Shown in the photo, Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School students will have their eyes on Suffolk lawmakers this year, sending a message that Every Child Matters. The North Amityville Taxpayers Association (NATA), in partnership with Every Child Matters, once again coordinated the participation of the Amityville Public School District in this year’s Children’s Campaign. Last year, NATA Executive Director Jacquelyn McCullough collected approximately 2,000 hands created by students around the district, with each set bearing the name and age of a child as a message to our elected officials that the needs of the children must be considered. The message for the 2009 Eyes Campaign is: Here are the eyes of children who are looking to all of us, including elected officials, for leadership on issues that affect them.

The artistic interpretations of eyes were completed during students’ art classes and were used for various advocacy efforts throughout the year, such as the nationally celebrated Step Up for Kids Day at the Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures. “We want to send the message that every child matters as the legislatures make their policy decisions,” stated McCullough. “We made a huge impact last year, and with the cooperation of Dr. Williams, Ms. Fernandez, the schools, principals, teachers and students, we expect great things for this year’s campaign as well.”
Shown in the photo, Executive Director of the North Amityville Taxpayer’s Association Jacquelyn McCullough, center, with Northeast students visited every school building in the Amityville Public School District to promote the Children’s Campaign and collect the artwork eyes created by students.
Shown in the photo, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Art Teacher Melissa Cascio, center, proudly poses with two students and their eyes artwork work along with Interim Principal Dr. Regina Cohn and Director of Fine Arts Fran Fernandez.
Shown in the photo, Amityville’s Edmund W. Miles Middle School students were happy to put their artistic creativity to work to participate in the Every Child Matters 2009 Eyes Campaign.