Northwell Health Pays a Special Visit to Valley Stream 24

Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Valley Stream recently visited Brooklyn Avenue School in the Valley Stream 24 School District to see its “Sponsor a Classroom” initiative in action, celebrating the meaningful impact of this year’s donations on students and teachers. During the visit, students expressed their gratitude and demonstrated the new skills they’ve gained thanks to the program’s contributions, which aim to enrich learning and enhance the overall classroom experience.

Through generous fundraising efforts, LIJ Valley Stream fulfilled the wish lists of two dedicated Brooklyn Avenue School educators: fourth-grade teacher Leigh Tamburello and kindergarten teacher Joanna Walbrecht. Board of Education Vice President Markus Wilson, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Unal Karakas, Building Principal Dr. Scott Comis, and school staff visited the hospital in September to collect more than a dozen boxes of much-needed supplies.

Ms. Tamburello’s classroom received a robust collection of instructional resources, including a Cricut machine, essential school supplies, birthday prizes, and other tools designed to boost student engagement and creativity. For Ms. Walbrecht’s kindergarten students, LIJ Valley Stream provided early-learning materials such as a puppet theater, a kitchen playset, and additional hands-on items that support creativity, social-emotional learning, and imaginative play.

“We are very grateful for this collaboration, which truly reflects the power of strong community partnerships,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Unal Karakas. “Our Board of Education recently approved these generous gifts from Northwell at its business meeting. By working together with our community partners, we are able to provide resources that expand opportunities and empower our students to succeed.”

The Valley Stream 24 School District continues to prioritize strong community relationships that support educators, strengthen instruction, and ensure every student has access to high-quality learning experiences. The district extends its sincere appreciation to Northwell Health’s LIJ Valley Stream for its ongoing commitment to the community and its investment in student success.

For more information about Valley Stream 24, please visit the District’s website at https://valleystreamschooldist... and ‘like’ our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VS24S... #MakeTheConnection #VS24 #InnovatingOurFuture