Bay Shore High School hosted a Cultural Exchange Program workshop along with its special guest partners, West Islip and Kings Park. Sharing the process and its message of "breaking down walls and building bridges" was the idea of Peer Support Advisors Jim McGowan and Shannon Handley. The program has proven to be so successful that they decided to extend the opportunity for development to other school districts. Over fifty students and staff members from fifteen school districts attended the workshop that included the program's genesis, an overview of the process by Social Worker McGowan, and additional comments on the program's value by West Islip Principal Ken Hartill. A panel presentation included Peer Support leaders Dr. Robert Matouzzi (West Islip) and Brigid Cruickshank (Bay Shore Alumnus/ Kings Park). Student representatives from all three schools related their Cultural Exchange visit experiences as well as their strong support of the program's objectives and outcomes. "Reaction paper" booklets were shared with the visitors so they could read about the exchange's impact from a number of additional students. Questions from the audience were fielded by the panelists and the entire morning proved to be a positive and motivating experience for all participants. School districts began to make connections to arrange for their own paired exchange programs. They will schedule visits to each other's schools, begin with ice-breaking activities, partner up and sit in classes together, and at the day's end, share stories, reactions and pizza. Subsequently, reaction papers will be submitted by all students and shared with their exchange school.

Special guests of honor included Mr. Jonathan Stocker of Islip Town Anti-Bias Task Force and Ms. Denise Williams of the Suffolk County Executive's Anti-Bias Task Force. In 2006, the Bay Shore-West Islip Peer Support Helpers won the Suffolk County Anti-Bias Task Force Award, presented by County Executive Steve Levy, for their collaborative efforts in building cultural bridges of respect and understanding, helping to dispel preconceived notions and perceptions of neighboring schools and communities. "It is profound in its simplicity," Mr. McGowan's words…an easy program to arrange with far reaching consequences. Bay Shore High School is pleased that other school districts will duplicate this worthwhile initiative.