On May 26, the Carle Place School District held a districtwide Day of Service to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by fostering citizenship in action. By addressing food insecurity, supporting veterans, protecting the environment and assisting neighbors, students demonstrated that strong communities are built through collective action for the common good.
At Cherry Lane School, students focused on the foundations of care and explored how being a good neighbor is the first step toward being a good citizen. Kindergarten students designed bookmarks featuring symbols of liberty and unity for the Senior Center, reinforcing lessons on respect and intergenerational connection. First graders created pollinator-friendly seed packets tied to their unit on Needs and Wants and the importance of shared natural resources. Second graders used Canva to design “Adopt Me” posters for local animal shelters, connecting their project-based learning on Needs, Wants and Citizenship with compassion and problem solving.
Rushmore Avenue students engaged in hands-on civic projects tied to classroom learning. Third graders partnered with the NOSH Kids Food Independence Program to package food and decorate lunch bags for children facing food insecurity. Fourth graders studied fire safety and created posters after visiting the local firehouse. Fifth graders analyzed the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution alongside the school mission statement to create reflective word clouds for local businesses, bridging national ideals with local identity. Sixth graders partnered with Tunnel to Towers through a walkathon and scrapbook project honoring the families of fallen heroes, and created poems and artwork connected to America’s 250th anniversary.
Middle school students explored democratic participation by completing a U.S. Naturalization Citizenship Quiz and participating in a mock village meeting where they researched issues, considered stakeholder perspectives and presented solutions to a Village Attorney acting as mayor. These experiences emphasized civil discourse, advocacy and informed decision-making.
Additional projects at the middle school level included assembling care kits for the Huntington Senior Center, revitalizing the Seth Katz Memorial Courtyard and planting native gardens. Students also supported the Westbury Memorial Public Library and partnered with Blue Star Mothers to create handmade keychains for veterans, reinforcing civic responsibility beyond government structures.
At Carle Place High School, students engaged in the most expansive and student-driven portion of the Day of Service, selecting workshops aligned to their interests. The day began with a unified assembly featuring keynote speaker Rich “Big Daddy” Salgado, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Coastal Advisors, LLC, who spoke about leadership, service and community impact.
Students then participated in workshops organized around the areas of Honoring Our Veterans; Community Support & Outreach; Gardening & Environmental Preservation; Helping Others & Health Awareness; Creative & School Projects; and Helping Other Carle Place Students. Each pathway combined hands-on service with reflection on civic responsibility and real-world impact.
The Honoring Our Veterans group created welcome-home banners for veterans, hosted a Memorial Day ceremony honoring local service members, and learned firsthand about military service and sacrifice through conversations with veterans during a luncheon. The Community Support & Outreach group created “Birthday-in-a-Box” kits, volunteered with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, prepared meals for families in crisis, served at the Ronald McDonald House, and assisted seniors with technology support.
The Gardening & Environmental Preservation group supported animal care at the Thomas S. Gulotta Wheatley Farms and Art Center, partnered with ReWild Long Island on conservation projects, participated in environmental work at Planting Fields and Garvies Point Preserve and helped seniors with yardwork.
The Helping Others & Health Awareness group visited the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center, attended Maurer Foundation, 2Unstoppable and mental health workshops, and supported animal care at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. The Creative & School Projects group assisted with building beautification and restoring the library courtyard, decorated mosaic stones for Westbury Avenue sidewalks and organized book lockers and donated books to The Book Fairies. Students also created Cards for Kindness and documented the day through photography and videography. The Helping Other Carle Place Students teams visited Cherry Lane, Rushmore Avenue and the Middle School to assist students and staff throughout the day.
Students concluded with reflection on their shared experiences and the meaning of civic engagement. From individual acts of kindness to large-scale initiatives, the Day of Service showed students actively practicing democracy within their community.
The district would like to thank event organizers Dr. Jill Kelly and Ms. Caryl Lorandini, as well as the event’s sponsors: the Carle Place Educational Foundation, Carle Place Civic Association, Student Organization, SEPTA, Key Club, Hicks Nursery, Home Depot, and Edgewood Industries, for helping make the day a meaningful and impactful success.