"Reaching Out" at Riley During the Holidays

(December 17 - Riverhead, NY) Riley Avenue Elementary School celebrates a year-long emphasis on "Reaching Out" to the community as part of their character education emphasis at the school. Here are just a few of their recent efforts:

Food Baskets
In late November, the Before School program students and adults at the Riley Avenue School completed their 9th annual food drive. They assembled 23 baskets that were given to Riley Avenue families. The remaining food (after the 23 baskets were filled) replenished the entire food bank of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate.


Murals and Caroling
During the month of December, Riley Avenue students conducted their annual visit to the Peconic Bay Medical Center Extended Care Facility. While at the facility, the students and staff hung the murals, made by each Riley classroom, on the hallway walls of the Extended Care Facility. The students and staff also greeted residents and their visit concluded with the third graders singing holiday songs to the residents.

“Helping Hands Project”
Throughout the year, the children in Mrs. Marelli’s kindergarten class and Mrs. Mariotti’s second grade class have joined together for a monthly celebration of their hard work and accomplishments. Since the beginning of the school year, both classes have been learning the importance of reading, along with many strategies and skills needed to be successful and happy readers.

In December, Mrs. Marelli’s kindergarten class and Mrs. Mariotti’s second grade class used their monthly reading celebration to launch their “Helping Hands” project. The two teachers read Shel Silverstein’s book The Giving Tree and used it to inspire their book giving project.

During the first half of December, the kindergarten class and second grade class worked together to collect new or “gently used” books. Each family who participated hung a “Helping Hands” certificate on their “Giving Tree.” They received 189 books! The students in these two classes put them in a gift bag and give the book bags to 33 Riley students/families, who appreciated a helping hand in putting together a home library. With their gift bag of books, these students can enjoy the gift of reading during the holiday vacation.

A Holiday Greeting from Principal David Enos
“These are just a few of our holiday projects. I am very proud of our Riley Family for their efforts to reach out to the community—not just at the holidays—but all year long. Enjoy your holiday!”

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