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For students, a greener L.I., tree by tree ence and biology classes in high school that trees were dying across Long Island, but particuAmong the mass of tents and larly in the Bellmore-Merrick booths at the Bellmore Street area. Due to both hamlets’ close Festival two weekends ago, proximity to the coast, trees fall attendees may have stumbled victim to storms and the ocean’s upon a small table manned by saltwater. Christopher Prainito and James “We just want to help out the LaSalle, John F. Kennedy High community,” Prainito said. School seniors. They “We’ve been workwere promoting ing on this for a their nonprofit, Stuyear.” dents Giving Trees. Students Giving Prainito, 17, and Trees has gone LaSalle, 16, both through all of the Bellmore natives, necessary steps to are the cofounders become a nonprofit, of the organization, according to PrainiJordan Vallone/Herald which is just getting to, who said it had its start in the area. WitH tHe GoAl of recently attained Prainito, the presi- seeing more trees official 501(c)(3) desdent and treasurer, planted on Long ignation. Their goal and LaSalle, the vice Island, Students is to be able to host president and secre- Giving Trees is in the their first tree planttary, have known early stages of its ing at a nearby park each other since next spring. operation. they were 3. “We do want to do They share a sima big tree planting in ple mission: to plant more trees. the spring,” LaSalle said. “We “If you walk around the local haven’t done one yet because it’s parks and preserves, there are so winter soon. But we want to many uprooted trees,” Prainito maybe get other clubs [at school] said. “Not only are they not involved,” such as the Hope removed, but it would be great to Club. see more trees [standing up].” “We want to collect funds, in Both he and LaSalle said they had learned in their earth sciContinued on page 15
by JorDAN VAlloNe jvallone@liherald.com
Jordan Vallone/Herald
bellmore-merrick ceNtrAl HiGH School District Prep Academy student Keith Mickity could barely contain his enthusiasm as he prepared to head into the water for a surfing lesson.
BMCHSD’s Prep Academy students hit the waves
by JorDAN VAlloNe jvallone@liherald.com
“This is one of the things I’m most proud of as an educator,” said Eric Caballero, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District athletic director. “It’s one of our prouder moments in education.” Students in the district’s Prep Academy are hitting the waves for the first time this fall in Long Beach, taking part in a special program
designed to teach those with physical and intellectual disabilities how to surf. The Prep Academy is a special-education program that aims to give students up to age 21 educational, recreational and vocational experience. Cliff Skudin and his brother Will, a professional bigwave surfer, own and operate Skudin Surf in Long Beach. After trying for years to connect with a local school district, they finally paired up with the Central District.
Cliff Skudin, a phys. ed. teacher at Long Beach High School and president and cofounder of the nonprofit organization Surf for All, told the Herald that the organization specializes in teaching kids with physical or developmental limitations to surf. “It’s very specialized,” Skudin said. “We have a oneon-one with groups — we use specialized equipment” such as adaptive equipment for those with disabilities. Continued on page 4