Mangia! 500 Attend Pasta Night at Woodhull

Pasta, pasta and more pasta was on the menu last Friday night, March 12,  as a crowd of nearly 500 turned out for the Woodhull School PTA's annual Pasta Night. It was an evening of food and fun with families filling tables set up in the gym and cafeteria and Italian-themed music piped in over the sound system.

"We start planning Pasta Night around November," said parent Christina Plant, who chaired the event for the PTA. "We start by gathering a committee of sixth grade parents, soliciting raffles and asking for food donations."

Sal Baldanza of Mr. Sausage donated the food, Critic's Choice Deli contributed the salad and Cardinali Bakery generously provided cookie dessert trays for each table. The combined donations along with nearly four dozen different raffles, allowed the PTA to generate a profit of more than $4,000 to support a variety of activities.

About 90 sixth-grade students assumed the roles of waiters and waitresses, jotting down orders at each table, returning with large trays and serving the various dishes. "The teachers train them in how to look appropriate, how to talk to their guests and how to carry the tray and take orders," explained Mrs. Plant. 

Woodhull sixth grade teachers worked in the kitchen, filling the plates with food and pouring out drinks at tables stocked with refreshments. Organizers were more than pleased with the turn-out, especially since the date was moved after a snowstorm led to the postponement of the dinner a few weeks ago.

Woodhull PTA President Karen Dwyer cited "tradition, dedicated parents, generous business and great teachers and aides" for the continued success of the event. "We transformed our little school into an Italian Restaurant! Red, green and white was everywhere!"

Proceeds will be used to defray PTA expenses associated with the school yearbook, Medieval Times field trip and sixth grade luau dance. The sixth graders seemed to enjoy helping at the event and assuming a share of the responsibility for coming activities.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the dinner. One of the unique aspects of the event is that it's a sit-down affair as opposed to a buffet. "We eat as a Woodhull family," Mrs. Plant said. "It is an important rite of passage being a Woodhull sixth grader. It teaches the kids to help with fundraising for their own activities."

In addition to Mrs. Plant and Mrs. Dwyer, the core planning committee included Bari Fehrs, Anne Gunthner, Jen Hebert, Kathi Hoffman, Julie LaBella, Janet Rojas and Alice Marie Rorke.

"The evening went so well and it's also a great 'real world' learning experience for the students," Mrs. Fehrs said. "Every Woodhull student looks forward to this sixth grade right of passage and hopefully it will continue for many years to come."

The menu featured pasta with butter, baked ziti, penne a la vodka, baked ziti with meat sauce, salad and, of course, Italian bread. An extravagant assortment of cookies was placed on each table.

"We start decorating the gym the second the last gym class leaves for the day," Mrs. Plant said. "We transformed the gym and cafeteria within an hour with flowers donated by Main Street Nursery and authentic Italian music. All families have a table reservation and their waiter/waitress gets to work as soon as they are seated."

Most of the raffle baskets were geared for students. "Some of the favorites were the hermit crab, the goldfish with tickets to Atlantis Aquarium and the sports baskets," Mrs. Plant said. "The grand prizes were all donated by Woodhull families; Knicks tickets, a golf club, a night at the Marriott Marquis with dinner in the city and a Ninetendo DSi."

Teacher aide Richard Signorelli once again provided key behind the scenes assistance, helping everything run smoothly. Anthony Barresi, a retired district principal was on hand to work in the kitchen. His wife, Christine, is a Woodhull sixth-grade teacher.

Several members of the Huntington School Board were in attendance along with Assistant Superintendent who won one of the raffle grand prizes.

"Everyone had fun," Dr. Giani said. "It was a great night."