Schools

Mineola PTA Holds Annual Installation Dinner

PTA members thank outgoing members and welcome incoming officers.

The theme was “rainbow” as members of the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) from each school within the Mineola Union Free School District gathered together Monday night at the  for their annual installation dinner.

Following an evening of food and socializing, members from the various PTA units from the , , , the  and  addressed the crowd to recognize the commitment of retiring members as well as welcome in their newest members.

They also each distributed the honorary lifetime membership awards to PTA members to “recognize individuals for their contributions to the welfare of children and youth” according to the New York State PTA website.

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This year the awards were bestowed upon Hampton Street’s Nancy McCarthy, Debbie Beatty of Meadow Drive and Linda Ramos of the middle school to acknowledge the time and effort they put into the PTA.

The organization also spotlighted the Mineola Special Education PTA (SEPTA), which finally gained momentum this year thanks to members such as co-presidents Virginia Braster and Erin Bertuccio.

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The group, referring to themselves as “the little engine that could,” had members participate in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged, The Buddy Walk and put on a Barnes and Noble fundraiser. They also raised money for Gift from the Heart for Downs, which helped grant a wish to one of Mineola’s own students, giving him an iPad with a communication application.

“Erin and I felt there was a need for a group like this,” Mineola SEPTA co-president Virginia Braster said. “Sometimes you need somebody to talk to, connect with and share experiences with.”

The SEPTA branch of the PTA has grown quickly, currently boasting over 100 members, “probably about 120,” Braster said.

With the Willis Avenue School set to close in September, the PTA also took time to highlight the service of the outgoing school staff – albeit with a heavy heart.

“We’ve done a lot of fundraising this year,” said Cina Ealumvo, a PTA member for Willis Avenue School. “We wanted to have something special, something they can remember.”

The school donated rocking chairs for the libraries at Hampton and Meadow Drive and will be holding a student recognition day on June 20 as one last fun day to leave them with good memories, according to Ealumvo.

The final event of the night was the initiation of the newly elected officers. In accordance with the “rainbow” theme, each section of office corresponded with a color of the rainbow.

Cindy Velez, now a co-president in Mineola High School, explained how individually each person is unique, like the individual colors, but by working together they could create a beautiful and inspiring rainbow.


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