The HCT’s elementary school librarians guided their RISE students as they participated in the 2014 “Everyone Has Rights” Public Service Announcement contest sponsored by the HCT, NYSUT, and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. Lydia Butler, Betty Thoma, Catherine Altobello, Christine Janda, Maureen Bertolini, Susan Pummill and Jadwiga Slupek were honored along with over 70 of their RISE students on Friday, June 20, 2014 at the Kristoff Theater at the High School.
Former NYSUT Secretary/Treasurer and Human Rights Activist, Lee Cutler, addressed the assembly and spoke of his inspiration to become a humanitarian at the age of twelve. Through videoconferencing, John Heffernan the Executive Director of RFK Speak Truth To Power at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, praised the students for the effort they put forth in their outstanding videos which were each about a different as-pect of human rights. He also commended the librarians for their guidance and dedication to this project.
After the presentation and question/answer portion of the program, the Hicksville Congress of Teachers hosted a luncheon to celebrate the success of this collaborative effort.