Tree Grows With Love And Kindness In Port Jefferson Schools

Press release from the Port Jefferson School District:

Dec. 22, 2022

Members of the Port Jefferson School District’s Peer Leadership Club and International Club visited Edna Louise Spear Elementary School to read to prekindergarten through second grade students.

The older students took turns reading a short book on character education followed by answering questions on the meaning of the stories. The students then broke into small groups to write words of kindness on paper leaves, dip their hands in green paint and decorate branches — all to be added to a large, colorful tree of kindness that will adorn a wall in the school.

The initiative was part of the students’ ongoing Chick-fil-A Leader Academy partnership, which empowers them to put leadership principles into practice through their student-led community service projects. The two Port Jefferson groups joined forces to represent the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy. They have been collaborating on the program’s one million book giveaway project along with advisers Kristin Britt, Jennifer Walling and Melissa Zinger.

The high school students ended their visit with wrapped packages of books for the younger students. Each had a handwritten note encouraging kindness, gratitude, perseverance and more — all to expand the gifts of love and kindness each one of them possesses.

The school district thanks all the students – Brendan Baez, Avery Jean Baptiste, Lauren Calendrille, Lia Donahue, Savannah Florio, Keyth Jeudy, Isabel Nunez, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Kiersten Parmegiani, Dominque Pina, Maya Shand, Lexi Vernuto and Marley York – and their advisers for this successful event.

This press release was produced by the Port Jefferson School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.