A Community Project That’s Making a Splash

Five Koi fish were introduced into the new Commons Pond at Farmingdale High School. This project was made possible thanks to some generous community contributions, including:

• Starkie Brothers for the pond liner
• No Maintenance Decking for the deck boards
• Home Depot for the lumber
• Mr. Kevin Brennan of Bay Shore for the Koi fish
• Mr. Mike Pavese (FHS Security guard) for the concrete blocks
• Intro to the Skilled Trades course for the workforce

The creation of this vibrant oasis of life and tranquility is also thanks to the tireless dedication and passion of Mr. Matthew Hobbes. His dedication to creating this serene sanctuary, often on his own time, deserves our recognition and appreciation.

Learn MORE about our Technology Department's projects. Take a look at The Legacy—a monthly newsletter designed to keep the community informed about hands-on experiences in the shops at both Weldon E. Howitt Middle School and Farmingdale High School.

As the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, the spirit of the Dalers remains vibrant and optimistic. With each passing day, our schools continue to be a place where young minds flourish, friendships grow, and lifelong memories are made. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

Farmingdale’s Enthusiastic Return to Learning

The Farmingdale School District kicked off the 2024-2025 academic year on September 5th. Superintendent Paul Defendini, principals, administrators, and teachers greeted new and returning students and families as they arrived on campus.

Students hopped off the school buses and walked toward their classrooms, reuniting with friends, sharing stories of their summer adventures, and marveling at how much everyone had grown.

The district and its remarkable PTA have organized numerous informative and engaging events for the upcoming fall season to ensure a fantastic beginning to the 2024-2025 school year.

Sixth Grade Orientation was held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, allowing incoming students to get to know Howitt Middle School. The event commenced in the auditorium, where Principal Michael Gavalas introduced students and parents to the school's administration and grade-level team. Discussions covered student schedules, daily school routines, team interactions, and various school initiatives.

Following the orientation, students could walk through their schedules accompanied by a parent or guardian. These guided tours aimed to help students find their classrooms, lockers, and other important areas within the school, giving them confidence and familiarity before the academic year began. During the tours, the school staff and student ambassadors from the "Fun Bunch" were present to assist, offer tips on getting around the school, and address any concerns that new 6th graders or their parents might have had.

After the orientation and tours, many students and parents felt more confident and enthusiastic about the upcoming school year, having better understood the school environment and the available support systems.

WATCH highlights from HMS's 6th Grade Orientation HERE!

Community to Celebrate the Legacy of Gina Pellettiere and Beatrice Ferrari with Special Event Featuring Marching Band

The Farmingdale School District, in collaboration with the Town of Oyster Bay, will hold a special street renaming ceremony on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. This event will honor the late Farmingdale educators Gina Pellettiere and Beatrice “Bea” Ferrari, who tragically passed away on September 21, 2023, when a charter bus carrying 40 members of the Farmingdale High School marching band overturned on Interstate 84 in Orange County on their way to a band camp in Pennsylvania.

“The Farmingdale School District is pleased to share the news of the upcoming Street Dedication Ceremony celebrating Bea and Gina,” stated Superintendent of Schools Paul Defendini. “As the district and the Town of Oyster Bay come together to unveil the new street signs, it will serve as a symbolic gesture of the everlasting impact that educators can have. These signs will stand as beacons of hope and inspiration and will forever honor the extraordinary lives of Bea Ferrari and Gina Pellettiere.”

Event details:

• Superintendent of Schools Paul Defendini will lead the ceremony, which will showcase the Farmingdale High School Marching Band, Dalerettes, and Daler Guard, along with District Officials, the Board of Education, Family Members, and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, along with members of the Oyster Bay Town Board.
• The ceremony will begin at 4:30 pm on the turf field at Farmingdale High School.
• Woodward Parkway at 11th Ave in Farmingdale will be named in honor of Beatrice Ferrari. 10th Ave at Woodward Parkway in Farmingdale will be named in honor of Gina Pellettiere.
• During the ceremony, there will be speeches celebrating Gina and Bea's contributions, anecdotes from those who knew them well, and an exceptional musical performance by the renowned Farmingdale High School Marching Band.
• Attendees are encouraged to wear Daler gear and come together as a community to pay tribute to these exceptional educators, whose influence will continue to inspire future generations.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “We are proud to honor the life and public service of beloved educators, Gina Pellettiere and Beatrice Ferrari. While these amazing women left us too soon, we will forever remember them as caring, compassionate, joyful, and selfless professionals that inspired students to reach their full potential. Their legacy will forever live on in our hearts, as well as at this special place in the Farmingdale community.”

Beatrice “Bea” Ferrari was a dedicated global studies teacher for 36 years, 32 of them in the Farmingdale School District. Despite retirement, she remained involved, joining the high school marching band every year at band camp. Woodward Parkway at 11th Ave in Farmingdale will be renamed “Beatrice Ferrari Way” in her honor.

Gina Pellettiere, known as “Ms. P” to her students, was the longtime band program director at Farmingdale High School. Her profound impact on students through her passion for music and teaching is immeasurable. 10th Ave at Woodward Parkway in Farmingdale will be renamed “Gina Pellettiere Way” as a lasting tribute to her legacy.

In the event of inclement weather, a rain date of October 16, 2024, has been scheduled.