Washington Primary Students Make Impression at Suffolk County Legislative Offices

About 60 students on the Washington Primary Leadership Team went to Suffolk County Legislative offices Tuesday to argue that there should be a traffic signal at a nearby intersection.

Washington Primary kindergarten teacher Debbie Quiles said the students did a great job when discussing their concerns about the intersection.

“My leaders were were incredibly poised when speaking and an extremely attentive audience,” she said. “I received many compliments with regard to their behavior. “

The Leadership Team presented signed petitions supporting the change and persuasive essays written by students to the Legislature.

Washington Primary School sits about 1,000 feet from the intersection of Whitson Road and Park Avenue in Huntington Station. It is difficult for school buses and vehicles to safely travel north on Park Avenue after heading east on Whitson Road due to Park Avenue’s heavy traffic.

Read more about the issue here here:

• Washington Primary Students Want Traffic Signal at ‘Hazardous’ Huntington Station Intersection

Quiles said there won’t be a decision regarding the traffic light for quite some time, but she says a “seed was planted.”

The teacher said she wanted the kids to realize that “despite their young age, their voices can be heard.”

“I also wanted them to know that with determination, perseverance and hard work, anything is possible and I truly believe that they experienced that on Tuesday,” Quiles said.

Washington Primary Leadership Team is made up of the entire fourth grade class at Washington Primary School. Team members practice their leadership skills inside and outside of school.

Images via Debbie Quiles

Photos 1-4: Leadership Team members

Photo 5: (l-r) Fourth grade teacher Vivian Joseph and Kindergarten teacher Debbie Quiles.