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South High names top two senior scholars By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Valley Stream South High School will graduate two students at the top of the class of 2026: Vijay Singh, valedictorian, with a 111.03 GPA, and Alexa Kosinski, salutatorian, Vijay Singh: with a 110.79 GPA. Leadership Both students through learning distinguished themSingh, 17, has selves not only been active in multithrough academic ple academic and a ch i eve m e n t bu t extracurricular also by participatroles. He serves as ing in a wide array captain of South’s of extracurricular varsity Quiz Bowl activities that team, “Its Academenriched the school ic,” and leads the community. school’s mock trial Guidance counteam. In addition, selor Michelle he serves as vice Lope z noted that ALExA KOSINSKI president of the both students are 2026 salutatorian, math honor society composed and and participates in s t e a d y i n t h e i r Valley Stream both the English approach to chal- South High School and history honor lenges. societies. Outside “My vals and sals have been very over- academics, Singh plays tennis. “I’m not sure if it was whelmed, a little bit excitable,” Lopez said. “[Singh and Kosin- always the goal to be valedictoski] are very even-keeled, and rian specifically,” Singh said. nothing seems to fluster them. “But just to be around a lot of I admire that, because I know great people and learn from behind the scenes, they work them, and to just do the right thing, and then that came as a really hard.” Lopez added that the school Continued on page 5
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Stu Goldman/Herald
If only the chocolate versions were this size Seven-year-old Takumi Okita, of Valley stream, got acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny at the village’s annual Easter Goodie Bag Giveaway last Saturday. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Expanding its sleep program, LIJ introduces pediatric care By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital marked an expansion in pediatric health services on March 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a new pediatric sleep program in collaboration with Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Three newly designated pediatric rooms within the hospital’s existing sleep center have been established, and the program officially began conducting pediatric sleep studies on March 20. The initiative had been in development for several months, hospital administrators said.
Jason Tan, the Valley Stream hospital’s president, described the expansion as part of a broader effort to grow services and better meet community needs. The hospital had opened its adult sleep center about a year earlier, with a long-term vision of eventually adding pediatric care. When the opportunity arose to collaborate with Cohen, the hospital moved forward with adapting the space and addressing regulatory requirements. The addition brings a new service to the Valley Stream area, where access to pediatric sleep care has been limited. Tan indicated that the collaboration enables the hospital to offer specialContinued on page 20
provides resources, such as wellness clubs and restorative circles, to support students at all achievement levels, helping high-performing students manage stress while remaining engaged in academics and community activities.
efinitely don’t give up and don’t let a few bad grades or a few bad days get you down.