Teenagers Carry Message to Jack Abrams School
Who better to speak with a group of elementary school students about appropriate behavior and the value of working hard in class than a group of teenagers who sat at those same small desks not too long ago?
Mary Stokkers and Carmela Leonardi, the principals of Jack Abrams Intermediate School and Huntington High School, respectively, collaborated on a program that involved bringing a group of teenagers over to the Lowndes Avenue school to meet with sixth graders in an effort to improve their behavior, encourage a strong work ethic in academics and athletics and to emphasize the importance of developing strong relationships with the adults in the building.
Ron Wilson, one of the deans at Huntington High School, and a former Jack Abrams School teacher, handpicked students to accompany him on the short trip over to the elementary school. He asked Damon McQueen and Nigel McNeil, who recently won state wrestling championships and track and field league champions and county finalists Luis Lopez, Tyre Brown and Conor Reilly.
“At first they were a bit apprehensive about speaking in front of others when I approached them about doing the presentation,” Mr. Wilson said about the teenagers. “I had to remind them that they weren’t going to be speaking to teachers, but to 11 year-old children who probably knew them or at least heard of them from the district website. As a matter of fact when we walked into the building, they were greeted and congratulated by both students and staff for their recent accomplishments in athletics. So I think that kind of put them at ease.”
This was a completely unscripted performance. “So I told them to just be true and honest and speak of their own personal experiences, both as high school students and as former middle school students,” Mr. Wilson said. “And I must say, they were amazing and did an extraordinary job!”
The format involved having the high school students speak to their younger counterparts in small class groups. After introducing the teenagers and explaining why the visit was organized, Mr. McQueen was the first to speak. “He spoke about how important it was to be respectful to all adults in the building so that you can build a strong relationship with a person who would be more than willing to help you if you are having problems in school,” Mr. Wilson said.
Mr. Brown touched on the need to complete homework and how it affects not only a person’s grades, but could also have an impact on their eligibility for athletics. Messrs. Lopez and Reilly both talked about the importance of developing effective work habits. They discussed how good grades in the classroom and stellar performances on the field or in music or art, may lead to scholarships at the collegiate level.
Each of the visitors included a segment on the importance of proper behavior in school. Messrs. McNeil and McQueen provided an actual example of how when an individual doesn’t behave appropriately, it affects not only that person, but his or her teammates as well.
“At the end of each presentation, the sixth grade students asked some really great questions,” Mr. Wilson said. “Most questions obviously centered on playing sports at Finley and for the Blue Devils. Other questions were related to courses and different programs at Finley and the high school.
The sixth graders were an “excellent” audience said the high school visitors. “They sat attentively and appeared to have enjoyed the presentation,” Mr. Wilson said. “They were fully engaged in a great question-answer session with the high school students. I must say, I think it was a great presentation in which both groups of students left with something. And for me, it was just nice to be back at Jack Abrams working with sixth grade students again.”
Mrs. Stokkers was also impressed with the teenagers and applauded their message. “Being a successful athlete is much more than the winning or individual talent,” she said. “They told the students to make good choices now. Do your homework and keep up your grades so you can enjoy your Finley and high school years. If you don’t pass your classes you might be benched until you improve. You need your education and it starts here.”
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