STORIES OF IMPACTED FAMILIES

Please forward any story you have to stories@wantaghbudget.com

• Anthony F. - My daughter just finished 5th grade from Forest Lake and will be moving to the Middle School in September. Her Forest Lake experience was wonderful! She participated in Chorus the last 3 years along with before-school intramural sports. My son just finished 2nd grade and has watched his sister sing at the Chorus concerts held twice a year. He couldn't wait to get to 3rd grade so he could finally join band & chorus. When the budget was voted down the 2nd time, when he found out there would be neither band nor chorus he was inconsolable. An eight year old cannot comprehend why this happened.  Chorus, band & orchestra will cost $3900 each for each school.  It is my hope that Wantagh SOS raises the money to cover these 3 activities in each elementary school so that my son can have the same experiences his sister had.
  

• Mary H. - I have a son in middle school and one in high school.  All their activities have been cut at this time.  My oldest is going into 10th grade and already qualified as an All American wrestler in a National tournament this past year.  He's going to camp for 3 weeks this year to improve and he may not be able to wrestle if the sport is not brought back.  My youngest has no activities this year if we cannot bring back middle school activities. 

• Maria D. - I have two children. My son is starting 11th grade in Sept & my daughter is starting 9th grade. Both my children are scholar athletes. As of now, all my daughter's sports have been cut and my son's lacrosse has been cut. My son is starting a crucial year. He was counting on lacrosse to try to get some scholarships but more importantly, he has waited since he can remember to finally be on "varsity". That's what these kids do their whole school career. They dream about someday being on "varsity". Now that dream has been ripped away from my children and they don't understand why. Please do whatever you can to help my children get back what they love to do and what they dream of doing. Thank you....GOD BLESS

• Judy K. - My son is going into fifth grade and will be missing the many wonderful opportunities that our fifth grade classes have historically provided.  He is a sports kid that has always taken advantage of the after school workshop sports, and had been looking forward to am intramurals as a fifth grade highlight. He also discovered an interest in "Brainiacs" last year as an afterschool workshop, as well as Math Olympiads in the morning. He started in orchestra last Sept and didn't think he played his violin well enough, but with the practice in orchestra he was able to participate and do great in NYSMA by spring. Walking through the high school halls and seeing all the kids musical talents from elementary through HS participating in NYSMA made me very proud of not just my son, but all the great talented kids in our community. There was an amazing energy and talent in the air. The idea that band, orchestra, and chorus will not be available to help shape the musical talents in the early years is a tremendous loss not only to those kids, but to the community. All of these great activities together have helped to put my son on a well rounded track for middle school, yet these opportunities will not be available to continue the momentum during his last year of elementary school. In addition, my daughter had tremendous enthusiasm during her first year of high school and became very involved in clubs and activities, that not only helped to start build the college resume, but helped her to grow, explore and make new friendships. The entire dynamics of the high school environment will be impacted; the busy hallways buzzing with positive energy after school will be replaced with the silence of the empty hallways.