Five Days of "Peace and Good Will" at Phillips Avenue

Photos courtesy of Riverhead Central School District

Each year during the week preceding the holiday break, the Phillips Avenue Elementary School celebrates “Five Days of Peace and Good Will”.

This year’s celebrations, which took place from Monday Dec. 15 to Friday, Dec. 19 included:

• Monday was ‘Hat Day’ and included two presentations on helping others who are challenged by disease or loss of sight. The day included a presentation by Chris Pendergast about his efforts to help those people afflicted with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a debilitating disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. In addition, the students learned about the role guide dogs play in helping the blind and visually impaired people. Barbara Salmiery, the school nurse at Phillips Avenue, brings her puppy in training to work each day.

• Tuesday was ‘Dress Up Day’. All the students received tooth brushes and the day concluded with a Staff Variety Show that featured the arrival of “Dominic the Donkey” accompanied by the second grade classes.

• Wednesday was ‘Comfy Cozy Day’ and the students were encouraged to wear their “sweats”. Wednesday was also a “giving day” and each grade level celebrated the learning they have been doing throughout the year.

• Thursday was ‘Phillips Pride Day’ and everyone wore their Phillips Avenue T-shirts and Sweatshirts. Superintendent of Schools Nancy Carney was the guest of honor at the Assembly and helped pass out approximately 900 books purchased by the PTO. Each classroom sent up a representative to get their bag of books which contained about 25 new books for each and every classroom library.

• Friday was ‘Pajama Day’. The day included a surprise visit and delivery by members of the John Wesley Village who surprised Phillips Avenue Principal Debra Rodgers with a huge collection and delivery of food items to the school’s recently established in-school food pantry.

The final day of ’Peace and Good Will’ concluded with a concert featuring the singer Patricia Shih, whose songs promote both peace and good will. She shared with her audience both her music and ways they “can make a difference” in their own lives and the lives of others.

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