Portledge School Student Recognized By Nassau County Legislature
October 29, 2009
(Locust Valley,N.Y.)-Jessie Sarkis, a 10th grade student at Portledge School in Locust Valley and a lifelong resident of Long Beach, New York, has been awarded a citation from Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford (Fourth District), recognizing Jessie’s efforts in her 2009 Annual Backpack Drive. The Legislative Proclamation reads, in part, “Education and extra-curricular activities have long and well served our young people to develop strength of character through teamwork, guidance, study, practical experience and other aspects of life that nurture growth.”
States Portledge Director of Admissions, Susan Simon, who also serves as Jessie’s advisor, “Jessie exemplifies the creativity, independent thinking and problem-solving skills that are at the foundation of the Portledge experience. We are very proud of her sense of citizenship and the example she sets for other students in the value of giving back to the community.”
About Jessie’s Annual Backpack Drive
With the support and camaraderie of her mother, Diane Meyers, Jessie has worked on the annual summer event for three consecutive years, beginning in 2007. According to Jessie, “In the beginning, the project just seemed like a shopping trip to buy backpacks and school supplies. Everything changed when my mother and I went to distribute the first batch of backpacks at the Martin Luther King Center on Riverside Boulevard in my hometown of Long Beach, New York. I had an emotional response and this is when the project really meant something to me. The children who received the fully-stocked backpacks have hard working parents, yet the cost of backpacks and school supplies is often beyond their means.” Jessie adds that she and her mother and dear family friend Loye literally sit on the living room floor each summer, stuffing the bags with highlighters, pens, pencils, notebooks, pocket folders, crayons and other school essentials.
Philanthropy Is Generational
Jessie “inherited” her philanthropic spirit from her mother and maternal uncle, Peter Meyers. Meyers and friend Kevin McCarthy are the well-known Long Beachers responsible for the annual Long Beach Polar Bear Swim, benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2000. Jessie is a sweatshirt salesperson on the day of the annual event. Every year a different sweatshirt design is offered in varying colors for Polar Bears and their fans. Jessie is moved when she speaks about the upcoming Kelly green 2010 sweatshirt, which is dedicated to her aunt Magee Webster who succumbed to breast cancer this past summer.
A Student Whose Education Extends Beyond The Classroom
In addition to the backpack drive and maintaining an A average, Jessie is involved on the Portledge campus with a number of extra curricular activities including treasurer of the Green Team, a club dedicated to making Portledge a greener community; mock trial; and the school’s Earth Day celebration. Jessie is an avid tennis player at the Long Beach Tennis Center, enjoys debate (perhaps she will follow in her mother’s footsteps as an attorney), and recently co-wrote an article on the 10th grade class trip to the Chewonki Campground in Wiscasset, Maine to be published in the school newspaper, Portledge Press.
As the Citation states, “Often times there emerges an individual, group or organization who has the ability, compassion and dedication to effect a profound and lasting impact on the groups, issues and organizations with which they are involved.” States advisor Simon, “This is our Jessie.”
About Portledge School
Portledge School is a diverse and inclusive community that inspires students to realize their individual potential, learn critical academic skills, develop moral courage, and prepare for further learning and global citizenship. At present, Portledge enrolls 400 students in pre-nursery through 12th grade. There are 80 full-time and three part-time members of the faculty. Through all three divisions, Portledge prides itself on strong student-teacher relationships, awareness of the development of young children and adolescents, and the structure and support that enable students to take the risks and build the confidence to meet high expectations of scholarship and citizenship.
In May 1965, the trustees of the AKC Fund, Inc. gave sixty-three acres of the Alice S. Coffin estate, Portledge, and all the buildings on this land, to the adjoining Miss Stoddart’s School for the purpose of establishing a coeducational college preparatory day school. Portledge is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the New York State Association of Independent Schools, the Council for Spirituality and Ethics in Education, the Green Schools Alliance, and the College Board. Portledge has its absolute charter granted by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools, and is registered as an approved, accredited secondary school by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.
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