________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Free prom attire for students
MSSN earns top safety award
Boosting reading engagement
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Vol. 28 No. 16
APRIl 16 - 22, 2026
$1.00
Porczak inspires youth through art it’s so important for their development.” Porczak said she believes Dorota Porczak, an artist that fostering creativity helps and the owner of Great Play- children build confidence and a time Daycare in F ranklin sense of accomplishment. Square, has managed to merge She also discussed the joy of her love for art with tailoring her early childhood edumurals to suit a cation, inspiring variety of settings. kids to creatively “I’ve painted everyexpress themselves. thing from business Po rc z a k , 3 7 , a spaces to newborn native of Franklin nurseries and even Square, has taken teenagers’ rooms,” on a variety of she said. “Some peoartistic endeavors, ple ask for cartoon including painting characters, others murals featuring want animals or popular cartoon beach scenes — characters for chilwhatever fits their dren’s rooms and vision.” local businesses, This versatility often customizing has helped her the themes based on build a strong repuwhat her clients tation in the comwant. DoRotA PoRczAk munity. Her artistic work artist and owner, In addition to her especially extends mural work, PorcGreat Playtime to her role at the zak collaborates on Daycare f a m i ly d ayc a re, the comic series where she enjoys “Phil the Pig,” introducing children to cre- which she began illustrating in ative activities. 2019. She explained that the “We do lots of arts and series follows a family of crafts,” she said. “I’m passion- anthropomor phic pigs who ate about helping kids explore “look like actual pigs, but they art and become comfortable walk on two legs, and they expressing themselves because Continued on page 7
By HAIlEY FUlMER
hfulmer@liherald.com
M
Photos courtesy Elmont Union Free School District
Reading partnerships build literacy and community Dutch Broadway School’s Pick a reading partner celebration roared through three vibrant weeks, turning pages into portals and families into reading partners. With a Subway Reading Race theme, students tracked minutes, wore creative outfits, and dived into stories at assemblies, read-alouds and a buzzing literacy night. Highlights included a virtual library trip, Read Across America festivities, a lively book fair and a young author’s inspiring visit. The program culminated in a dazzling Multicultural Night on March 12, honoring the community’s rich diversity. Story, more photos, Page 5.
y dream is to keep blending art and education, inspiring kids to express themselves through creativity.