Don’t Miss Your HERALD — it’s insiDe! ______________
UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Double Dutch competition
Haitian Flag Day celebration
John J. Byrne hosts Family Day
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Vol. 76 no. 22
MAY 28 - JUne 3, 2026
$1.00
Students wear their confidence fashionably
management, said the experience pushed her outside her comfort zone while helping her Two Uniondale High School grow creatively and technically students debuted their original as a designer. For Grier, the event also clothing designs at the school’s inaugural PTSA Knight of became an opportunity to showFashion Show last Friday — a case original handmade work, including a denim fundraiser that skirt she created highlighted student from several pairs creativity, confiof jeans. Like dence and commuSimms, Grier previnity involvement. ously focused mainSenior Kyla ly on altering existSimms and Junior ing clothing before Makayla Grier have creating original long expressed designs for the themselves through show. fashion by altering “I like making a their own clothing lot of statement and showcasing pieces, drawing a their personal styles lot of attention and to friends and famiexploring the crely. The runway show ative side of fashgave both students ion,” Grier said. the chance to create YlAnA GRIeR Her interest in original designs and Vice president of fashion, she present them public- fundraising, PTSA explained, began ly for the first time. with drawing “This was my first time making pieces from designs before she started scratch, from the bottom up,” sketching directly onto her Simms said. “I had an idea on jeans and altering clothing to what to do, but it was a learning create her own styles. Simms said she originally process and it was a fun risk to wanted to model, but often came take — a lot of trial and error.” Simms, who plans to attend up with multiple outfit and Parsons School of Design in the design ideas at once and realfall to study strategic design and
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
I
Lauren Chin/Herald photos
Remembering the fallen The Uniondale Fire Department’s 1st assistant chief, Kevin Hicks, left, and Chief of Department George Martinez with a ceremonial wreath at Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at Uniondale High School. The wreath symbolized honor, remembrance and respect for those who served and sacrificed in the military. Its circular shape — with no beginning or end — represented eternity, continuity and everlasting memory. Residents, veterans and local officials gathered to honor fallen U.S. service members despite rainy weather. Story, more photos. Page 5.
At Grand Ave., ideas turn into talks By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
After months of preparation, 13 students and one teacher at Uniondale’s Grand Avenue Elementary School, in Baldwin, stepped in front of an audience of parents, teachers and the Uniondale Board of Education on May 7 to deliver TED-Edstyle talks about ants, perseverance, favorite characters and their social lives. The showcase, led by Paul Weiss, a pre-K STEAM teacher at Grand Avenue and a TED-Ed Student Talk facilitator, gave students the chance to transform personal passions into public presentations. Students connected “16 Habits of Mind” to their own experiences, from school spirit and being a
middle child of three to raising ants, showing how young speakers can use their voices to reflect on the world around them and inspire their classmates. “Tonight isn’t about being perfect; it’s not about getting every word correct,” Weiss said. “It’s about being real; it’s about growing; it’s about students finding their voice and having the courage to use it.” TED-Ed describes Student Talks as a program that gives educators customizable activities to help students identify, develop and share their ideas. TED-Ed also provides facilitators with curriculum materials that help students discover ideas, develop their talks and share them with an audience. At Grand Avenue, students met weekly in the Continued on page 13
t was night and day from the original audition to what we saw that night. It was definitely a confidence booster.
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