Families from Diane Meyerer's first class at Franklin Avenue along with her family are establishing an award in Diane's name to be given to graduating students from Franklin Ave.
The award will be called the Diane Meyerer "Buddy" Award. This is to honor a woman who had an incredible vision and belief in the goodness of children and their ability to demonstrate compassion and acceptance of everyone, no matter what their abilities might be. She instituted the "buddy" program and hundreds of kids benefitted from that not only the one's in Meyerer's classes. In the buddy program, students were paired with other children with special needs.
"Diane changed a generation of children one at a time," Franklin Ave Elementary School teacher Regina Zito said.
This award will be presented to children who are moving out the Communication Disorder class and to a girl and a boy "Buddy."
Each child will receive a plaque, a savings bond, and their names will be engraved on a perpetual plaque that will will be displayed in a prominent location at Franklin Ave. The selection of the recipients will be made by the Franklin Ave. principal and staff.
Checks can be made out to: Pearl River School District (memo Diane Meyerer fund). Please send payments to the Pearl River School District, 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, New York, 10965.
Wtih any questions, call Carol Dyer at (845) 920-8145.
