New Hyde Park Road School students are encouraged to “stay on T.R.A.C.K.” (Try, Respect, Accountable, Cooperate and Kind). Positive behavior and good deeds are rewarded with Mighty Bucks, as the school’s mascot is a mustang named Mighty.
The students can then spend their Mighty Bucks in the school store to buy various items, such as erasers, stickers, pens, bubbles, Play Doh, bookmarks, keychains and more. Students can also purchase experiences, such as a 15-minute chat with either Principal Denise Connolly or Assistant Principal Colleen Topping, helping with morning announcements for a day and lunch with a teacher, among other activities.
The store, which is open once a month in the cafeteria, is run by students from Kelly Warch, Cynthia Hazelton and Denise Murphy’s classes. As the store clerks, the students are each responsible for a table. They help their peers with the pricing of items, take and count the Mighty Bucks, and assist with shopping. The store allows the students to build their communication skills and practice responsibility.
