At our recent Board of Education meeting, we were thrilled to recognize three exceptional groups for their active involvement within our district and community over the summer.

Thank you to Walt Whitman High School’s Tutor Cats volunteers who were recognized by the Board of Education for their impactful work with our youngest students K-5 over the summer months. The program’s initial purpose to strengthen comprehension and close achievement gaps in reading created by the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed into something so much more. Now in their third successful session, Whitman’s Tutor Cats continue to create meaningful learning experiences as mentors and role models for our youngest wildcats.

We were fortunate to acknowledge current and former Project Excel students for their workforce involvement over the summer months as well. Project Excel is an all inclusive academic program for students in 5th-10th grade that provides social and emotional support, mentoring, community involvement, and experience with employment. Students were awarded this evening for demonstrating the essential skills for employment success, working collaboratively with their peers and supervisors with a great willingness to learn and for taking on responsibilities with persistence over the summer.

We had the privilege of concluding the meeting with the recognition of local businesses in support of our ESY Vocational Program. Thank you to The Gap, Five Below, Countrywood’s SHIP program, Stew Leonard’s, Party City, Wild Cat Camp, Kerber’s Farm, Applebee’s, Chili’s, Ace Hardware, South Huntington Library, The Baking Coach, Willis Hobbies, Tropical Smoothie, Mike’s Custom Kuts, Gregory’s Coffee, and Elijah Farm for providing real life work experience for our Life Skills students. This unique vocational program is designed for students to learn through on-site and real time job coaching so they are ready to enter the workforce upon graduation. We are grateful to the businesses within our community for allowing each of these students to thrive and gain such valuable experiences.

The Board of Education, alongside program coordinator Elizabeth Weis, thanks Walt Whitman High School’s Tutor Cats volunteers for their impactful work with our K-5 students.

We were fortunate to acknowledge current and former Project Excel students for their workforce involvement over the summer months.

We are grateful to the local businesses within our community for helping our Life Skills students gain valuable work experiences.