LI schools rally for cancer-related causes, and John Street Elementary honors NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller with memorial bench

Students across Long Island have rallied this fall for cancer-related causes.

Their efforts have ranged from sports fundraisers to wearing gold or pink as part of childhood and breast cancer awareness months in September and October, respectively.

One such effort was at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, where student-athletes wore T-shirts emblazoned with “HFights” in gold letters and socks with gold ribbons during games. The clothing was donated by Huntington-based nonprofit Corey’s Promise, which helps families financially during their child’s cancer diagnosis. The nonprofit is named for 2020 Harborfields graduate Corey Phelan, who died after a six-month battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2022.

“These causes are deeply personal to our school community,” said Rob Franco, director of health, physical education and athletics for the Harborfields school district. “It’s an honor to be part of such meaningful work.”

In Smithtown, High School West’s field hockey team raised $400 through the 15th annual “Play 4 the Cure” game to benefit a memorial scholarship fund created in honor of Sara Long Harte, a teacher at St. James Elementary School who died of breast cancer in 2010.

In Malverne, students at Maurice W. Downing Primary School raised $450 by asking their families for $1 donations to benefit The Mary Ruchalski Foundation, a pediatric cancer research charity based in Rockville Centre.

In Franklin Square, sixth-graders at John Street Elementary School raised $800 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan by donating money to decorate gold-colored paper hearts, which were displayed in the school’s main hallway.

“We hope this fundraiser shows that you’re never too young to make a difference,” said John Street Principal Thomas Riccobono.

BRENTWOOD

New principal

Reinaldo LaTorre is the new principal of Brentwood High School.

LaTorre, who replaced Vincent Autera, had been the assistant principal for Bellport Middle School since 2021. Before that, he was the assistant principal of Bellport High School and the English language arts chairman for Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville.

“Myself being Hispanic, I knew this was a community that I can connect with and support,” LaTorre said. “I am excited to support our freshmen in their first year of high school and continue to mold them to be college- and career-ready.”

FRANKLIN SQUARE

Memorial bench and communication boards

John Street Elementary School recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a memorial bench honoring late NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller, a school alumnus killed earlier this year during a traffic stop in Queens. The bench was donated by the school’s PTA.

“Detective Diller was more than just a name in our school’s history,” said John Street Principal Thomas Riccobono. “He was a shining example of the values we hold here: integrity, bravery and a deep commitment to serving others.”

The school also held a separate ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil two new communication boards featuring 76 cues in English and Spanish — including “climb,” “hello” and “play” — for students who require additional support expressing themselves. They were donated by the H. Frank Carey High School Dad’s Club, a local volunteer group.

MILLER PLACE

New principal

Christine Mangiamele has been named principal of North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place school district.

Mangiamele, who replaced Matthew Clark, had been the district’s curriculum specialist for humanities. Before that, she was the middle school’s assistant principal. She began her educational career as a world language teacher at Miller Place High School.

“I look forward to making a positive impact and working together to create an exceptional educational experience for all our students,” Mangiamele said.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.