34 Years Strong: Harborfields’ Black History Celebration Honors Legacy, Inspires Students

GREENLAWN, NY — The Harborfields Central School District came together for an evening of reflection, celebration, and community on Feb. 5 as students, staff, and families marked the district’s 34th annual Black History Month program, themed “34 Years of Black Commemoration.”

Primary school students opened the program by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a musical performance from middle schoolers Emily Norton, Alanah Delvois, London DelVecchio, and Anjali Rampersaud, who sang both “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Manning welcomed attendees and set a thoughtful tone for the evening, which was guided by Master of Ceremonies Monique Keith-Golding alongside student co-hosts Giovanna Waller and Jaliyah Victor.

The highlight of the night was a tribute to Harborfields alumnus and educator Jeff Shade ’88, who will retire at the end of the school year after 32 years of service to the Black History Celebration Committee and the Harborfields community. Tribute speakers — including OMS Principal Maribeth Corr, OMS Assistant Principal Robert Hendrick, Director of Technology and Security Systems Mary-Lynn Karpenske, Jennifer Ahrens, David Hsiao, and Harborfields alum Eli Johnson — shared reflections on Shade’s lasting impact on generations of students. Shade delivered the evening’s keynote address, speaking about the opportunities Harborfields provided him both as a student and an educator while underscoring the importance of history, legacy and continued growth.

Student performances and readings filled the program with energy and inspiration throughout the night. Washington Drive students, joined by teachers Melinda O’Donoghue, Nicholas Coppola, and Dominique Lemieux, performed “Hall of Fame” by The Script. Thomas J. Lahey students, under the direction of Marisa Drzewiecki, presented Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.” A Mr. Shade-themed Kahoot game led by Daniel Barrett added a lighthearted moment of fun.

Poetry and musical tributes continued with OMS students and the evening’s co-hosts reading Langston Hughes’ “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” followed by high school student Katleynne Figueroa sharing her original poem, “Still Writing.” Student bands Running Statues and the Atomic Pandas performed Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire,” respectively. Former student Ashley Deronvil also delivered a personal favorite performance, while ninth graders Abby Kelly and Alani Spence sang “For Good” from Wicked.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Danielle DeLorenzo invited the planning committee to the stage, thanking them for their collective efforts in bringing the event to life. As a final tribute, the committee presented Shade with a custom Harborfields “32” jersey commemorating his years of service to the district.

The celebration closed with a shared sense of pride and appreciation, ensuring that both the evening and Shade’s legacy will continue to resonate throughout the Harborfields community for years to come.