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Vol. 90 No. 6
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Meeting the high school’s top students said. “… I think it’s definitely something I’m very grateful for to have that, like support sysFreeport High School has tem and community here at the named Lourdes Saunders-Blake school.” Popoola, 17, who was born in valedictorian for the class of 2025 and Oluwadamiloju Popoo- Nigeria and moved to Freeport la as its salutatorian — with in 2010, expressed similar sentiboth students demonstrating ments after being named saluexceptional academic achieve- tatorian, with a particular emphasis on family ment, dedication to and heritage. extracurricular “I guess it like activities, and a tightens my pride, deep connection to my background, my their school and c o u n t r y, a n d i t community. makes me so proud Fo r S a u n d e r s to represent NigeB l a ke, 1 8 , b e i n g ria,” she said. “I’m named valedictorialso proud to reprean is a reflection of sent my parents as years of hard work well, because and perseverance. loURDEs “I would just say sAUNDERs-BlAkE they’re the reason I’m here.” it’s definitely nice valedictorian “I guess I wanted to feel like your t o re p re s e n t my work paid off,” she country and prove myself to said. She also emphasized the sup- other people,” she added. Saunders-Blake, whose parport she received from teachers and classmates, recalling the ents both work in academia, moment the top 10 students spent part of her early education in Ghana while her mother were announced. “Just hearing the students, taught at NYU’s campus there. “I think, like everything that and like my fellow classmates and my friends cheering when I do now is really learned in they heard the different, vari- Ghana, whether that is like parous names of the top 10 being ticipating in the arts, doing announced,” Saunders-Blake Continued on page 8
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Reverend checks off 50 years at church Hempstead Town Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, left, with Lorraine Dawley, congratulated Rev. Robert Dawley for his 50 years of continual service to the Freeport Community Church of the Nazarene last month.
Mixed views on Gov. Hochul’s proposal to ban smartphones By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Student smartphone use in schools continues to be a hotly debated subject of debate, revolving around the question of whether the devices are essential for communication, or harmful distraction. Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a plan to restrict phone use in schools statewide as part of her fiscal year 2026 executive budget proposal. If implemented, the restrictions would take effect in the 2025-26 school year. “From parents and teachers to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree
that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. “Using the insights from my statewide listening tour, this comprehensive proposal to restrict smartphone use in schools will ensure that New York’s statewide standard for distraction-free learning delivers the best results for our kids and educators.” Hochul’s proposal cites concerns about the effect of unfettered smartphone usage on students’ mental health. The initiative would prohibit students from using phones and other internet-enabled devices throughout the entire school day — including in classrooms, lunchContinued on page 4
I
would just say it’s definitely nice to feel like your work paid off.