By Tom Momberg
David Porter Elementary School in Little Neck is commemorating 100 years, which culminated last Friday with a celebration.
As three fifth-grade students emceed the PS 94 event, each student grade presented a project based on a decade they chose collectively, starting with the year the school was established: 1915.
Kindergarten rang in the next decade by singing the Jackson 5’s “ABC.” First grade chose the 1920s, singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Grand Old Flag,” with the boys in straw hats and girls in the feather headbands that were common among women in the Roaring Twenties and before.
The second grade showed off their knowledge of the 1960s to parents, faculty and staff, dressed for the decade. Students sang “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and put on a Jeopardy game show.
The third grade followed with a PowerPoint presentation on the ’80s and they sang “Walking on Sunshine.”
The fourth grade chose the 1940s, singing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” The girls were dressed as Rosie the Riveter and the boys wore military uniforms.
The fifth grade presented the 1950s by singing “Rock Around the Clock,” dressed in common ’50s fashions.
Teachers and administrators were also decked out in clothing styled by decade, and were joined for the student presentations by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), state Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), City Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside), District 26 Superintendent Danielle Giunta, former Superintendent Anita Saunders and United Federation of Teachers Vice President Richard Mantell.
Most parents had gone to see the student performances the day before the anniversary event to save spaces for others, but Parent Coordinator Linda Courtney said they were thrilled with them.
“We have been discussing this all year, but (the students) have been working on this over the past few months,” Courtney said.
The students had been researching the decades during class, but the musical presentations were coordinated by volunteers in the Dance and Glee Club. Students also had a chance to interview alumni of the David Porter School, and presented old and new school songs.
Avella presented Principal Laura Avakians with a resolution from the state Senate during the event, commemorating the school’s century of success and unanimously adopted by the legislative body.
“For the past 100 years, PS 94 has helped sculpt the bright, young futures of the children who were lucky enough to call this their school,” Avella said in a statement. “The students, teachers, faculty, parents and the entire PS 94 family have truly earned this extraordinary opportunity to celebrate such a prestigious accomplishment.”
Reach reporter Tom Momberg by e-mail at tmomb
