1 week Ago
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — AHRC James P.
Murphy Staten Island Preparatory School held its second annual autism awareness walk on Friday, with students, teachers, parents and family members participating to show support and raise awareness. Located in the former Our Lady Help of Christians School in Tottenville, the AHRC James P. Murphy Staten Island Preparatory School serves students with special needs.
More than 200 participants marched along the streets surrounding the school, a testament to the event’s growing support. I.S.
34 Assistant Principal Tammy Stancavage and her students cheered on the walkers as they passed. Kristen Taibbi, secretary of the parent-teacher organization, walked with her husband, Anthony, and six-year-old son, Thomas. “The kids are very excited,‘’ said Taibbi.
”Each classroom designed its own banner for the walk. We have pom poms to shake, and we will light up the streets in blue." The parent-teacher organization provided SIP Spirit shirts for students to wear.
The event also featured bubbles, balloons and banners. David Haimovich, principal of AHRC James P. Murphy Staten Island Preparatory School , said most students are on the autism spectrum.
“We’re here to celebrate their achievements and all the great things they’ve worked so hard this year to achieve,‘’ he said. ”Not only their academics, but also their ability to self-regulate their behaviors to be as successful and independent as possible when they enter adulthood.” He said any interested family with a child with an individualized education plan between the ages of 3 and 12 years is more than welcome to send him and his team their child’s information so an appointment can be set up to see if the child would be a good fit for the program.
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