experienced landmarks like Madison Square Garden and Central Park. Other rooms in the building mirrored the American Museum of Natural History, Hayden Planetarium and the New York Public Library.
The goal, as Principal Heather Sosnovsky said, was to provide students with background knowledge of places in Manhattan.
“People don’t always get to have these kinds of experiences,” she said. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for families to engage in something fun while creating a learning experience for our students.”
HES NYC originally began in 2024 as the HES State Fair. Like with all building-run events, Vice Principal Reina Hall said it’s about building community. “Their teachers are here,” Hall said. “Volunteering their time to come and build this community together.”
Building on the event’s evolution, it also added another city-inspired area — The Museum of Modern Art. In the auditorium, students displayed artwork inspired by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. Parents could purchase frames for their child’s artwork, with proceeds supporting future events.
On the building’s opposite end, the gymnasium, designed to resemble the Garden, featured banners of retired athletes, along with hockey penalty shots and basketball free throws.
Down on the lower level, the cafeteria tables were set with chess boards. Students could create images using sticky notes and craft balloon animals, inspired by the Central Park Zoo.
In the art room, students sifted through trays of sand in search of toy dinosaur fossils and made fossil imprints using flour. In the library, students used straws and popsicle sticks to construct bridges that mirrored the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. They also colored in pictures including the Statue of Liberty, the Big Apple and the Empire State Building.
Students made constellations using pretzel rods and marshmallows in the school’s innovation lab and created miniature night skies in water bottles using paint and glitter. The last stop, the music room, featured students drawing genie lamps and writing three wishes
Among the families in attendance was Henry King, who has two daughters in the district — third grader Kensly King and second grader Kaylee King. He grew up in the Five Boroughs and said the experience was important for his children’s growth.
“Having an event like this showcasing New York City helps them understand life outside of Long Island,” he said.
Hewlett-Woodmere Central Council PTA co-president Pam Darby, whose son — Jack Darby — is a fourth grader in the district, said the night was a great success. She noted her pleasure for getting the city experience without traveling.
“They did such a good job with all the activities to demonstrate each of the locations,” Darby said. “With the children’s artwork and the framing, they really displayed it as if we were in a museum.”
Sosnovsky said Hewlett Elementary aims to offer interactive learning experiences for students. “We always try to provide our students with these kinds of opportunities,” she said. “Having background knowledge of different places like Manhattan is valuable to a child’s learning, bringing the city experience directly into the school.”
