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South Side senior runs for Autism Speaks “I’ve been very passionate about inclusivity and have always promoted that within Abbey Brull is lacing up her Rockville Centre and within running shoes to help raise the special needs community,” money for a cause. The South Brull said. “I hope to spread Side High School senior will that message and hope to influcompete in the 2024 United Air- ence others to spread the meslines New York City Half Mara- sage.” Autism Speaks is committed thon in March to suppor t to advancing soluAutism Speaks, an tions for individuals organization close with autism specto her heart. trum disorder and B r u l l , a n av i d their families runner and Girls’ through advocacy, varsity soccer playsupport, research, er, raised more than understanding and $1,500 in donations a c c e p t a n c e. T h e surpassing her fundNational Institute of raising goal. Mental Health “Running is a big defines autism as a par t of my life,” ABBEY BRUll “neurological and Brull expressed, developmental dis“and I love the idea order that affects of raising money to promote inclusivity in the special needs how people interact with others, communicate, learn and community.” Her involvement extends behave.” For Brull, participating in beyond running. She is actively engaged in various clubs and the upcoming half marathon is organizations in the communi- more than just a personal chalty dedicated to supporting indi- lenge — it’s her platform to viduals with special needs and advocate for inclusivity within individuals on the autism spec- the special needs community trum, including her school’s and the acceptance of individuBest Buddies program, the als on the spectrum. Her journey to the starting Backyard Players and Friends and Camp Anchor. Continued on page 20
By DANIEl oFFNER
doffner@liherald.com
Daniel Offner/Herald
South Side student gives back South Side High School junior Ella Burbige, center, was presented with a citation from Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray during the village board meeting on Feb. 5 for generously donating an automated external defibrillator device to the village. Joining them are Rockville Centre Village Trustee Emilio Grillo, Village Trustee Katie Conlon, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley and Village Trustee Gregory Shaughnessy.
Wilson Elementary wins the district’s first-ever Hackathon By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
Teams of fourth- and fifth-grade students from all five elementary schools in Rockville Centre, and their principals, gathered in the Francis F. Wilson Elementary School gym on Jan. 26 for the first-ever KidOYO Hackathon. The competition — similar to the board game Risk — was a series of coding challenges that teams completed in order to claim territory on a map. Teams of eight to 10 students from each school were given 90 minutes to try to conquer as much territory as they could, while their competitors tried to wrest claimed territory away by
offering better solutions to the challenges. Computer programmers from KidOYO, a Long Island-based nonprofit that partners with schools to create coding-based curriculums, judged the students’ solutions to determine the winners of each challenge. The team that conquered the most territory was the winner. “Our students did a great job, not only coding, but determining the actual strategy of the game,” district Superintendent Matthew Gaven said at the Board of Education meeting on Feb. 1. “So we had a lot of high drama and excitement, and I want to thank all of our elementary Hackathon mentors for taking the ‘risk’ of trying Continued on page 12