Veterans are people who most of us have in our lives or have seen on the streets. They are people who sacrificed so much of their own to give us the security and safety we need, and their hard work doesn't go unnoticed. Our project was to team up with some members from the local VFW Post #6249 to help create Buddy Poppy flowers, which are a remembrance of the many Buddies who never returned home from the war. These flowers are traditionally bought as a donation during the springtime and all proceeds go back to our veterans. For this project, we received 5000 individual pieces which had to be sorted, counted, and then assembled to be the final Buddy Poppy flower. We took the time and counted out each petal, stem, wire, and paper into groups of 100, so that they could be put together in a timely fashion. This was accomplished with the help of our own student volunteers, who in their free time, helped us to assemble all the flowers in time for the VFW. Our objective was to be of any service to our veterans, and by helping the flowers get completed, we were able to help out our community and veterans. This project helps to heal our nation's wounds by reminding the American people how on the battlefield real soldiers don't fight because they hate what's in front of them, but because they love what's behind them. We are all Americans, and hopefully we start to see it that way.

Mary Kneisel, Tianna Suppa, Period 8

We decided to assemble COVID-19 packages to offer at John’s Place Homeless Outreach, and the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry at the Mattituck Presbyterian Church. The packages contained masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a Bible. During our time volunteering our time with these programs, we safely distributed the COVID-19 bags, and spoke to the recipients to better understand their personal needs. All the people we talked with felt that their bag strongly addressed their safety concerns.

Our motivation with this project was to offer safety supplies to this group of people and to be sympathetic to their needs. All the individuals that we spoke with were so thankful for being included in our pandemic related outreach. We are hopeful to return to share more supplies and fellowship.

In our Participation in Government/Economics class, we created projects that will encourage unity during this divisive time. Our group planned to make our community a place where everyone can feel included and we felt that we could best accomplish this by teaching the younger students of SWR about bullying and its negative effects. Our group pushed into Mr. Lee’s 6th grade health classes to teach this topic. We explained what bullying is, using real-life scenarios, and discussed how those situations would make the students feel. A video was shown to provide additional insight into what to do when they see bullying happening. We then handed out an Anti-Bullying Contract that we created ourselves and read it aloud to the classes. Students signed them in agreement. We also gave the sixth graders an opportunity to write their names on paper hands and stick them on our poster that displays their promise to be an upstanding member of their community. This poster has been hung in the lobby of the Prodell Middle School.

Isabelle Beyersdorfer, Lilli Minarik, Sam Serio, Kaila Teodoro, Period 5

Through a Sea Cadet color guard presentation coordinated by Olivia Wilcox, local veterans, some of whom fought wars long ago, were honored through a virtual presentation. Many people should not forget the sacrifices of these men and women. Especially now, during a pandemic, some veterans home residents across the state have been in lockdowns. I created a video of a color guard ceremony, which is a flag-carrying ceremony honoring all branches of the U.S. military. This ceremony specifically honored the veterans in this local nursing home to show that they are not forgotten.

This Color Guard was comprised of cadets from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Theodore Roosevelt Division on Long Island. The ceremony was performed remotely to protect the safety of everyone participating, the Color guard and the veterans alike. It was broadcasted into each residents room at the veterans home.

The International Cookbook is an online cookbook for those looking to educate themselves about different cultures. The cookbook is intended for people to discover the diverse foods that you can easily make at home. Together, we researched international dishes from 20 unique countries. Our goal is to educate and enlighten people in our community about other countries' cultures through food. Covid-19 stopped all world travel, but with this cookbook, you can travel virtually, and cook and taste gourmet meals right in the comfort of your own home. This cookbook is for everyone to try, from the skilled to the "newbies". We encourage others to experience the exciting and delicious foods people have created worldwide with our cookbook! Who knows, maybe you will find your new favorite dish!

One of our objectives with this project is to help others taste and see the beauty of other cultures. Thus, we hope to bind the nation's wounds.

Isabella Aspesi, Isabella Sheridan, Period 8

This project focused on finding videos that cover topics such as racism, gender, disabilities, and more. These videos were showcased to the school every Friday during Home Base and were usually 5-10 minutes in length. One example of a video recently viewed in Home Base can be seen here.

Chris Gulino, Period 8

Music is a powerful outlet that has been in the world for generations. We created a music playlist, which is being utilized in Mrs. Mitchell's Mindfulness class. The intention behind this music catalog is to provide accessibility to songs that feature themes related to unity, love, change, and more. The songs can be listened to by any age group, but mainly directed towards high school students and older. The songs are a combination of classics and modern music. All have meaning behind them that we believe are important. We have grouped similar songs together and created anonymous forms with questions corresponding to the songs. This is where people can actually reflect on the music and share their thoughts, or more. We want people to actually listen to the lyrics and the meanings behind them, rather than just sing along to the great songs. Music has the ability to bind the Nation's wounds.

People in this country today are very divided and have not been getting along with each other very well. Our intention is to spread a positive message in our community. Our board is going to be shown in front of our high school for everyone to see. We want people to consider being more positive, whether it's on social media or elsewhere.

Alex Barrett, Davin Casey, Rudy Princi, Period 5

The "Unity Poster" Project has created was a simple, yet powerful way to express how we might be different, but we are all the same. Many people forget that there is life outside their bubble. We are all so concerned about what's around us and how it's going to affect us, but we never take into consideration the “Big Picture”. Everyday, there are events that take place around us that we don’t pay attention to because it doesn’t affect us. However, there is going to be a day when something happens to you, whether good or bad, but the strangers around you won’t pay attention. This poster is a good way to express the events around us that may not affect us directly. It shows the “Big Picture” concept.

Brianna Donnelly, Period 6

The “Positive Quotes” Instagram posted daily quotes with original photography throughout the spring semester of 2021. The goal of this project is to help students find more positivity; especially during these divisive times. You can find their page by clicking the button below, or by searching @swrdailyquotes on Instagram.

Hello all! I’m Jackie M. I was born in Guatemala and have been in the U.S. for two years. The purpose of my project is to answer many of the questions you may have, but are not sure how to ask me. My English is not very good yet, and I think that is why so many people avoid talking to me at school, I’m hoping my presentation will help answer questions about how and why people like me risk their lives crossing the border from Central America.

Did you know that the murder rate in Guatemala is 54%? And that 56% of the people there have jobs that pay less than $4 a day? Also, did you know that crossing Mexico by foot is the most dangerous part of a migrant's trip? You must travel at night, so there are wild animals, snakes, and the Mexican cartel, who you must be careful to avoid. If you are lucky enough to cross the border, then you must survive life in America. Not everyone wants to help you, not even your own people. There are 21 Spanish countries and we don’t all get along. Sometimes, the meanest people are your own kind. Sometimes, you work for a week and the boss decides not to pay you. You can’t call the police, right? I think if you were in my shoes, you would have made the same choice I did. The question is, would you be brave enough to leave everyone and everything behind and take a chance - with the hope that you will survive a three month journey through hell? Young people like me cross the border for many reasons. I think you should know why and then maybe you will see me differently. Maybe even look me in the eyes and say “Hello!”

Jacqueline Mendez, Period 6

Through this video that we created, we discussed how divided America has been over the last 4 years and how racism and hatred have continued to tear Americans apart. One way we can come together as a whole is by acknowledging our differences and bond over the fact that we have one thing in common: we all have something we are passionate about, and we all have something with which we identify. The steps we took to achieve this project's goal was by using the diverse students of SWR as examples. We had volunteers submit pictures of what they identify as and what they are passionate about to give a visual representation of the objective of our project.

We hope our "Unity Through Passion" will help "Bind The Nation's Wounds" by showcasing what every American has in common - that way, viewers can get a clear picture of how and why it is so significant for Americans to unite.

Shiru Mburu, Victoria Mburu, Period 8

When I reflected on the division I witnessed in our country during the election and the siege on the Capitol, I decided to create a project which would encourage students to embrace commonality, versus division. The project consists of two parts: The first is a quiz that can be used in a Middle School classroom. The second part is an exit quiz. The first quiz is a multiple choice quiz, which will calculate answers and assemble them into groups of students who also chose the same answers over a period of time. The main goal for the first quiz is to try and take similar answers to personality-based questions and group kids who have similar tastes/interests in those categories. My hope is that the kids who take the test will be more open to others with whom they share a classroom. 6th graders in Mr. Lee's class will be taking this quiz - because that is the time where you are thrown together with hundreds of other kids and social groups begin to form. If my goal for the test is achieved, then the students who take the test will be able to broaden their group of friends and try to look deeper than the surface. The second part will just be an exit quiz for the students to take. This will gather the information they learned and gauge how effective the activity was for participants.

Dylan Blanco, Period 6

For my Binding the Nation’s Wounds project, I wanted to somehow show the community what makes me happy as an individual. I also wanted to incorporate the Rise students. I am in the peer mentoring art class and it is my favorite part of the day. Those kids are so incredible and everyone can learn from them. So, with all that combined, I came up with the idea to create a class activity where the students were able to participate and reflect. I wanted to give them an opportunity to express themselves through this project, however they wanted. I took five different Disney movie clips and associated them with five different themes in life: love, friendship, acceptance, reaching for your dreams, and believing in yourself. After I showed them the clips, I had them draw or somehow express which clip they liked the most. I hope that at the end of this project, those kids will keep something from this in their future.

Kayla Wilson, Period 2

With the intention to "Bind the Nation's Wounds'' I conducted a food to support those community members who are food insecure. I believe this not only helped those in need, but it also brought awareness to students in the SWR High School about these issues. The food drive was one full week long. During that week, announcements were made everyday during Home Base. Upon completion of the drive, I delivered all collected items to the Trinity Evangelical Church's Food Pantry in Rocky Point.

Ashley Flynn Period 2

In these uncertain times, when the economy is stressed and the needs are many, it is important to remember even the little animals of our community. Through my project, I completed a pet shelter drive and donated them to the Kent Animal Shelter. My goal was to give supplies to the shelter that would help them through the season and keep the animals healthy. The steps I took to achieve the projects goals was setting up advertisement online and around town to gain donations from people. I set up a donation box at my house for said items to be dropped off, as well as collection donations in the form of money to go out and buy supplies for the shelters. Then, after collecting all donations, they were brought to the shelter. I hope that my project will help bind the Nation's wounds by giving people the change of heart to help out around their own community.

Daniel Rose, Period 2

Our first step to starting the veteran garden was to get flower donations from Bakewicz farms and then we got a donation for the American flags that we placed around the flower pots that we planted in. Our goal was to honor veterans in our community by planting the flowers around the big flag pole in front of the high school and adding smaller flags in the ground around the flowers.

Kyle Zahn, Sal Como, Daniel Mercado, Period 8

We created five posters, each focused on informing students and staff about each of the following cultures: Spanish, Zulu, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. All of these posters can be found on the bulletin boards outside of A-Wing at Shoreham-Wading River High School.

Each of these five posters has a QR code attached that will lead you to a challenge based on the culture presented on the poster it was found. Scan this QR code with your camera to participate and send proof of challenge completion to anthony.darin@swrschools.org to win a mystery prize!

Anthony Darin, Jalal Sawas, Period 5

My goal for my project was to collect pet supplies in school to bring to Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter. Especially during these tough times it is important to help businesses in need. My hopes for my project was to help Save-A-Pet by providing them with supplies needed to help better care for their animals in times when donations may have decreased due to Covid.

Lindsey McGrann, Period 2

The project that I developed was a painting of the Statue of Liberty, featuring a collection of various people around her base. I chose this idea to paint for the mural because I felt that everyone needed to feel like they were all together, immigrants included. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes the pride and warmth and freedom of our country, especially during these times where there is a huge rift and divide in our nation. We need to stick together and repair that divide and replace it with a unity that is so very needed in our country. We also must not forget our ancestors that were immigrants, who came to this country who also dealt with hardships to give all of us a better life. The Statue of Liberty also symbolizes repair, since the statue has been repaired and restored over time. Just like the statue, we need to be repaired and restored as a nation united. The statue isn’t just a beacon, it is a part of all of us- it shows us that we all united, no matter our race, gender, religion, age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In the end, we all are Americans - all together in one country that we all call home.

Amy Grohs, Period 2

This bench, left to my family by my grandma, was refurbished out of cedar wood and refinished. It was rotten and falling apart in my backyard when I decided I would refurbish it for this project. I wanted it to say something about unity and binding the Nation's wounds. In order to do that, I burned an image of the 13 stars, representing the original 13 United States of America. I hope that once it is delivered to the district, anyone will come and sit and find comfort on this bench.

Andrew Jantzen, Period 2