Garden City High School principal, Nanine Cuttitta, announced that the high school is partnering with the Central Property Owners' Association (CPOA) to pilot a Junior Ambassador Program. The goals of the pilot program are to introduce students to the unique form of government that has guided Garden City since its inception 140 years ago and to promote active, civic participation in our community.

In October, two students (one junior and one senior) will be selected to participate in the pilot program. The students will be assigned a mentor from the CPOA and will be expected to attend the monthly CPOA meetings and an occasional Board of Trustees' meeting. They will also attend a meeting of the various Village Commissions and CPOA special events.

The Junior Ambassadors will be encouraged to participate in the meetings they attend and to offer their points of view on Village issues. They will be asked to share their experiences with fellow students by contributing articles to the school newspaper, The Echo, the CPOA Newsletter, and other media including local newspapers and websites. Students will also report their reactions and progress to their respective social studies teachers.

Applications will be available on the social studies home page http://highschool.gardencity.k12.ny.us/departments/social_studies/ beginning September 6, 2009. Hard copies of the applications will be in the high school main office and the social studies office (room 147).

The application deadline is Friday, September 25th. All applications must be submitted to Ms. Jeanette Balantic, Social Studies Coordinator. A selection committee comprised of GCHS and CPOA representatives will review the applications. Students will be notified of the committee's decisions by Friday, October 2nd.