Curriculum and Pasta Go Together at Flower Hill
A crowd of nearly 300 parents, students and family members turned out for Flower Hill School's first ever curriculum night, which was paired with the always popular PTA pasta night to produce a fun time for all.
Flower Hill teachers created thematic displays outside their classrooms that represented a snapshot of the quality of work their students produced during the year. The large crowd circulated through hallways and carefully reviewed the youngsters' work.
The school's more than 400 students covered an impressive range of subjects. For example, kindergarteners studied Eric Carle; first graders followed the adventures of Flat Stanley; second graders learned about the solar system; third graders observed the life cycle of animals; fourth graders examined New York State and its history.
Parents and other family members enjoyed their tour around the building to see their children's work. The evening also saw Flower Hill students participating in a scavenger hunt to gather information about each grade level's theme. The youngsters were eager to show their displays and their parents were clearly pleased with the variety of work that was showcased.
The PTA's pasta night fundraiser was once again held in the school gym. Mr. Sausage donated a complete pasta dinner to the Flower Hill school community for the evening's festivities. "The food was sold to members of the community and funds raised went directly to the PTA for their work on behalf of Flower Hill students," Principal Marlon Small said. The faculty and staff at the school donated their time and energy to serve at the event.
Parent Tess Higgins chaired the evening for the PTA. "Curriculum night was spectacular," said Laurene Napurano, a Flower Hill teacher aide and district parent. Classes devised ingenious projects and displays. For example, second graders in the class of teachers Lisa Baldanza and Suzanne Guiliani researched the solar system and became astronauts. They wrote research papers on different planets and developed nifty pamphlets. The youngsters were very enthusiastic and had fun learning about Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.
Mr. Sausage has worked with various Huntington School District groups over the years. According to its website, the company is "a family run business committed to providing our customers with outstanding quality Italian foods. Here at Mr. Sausage, we use only the freshest ingredients as part of a time honored tradition of culinary excellence- using recipes passed down through generations. Some 20 years ago, we emigrated from Calabria, Italy, and have worked from the ground up to achieve our dream of providing authentic Italian cuisine in the United States."
Music teacher Dr. Claude Masear led a group of strings performers in serenading pasta lovers with a variety of soothing selections. "This was a special night that saw the entire Flower Hill family come together," Mr. Small said.