On February 11, twenty-one former Stewart School Quest students presented hard-bound copies of The Birth of Stewart School to the Garden City Library and Stewart School Library. This book represents the entire award-winning research project which the students completed in 2007. These students used primary documents, such as 1937 School Board minutes, actual blueprints and many archive papers to create this research project. The Board of Regents and the New York State Archives selected these students as the recipients of the 2007 Laura and Robert Chodos Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical Records. They were honored at a luncheon in Albany.

The award-winning students, pictured here with (center, left to right), Stewart Quest Teacher Mrs. Dolores Volpe, and Garden City Library representatives Ms. Kelly, Ms. Barbara Grace, and Ms. Margaret Cincotta, now attend Garden City Middle School, but were thrilled to see their efforts on behalf of their elementary school bound as a beautiful, full-color book.

"We did one large project together," commented Daniel Fortino, "then worked on the others individually." Sixth grader Emily King created three pages for the book. "I researched the library windows, the principal's office and the art room. I thought it was really interesting that most of the features from 1937 still exist." Classmate Morgayne Rix agreed, "Our school is so modern, but where the gym is, people would gather to watch movies."

If you are interested in Garden City history, you are certain to enjoy this valuable resource now housed in the Garden City Library and Stewart School Library.