Acts Of Kindness Connect Families To Community, School And Home

On a brightly sunny March 7, 100 families from Hicksville Public Schools were provided parking spaces at the Broadway Mall to complete a chalk drawing, the culminating event of a three-week grades K-12 Kindness Challenge. The event was made possible by a collaborative effort involving the Hicksville Council of PTAs, the Broadway Commons Mall and the Hicksville Public Schools.

BroadwayMall 033121A 768x1024 1 — Chalk the Walk organizers: Hicksville Council of PTA President Erin Guida; Amaka Oweazim-Muir, senior marketing and business development director for the Broadway Commons Mall and Broadway Mall General Manager Ken Hamilton, took a moment for a photo at the March 7 event that welcomed 100 families from Hicksville Public Schools.
(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

“On behalf of the Hicksville Council of PTAs, it was an absolute pleasure to partner with Broadway Commons to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness within our community,” Council of PTAs President Erin Guida said. “It was wonderful to see parents and children making special memories together while simultaneously supporting our local businesses and thanking our Hicksville Heroes.”

BroadwayMall 033121G 1024x690 1 — Nassau County Police Officers attended the March 7 event and distributed footballs to the students.(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

“It was great,” said one member of a Hicksville High School chalk drawing team. “It brought us all together—something we have not been able to do for a year because of the pandemic.”

BroadwayMall 033121D 1024x680 1 — Hicksville High School’s team won the Best Secondary award at the Chalk the Walk event. They all agreed it was a fun event where they could work together on a large project after spending a year apart due to the pandemic.
(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

Younger artists said it was fun and that they learned about color blending as they made the blank parking spaces come alive with color and messages of kindness.

BroadwayMall 033121H 1024x680 1 — The Thank You cards created by Hicksville’s students during the Kindness Challenge were presented to PSEG Long Islad crew members by a student and Legislator Rose Walker (center).(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

Many thanks to the Broadway Commons Mall for supplying the parking spaces, a bag of chalks, $10 gift card and a blanket to each of the participant groups. And to the Nassau County Police, Hicksville’s Fire Department, PSEG Long Island workers, Legislator Rose Walker, members of Hicksville’s school board and a representative from the Safe Center, who attended to support the students and accepted the Thank You cards the students created.

BroadwayMall 033121K 1024x698 1 — Students displayed a few of the dozens of diapers and sundry items donated by the secondary students and the Hicksville Council of Teachers to the Safe Center, a local women’s shelter.(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

Congratulations to all the Kindness Challenge Chalk the Walk students and their families who truly believe that acts of kindness can change the world.

BroadwayMall 033121M 1024x733 1 — This group of students won the award for “Best Theme” in the Chalk the Walk contest.(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

Here are the contest winners:

Most Unique
Crista Sara Saji, from Woodland

Best Elementary
The Fernandez Family from Old Country Road

BroadwayMall 033121F 1024x689 1 — The Hicksville Fire Department raised a pumper truck ladder during the event to the delight of the Chalk the Walk attendees.
(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

Best Secondary
Lily Wagner, Saamia Hassan, Jasmine Roldan & Riya Jassi from Hicksville High School

Best Kindness Statement
Suha Latif, Alexa Gomez, Ruby Dias & Prisha Dass from Hicksville High School

The PTA Council of PTAs and the school district would like to thank the following for their support of the Kindness Challenge:

BroadwayMall 033121E 798x1024 1 — Sisters Abigail and Daniella from East Street Elementary designed a beautiful heart surrounded by rainbows and kindness messages at the Chalk the Walk event.
(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

PTA Presidents:
– Cindy Garcia from Fork
– Alyssa Fiorese (and her daughter, Jordana) from SEPTA
– Mary Ospina (and her son, Mark) from East Street
– Sharon Olivares from Woodland
– Eileen Chen from Old Country Road
– Annette Beiner from Hicksville High School & PTA Council
– Christine Weih – from PTA Council

DJ:
Robert Shapiro from Unforgettable DJ

BroadwayMall 033121N 1024x859 1 — Broadway Mall Marketing Director and “Chalk the Walk” judge Amaka Oweazim-Muir (right) presented a special award for “Judge’s Pick” to this family at Sunday’s event.
(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

Special Appearances:
– Chad Wyman, Supervisor of Fine Arts
– Stephanie Sullo, HCT President
– Laura McConnell, OCR Principal

BroadwayMall 033121B 1024x680 1 — These Fork Lane sisters designed a beautiful “Be Kind” message in their parking space.
(Photo courtesy of Hicksville School District)

– Brenda Judson, Board of Education Vice President
– Carla Hoene, BOE Secretary

– Irene Carlomusto, BOE member
– “Ed” LI Crewman from PSEG
– Elizabeth Flagler – Head of External and Internal Communications for PSEG
– Debbie Lyons, Director of the Child Advocacy Center from the Bethpage Safe Center
Police Officers:
Giudice, Lovelace, Oswald, McCartin, Ragolia and Rothwell
Firefighters:
Chairman Dwyer, Vice Chairman Merk, Commissioner Ofenlock, Commissioner Mulligan, 1st Assistant Chief Moskas, Lt. Niemczyk, Captain LaRosa, Firefighters Granville, Han and Shah

—Submitted by the Hicksville School District