NECSD Pink Day Recap

Normally on Fridays, we wear Blue & Gold(back), but last Friday, we wore PINK (or any cancer-related color). Photos from families and buildings that were shared with the Communications team can be found by clicking this link. 

NECSD Pink Day Photos | 2023

We asked that anyone attending the NFA Varsity Football game that evening also wear their Cancer Colors in support of a loved one. Faculty & Staff from buildings, Parent Organizations, or Teams and Clubs walked the track in a pre-game ceremony to honor those who have battled and/or continue to battle cancer.

The first “Pink” Day was established by faculty and staff at Heritage Middle School in support of a colleague that was diagnosed with Breast Cancer over 14 years ago. During her fight the staff and faculty would all wear pink. Each year since, we have continued the concept of Pink Day throughout the district to recognize all faculty, staff, and students who are currently battling, survivors, or those who have lost their battles to cancer. Each year, the event recognizes members of our Goldback family who have lost their battle with any form of cancer. We dedicate this day to the fighters, survivors, & those who lost their battles to Breast, Prostate, Skin, Lung, Kidney, Blood, Bladder, Pancreatic, Childhood, Colon, Ovarian, and ALL other Cancers.The annual NECSD Pink Day is generously coordinated by Mrs. Jonelle Santo each year.

The "Pink" Store is still open. This year the proceeds from the store will be going to the Johnny Sileno Wishes for Wellness Foundation. For those of you who do not know, Johnny was a Meadow Hill student who lost his courageous battle to pediatric brain cancer the day after his 6th birthday. Johnny's mom is a teacher at NFA, his sisters attend Newburgh schools, and his dad just retired from the Air National Guard after 29 years. The foundation was set up by his family to help other families dealing with pediatric cancer.

In Memoriam:
Alicia Torres-Diaz Contarino-Alumni*
Angel Arnoldo Monroig-Tirado-Meadow Hill Assistant Principal*
Barbara Hatch Butrick-Teaching Assistant
Danielle Clarino Cotton-Heritage teacher (alumni)
Dawn Lyn Mathieu-Technology Department*
Debbie Nucifore-District secretary (alumni)
Edwin Herrera-Alumni
Ernie McDonald-NFA teacher
Helen Lewis Graziano* 
Hillary Wright-Food Services
James Joyce-SJH & NFA teacher*
JC Gaspard-NFA teacher (alumni)
Jett Diaz (student)*
Joe Galizia-GAMS Teacher
Johnny Sileno (student)
Lillian Cabello-Gardnertown Food Service
Lorraine Santacroce-North, NFA, Temple Hill Teacher (alumni)
Marilyn Halperin-South teacher
Maritza Ramos-Fostertown Principal
Marlene Shafer-South & NFA teacher (alumni)
Mary Larson Strothenke-Gidney Avenue & SMS Teacher
Michael Mack-Alumni*
Nancy J. Brown-Teacher/Physical Therapist
Pasqua (Pat) Weiler-NWS Teacher
Sharon Amoia-GAMS TA (alumni)
Sonya Dixon-Grants Development Specialist
Susan Giza-South & Heritage Teacher
Teneka Patterson-Alumni*
Tony Favino-NFA teacher
Wanda Rivera-Alumni
Xavier Torres (student)
*Added as honorees since our last Pink day.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!