On November 8, Clara H. Carlson School’s patriotism was on full display as it proudly hosted its vibrant and heartfelt annual Veterans Day Assembly to honor the brave men and women who have served in the nation’s military.

The ceremony began with the third graders, the Color Guard and special veteran guests entering the auditorium to the timeless tune of Grand Old Flag. Principal Stacia Walfall welcomed an enthusiastic crowd and sixth grader Donavaun Gopie delivered a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.

Each third grade class then took center stage to shine a spotlight on five of the six branches of the U.S. military — the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corp and Army. Their performances of “This Land is Your Land” and “Fifty Nifty” were met with cheers from the audience, and their recitation of the Heroes in Uniform poem brought smiles and applause.

The celebration continued with a moving slideshow honoring veterans, followed by an inspiring reading of the poem Don't Quit by school counselor Jane Dragovich. As the ceremony neared its grand finale, the third graders returned to the risers to deliver a rousing rendition of “Thank You, Soldiers,” before closing with the beloved Grand Old Flag.

 

Date Added: 11/20/2024

On October 16, Clara H. Carlson School proudly joined the nationwide Unity Day movement, celebrating kindness and standing up against bullying.

During morning arrival, students and staff were greeted by vibrant orange bows adorning the pillars out front. Orange is the official color of Unity Day, and it symbolizes a visible commitment to kindness, acceptance and inclusion. The entire school community was encouraged to wear orange attire to spread the positive message. To elevate the excitement, each grade level held a friendly competition to see which class could show the most orange spirit. The winning classes earned a fun, spotlight-worthy shoutout on the morning announcements the following day.

In each classroom, students participated in a heartwarming “chain of kindness” project. They wrote uplifting messages that came together to form colorful paper chains that decorated the hallways with positivity.

Literacy was also infused into the day, as a selection of antibullying books were shared for teachers to incorporate into their lessons. Throughout the day, engaging discussions on kindness and inclusion took place, fostering a sense of community and compassion among Carlson’s scholars.

This inaugural Unity Day celebration came to fruition thanks to the considerate efforts of the Building Advisory Committee.

 

 

Date Added: 10/28/2024

Clara H. Carlson School students and staff paid respects to Mr. Giandonato “John” Orlando, a maintenance worker at the school who sadly passed away last year, with the dedication of a new Little Free Library on Sept. 27. This initiative was led by the Building Advisory Committee.

Mrs. Samantha McNamara led the BAC team to acquire the Little Free Library, which will provide free, donated books to the students at Carlson. With the help of the maintenance and custodial team, the library was installed just prior to the ceremony.

One class from every grade attended the ceremony held that morning. Mr. Orlando’s own family members were also present, with his grandchildren placing the first donated books into the library.

During the ceremony, fifth grader David Latimer read aloud the poem, “I Opened a Book,” and teacher Mrs. DiRe read aloud a tribute. Mr. Orlando’s friend and colleague, Mike Deutch, unveiled the library.

“This Little Free Library is a collective effort, by so many, that will help foster a love for reading,” Assistant Principal and BAC leader Richard Mansfield said. “It is also a wonderful tribute to a man who gave so much to the Elmont school community. I’m so proud of how the school community came together to make this literacy initiative come to fruition.”

Click here to view the Clara H. Carlson School Honors Former Staff Member slideshow.

Date Added: 10/3/2024