School News: Students Exploring Trip to West Africa To Build School

The following was prepared by the East Hampton School District. 

East Hampton School News, 3/13 to 3/21

East Hampton High School

Last Tuesday, March 5, the first meeting with BuildOn, an organization that builds schools around the world in underprivileged areas, was held in Priscilla Campbell’s classroom. Fifteen students will be chosen, out of the 50-plus that attended the meeting, to accompany BuildOn in July and assist in constructing a school in Senegal, West Africa.

There was also a first meeting on Friday to discuss a new school mural, designed by artist Camille Perrottet. The mural will celebrate inclusion, tolerance and diversity, and Kristine Swickard, the organizer, invited representatives from the school’s clubs to help brainstorm ideas.

The freshman class is in the middle of Challenge Day, a nationally-recognized program with the goal to build community and to help stop bullying and alienation. “The overall desire is to make every student feel safe loved and celebrated,” read part of a letter that went home to parents. E.H.H.S. has been holding Challenge Day now for over four years.

Crab races, Bonac Idol, and other wacky fun will dominate when March Madness begins on Monday, March 18. The school-wide event ends with an evening of activities on Friday night, March 21.

Next Tuesday, March 19, Maria Ceballos, social worker for the Suffolk County Health Department, will be coming to provide information about teen suicide awareness for parents and students. The meeting, which will take place in the library at 6 p.m., will be conducted primarily in Spanish; all are welcome.

Deb Mansir, the school-to-work counselor, is still on the lookout for local businesses to sign up for the job fair, which will be held at the school on March 27. If business owners are looking to hire for the summer, but won’t be able to attend the job fair in person, applications can be dropped off with Ms. Mansir prior to the date.

East Hampton Middle School

A sports and bingo night for all grades – featuring activities, food, and fun – will take place on Friday, March 15, in the school gym from 7 to 9 p.m. Parents and guardians are asked to be punctual in picking their students up at the end of the event.

A whole new world takes the stage when the Middle School presents “Aladdin Jr.” on March 20, at 7 p.m. The performance is free and open to the public.

John M. Marshall Elementary School

Friday’s all-school meeting will feature lots of excitement with a short performance by the Harlem Magicmasters, who will play a game against the East Hampton coaches and assistant coaches on March 16.

Kindergarten registration takes place on March 20 and 21, from 1 to 6 p.m. Parents or guardians need to bring their child’s proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or passport, proof of residency (deed, lease, or tax bill), and a complete immunization record.

Friday, March 22, is the PTA-sponsored fourth-grade bowling night. From 6 to 8 p.m. JMMES fourth graders can rent shoes, bowl, eat pizza, and socialize for free as long as they have brought a signed permission slip to school.

Also on Friday night, the PTA, along with Dancehampton, is sponsoring the third annual “Dance Away Cancer” dance-a-thon from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school.  T-shirts will be available for purchase at the event, and all proceeds (the minimum donation per dancer is $20) will go to Katy’s Courage and the American Cancer Society’s South Fork Relay for Life. This year, a new incentive: the dancer who collects the most donations will receive a $250 gift certificate to use toward classes or dancewear at Dancehampton.