The first female coach in the history of the New York Jets provided words of encouragement to students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Oct. 29. Collette Smith, a coaching intern who worked with the defensive backs during the 2017 training camp, was the keynote speaker to kick off the school’s annual College and Career Week.

Ms. Smith was a professional football player with the New York Sharks in the Women’s Alliance, beginning her three-year career at 42 before coaching. She became only the third female coach in NFL history and the first African-American woman to coach. After her stint with the Jets, she founded Believe N You and serves as a motivational speaker.

During assemblies for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, Ms. Smith encouraged students to believe in themselves and understand that they can accomplish anything they want. She told students her motto, “Making tomorrow better today,” to remind them that the steps they take now can lead them to future success. Working hard in school, treating others respectfully and making healthy choices are among those steps, she said. 

Ms. Smith said that football players, just like students, have homework. They have to study their playbooks to be effective on the field. 

“Her message is so important, that our students can do anything they put their minds to,” said guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci. She added that many students have a passion for sports, and this shows them that there are many career opportunities in athletics.

In addition to Ms. Smith’s speech, each assembly included a slideshow featuring graduation photos of Park Avenue teachers and administrators, to remind students of the end goal. Principal Robyn Santiago said the goal of the program was to boost self-esteem and inspire each child to be his or her own personal cheerleader.

Five students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, along with their parents, participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association PEAK Music Festival. The event was held on Oct. 27 at Northport High School.

Fourth-graders Liana Diaz, Grace Lewis, Sarai Mullings, Morgen Slinger and Kimberly Torres joined their peers from across Suffolk County for a day of musical experiences. Workshops included chorus, folk dancing, musical theater, recorder, ukulele and world drumming. 

The students were chosen to participate in the festival based upon the recommendation of Roxanne Tannenbaum, their third-grade music teacher at Northwest Elementary School.

More than 30 sixth-graders from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School attended the Take A Stand anti-bullying program at Hofstra University on Oct. 12. Students from schools across Long Island took part in the conference, sponsored by Hofstra’s WRHU radio station and Northwell Health’s Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center.

A few students from each sixth-grade class were selected for the program, in which they attended various workshops. Teacher Deborah Ross said the Take A Stand facilitators addressed a serious topic in fun and engaging ways with skits, games and personal discussions. In one exercise, students sat in circles and learned about the “masks” other children often hide behind.

The Park Avenue students will now serve as ambassadors in school and educate their peers about the perils of bullying. The have vowed to not be bystanders if they see bullying taking place, and will stand up for each other. Sixth-grader Tiffany Asbell said she learned how to look out for a bully, as well as how to spot someone who is being bullied, so she and her classmates can help.

Added Nathalia Moreno, “It gives us more confidence to step up our game to stop bullying.”'