A display of the varied art work of Amityville School District students was exhibited at the Sunrise Mall the week of April 4-10 and featured hundreds of pieces of paintings, drawings, ceramics and glass. The colorful display located in a first-floor store space won acclaim from mall goers, many of whom said they could not believe the work was produced by students.

"It was an absolutely outstanding display and a testament to what our children can do and all the hard work people behind the scenes put in to make this happen," said Superintendent of Schools Brian De Sorbe. "Without the 'guiding light' of our art director, Laura Policar, this never would have taken place."

Policar, who also teaches at the high school, said that she was discussing with the students the fact that their work had been on display at banks and libraries and that they should be proud of what they had accomplished.

"One student said that if we really want people, particularly young people, to see the work we should put it up in the mall because that is where kids go," said Policar. "I thought that was a great idea and sent a letter to the mall about arranging that."

Policar said that other teachers and staff volunteered to be on hand during the exhibition and to answer people's questions about the work. "We have a tremendous amount of talent in our schools and this exhibition gave us an opportunity to show that," she said.

Policar has other ideas and said she'd like to begin an interdisciplinary art program for the entire school and make it an annual event. "I have wonderful hopes and dreams," she said still reeling from the success of the exhibition at the mall. "But they all take a lot of work and a lot of resources so we have to work on that."

Shown in photo at the ribbon cutting ceremony April 1 are, left to right, Michael Cohen, assistant superintendent of curriculum; Dr. Kathleen Corbett, director of human resources; Sunrise Mall general manager Ken Beckmann; Laura Policar, district art coordinator; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian De Sorbe; Dorothy Mac Gregor, art teacher; Melissa Cassavaugh, art teacher and Dr. Scott Andrews, Amityville Memorial High School principal.