Eighth graders were hard at work on their first challenge of the year in Natasha Lim’s STEAM class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Sept. 21. After doing research on structural engineering, each student then had to build a tower at least 18 inches tall that could support the weight of a baseball. Their only supplies were newspapers and tape. They learned about different engineering principles and the process followed by professional engineers.

Congratulations to students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School who were inducted in the National Junior Honor Society: Lizette Acosta, Tiffany Asbell, Jayda Barker, Jesus Barrios, Alani Bosse, Kayla Canales Avalos, Melody Cauley, Tae'sia English, Nyla Epps, Paola Flores, Armando Hernandez, April Kenny, Julia McMeo, Alisson Molina Ventura, Luis Moreno, Nathalie Moreno, Janaiya Randolph, Jonathan Ruiz-Chirinos, Janithza Sanabria Mejia and Sasha Urias. The current eighth graders were recognized for their academic achievement and good character.

The Amityville Union Free School District’s meal program has provided a valuable service to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100,000 meals having been served through mid-July.

The grab-and-go breakfast and lunch program provides families with nutritious meals through safe delivery. Meals are pre-packaged by the district’s food service workers at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Northeast Elementary School, and available for pickup Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday and Sunday meals are provided on Fridays, and deliveries are offered to families experiencing illness or with no transportation. 

Assistant Business Administrator Christine Kim said that the meals meet all nutritional guidelines and include items such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen meals are also available because they can be kept longer. 

Ms. Kim said the same members of the kitchen staff that provide nutritious lunches to students during the school year have been working hard to ready meals for the community. They prepare all food with gloves, wear masks and maintain social distancing.

“The staff has been amazing,” she said. “They have not skipped a beat and they continue on because this is an essential program offered to our community.”

At the vestibules of the two buildings, where food is placed for pickup, tables are cleaned multiple times each day and hand sanitizer stations are available. Only one family may enter the space at a time.

In addition to the meal program, Amityville has also partnered with several other agencies, community organizations and businesses to supply additional items for families. Island Harvest provides food once a week at the pickup sites, including perishable items such as meat and bread, and non-perishable goods such as canned vegetables and baby food. The Park Avenue Grill donated family meals and the Amityville Rotary Club supported the meal program with a $500 donation.

The Amityville Kiwanis Club donated $500 in grocery gift cards to help district families as well as 500 coloring books and crayons for children. To support health and safety efforts, the district also received 600 reusable cloth masks from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and 400 packages of disposable masks from Promise for Hope.