As part of the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” program, Great Neck South Middle School held its inaugural “Relay Field Day.”
Fundraising for the Relay Field Day was done individually by students, and by grade with the selling of $1 fundraising cards.
The PTA donated $100 and three $50 Amazon gift cards to the highest fundraising student in each grade. The PTA also donated festive balloons and ice pops for the event. Two school clubs, Student Organization Community Action (faculty advisor is Linda Musmeci, mathematics teacher) and Student Organization Service (faculty advisor is Frank Bua, social studies department head), donated money towards the dunk tank activity. The clubs also donated the huge arch of welcoming balloons. Collectively, over $12,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society.
Relay Field Day began with a kick-off ceremony in the auditorium at which cancer survivors Margo Christofer, health teacher, and Claudia Re, science department head, spoke to students about their experiences with cancer. The Relay for Life program also raised awareness about skin cancer prevention.
The weather was glorious for the Relay Field Day. On the athletic field/track, students, grouped by grades, engaged in a variety of activities including tug of war, pizza box relay, and dunk tank, where Principal James Welsch was dunked over 10 times.
The eighth-grade Peer Leaders (faculty advisor is Ryan Nadherny, guidance department head) played an integral part in running the Field Day events. Thanks are also due to parent Spyro Dimitratos and Peter Mamais, owner of North Shore Farms, for donating lunch for the Peer Leaders.
Throughout the Day, Thomas Williams, district audio-visual technician, provided invaluable assistance working the sound system and various microphones.
Main organizers for Relay Field Day were: James Welsch, principal; Gina Cartolano and Gerald Cozine, assistant principals; Jennifer DiPalo, health department head; Cathleen Dnyprowsky, physical education department head; Catherine Graybosch, librarian; Mr. Nadherny; and Audrey Rudin, office staff.
