COMMUNITY SERVICE is a major tenet of the Riverhead School District and is part of the District's Character Education Program. Riverhead's students not only strive for academic excellence but also perform many acts of kindness and community service throughout the year. THEY'VE GOT HEART!

     Thank you for supporting Our Schools in their fund-raising efforts!

Three of the most recent fund-raising efforts involved shooting baskets. Roanoke Avenue School raised $4,374.20 and the Aquebogue Elementary School raised $3,800 for the American Heart Association during their "Hoops for Hearts" fund-raiser in their Physical Education classes. The Girls Varsity Basketball Team (League Champs) participated in the "Think Pink" fund-raiser and raised $500 for the breast cancer awareness program. Over 900 schools, high schools and colleges participated in this event nationwide.

The HEART KEEPS BEATING all year long . . .

The next BIG EFFORT is the Relay for Life. Check it out HERE.

The holidays are an especially active time. Almost all of the clubs at RHS and many individuals and departments participate in the "Angel Tree" program initiated by the student government, which helps make the holidays a little happier for needy children. The students in Mrs. Sczczesny and Mrs. Doucette’s Food Prep and Nutrition class at RHS donated their baked goods to one of the many local charities in Riverhead as part of a holiday baking project. Each of the eight classes has five to six kitchen groups for a total of 160 students. Each group chose a baking project and then chose a charity to help them distribute their baked goods. Food drives, Giving Trees and Mitten Trees sprout up in the elementary schools during the holidays providing gift bags of books, clothing and toys and food baskets to families in need during the holidays. NJROTC cadets perform over 300 community service hours a year. During the holidays, they work with the Rotary and the Interact Club to help coordinate a massive food basket program. Elementary school students decorate area businesses during the holidays, make holiday hangings, visit and sing at nursing homes, knit gifts for the elderly, sponsor a clothing drive for Maureen's Haven, write letters and send gift boxes to the soldiers in Iraq and much, much more.

In the spring, students from RHS help plan and implement many of the activities at the annual Relay For Life which annually raises over $200,000 for the American Cancer Society. In 2007, the Middle School raised $8,200 for Relay for Life and got to watch as English teacher Emily Sills got a BUZZ cut as part of a fund-raiser challenge. Principal Debra Rodgers dressed as Lady Liberty and was hoisted to the top of the Roanoke Avenue School building as part of a Relay for Life fund-raiser at Roanoke. The RMS National Jr. Honor Society will soon be out delivering daffodils sold during their annual DAFFODIL DAYS fund-raiser for the National Cancer Society. The RHS National Honor Society holds an annual trivia contest fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital which raised $3,000 at the high school and the Pulaski Street School students participate in an annual Math-a-Thon that is a big fund-raiser for St. Jude's.

In the Fall, an annual Key Club's "Be Homeless" fund-raiser raises money and awareness about the homeless on the East End. The Riley Avenue School works all year long on various community service projects as part of their Character Education emphasis. They have a massive food donation before Thanksgiving.

The RHS Council for Unity is dedicated to providing a safe learning environment for all of the school's students and raises funds for community projects.

These are just a few of the many, many ways our kids show THEY’VE GOT HEART!

If you want more information on how you can participate in or sponsor some of these events, call 631-821-1855, or email the administration or the webmaster sandy.kolbo@riverhead.net.

Thank you for supporting Our Schools in their many fund-raising efforts!