Press Releases

Please click on the thumbnails below each article for the full-sized pictures.

Green Footprints Program Comes to Babylon Grade School

Kelsey from the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center stopped by Babylon Grade School on Feb. 1 to teach fourth and fifth-grade students the importance of treading lightly on Mother Nature's creations.

She shared different ways for the students to be more responsible for the "footprints" they leave on the earth in order to continue to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities in the long-term. When the students were asked by Kelsey why they decided to give up their lunch period to learn about "Green Footprints," three students responded that they "wanted to learn about the environment and think about different ways to save our planet." Not only did the students discover the benefits of recycling and the many ways to reduce various forms of pollution, but they also learned about the importance of cutting down on the amount of waste they generate.

According to Babylon Grade School Principal Randee Bonagura, the "Green Footprints" program, which is sponsored by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, is helping students learn to make a positive impact on our natural world.

Babylon Grade School Students Celebrate Black History Month

Babylon Grade School is participating in the "One School, One Book" program to celebrate Black History Month this February.

Each student at the grade school level will read Wilma Unlimited, a book that explores themes of overcoming obstacles, embracing diversity, and having tolerance for others. The book focuses on the true life story of Wilma Rudolph, an African-American woman who overcame social and physical obstacles in the early 1960s to represent the United States in the Olympic Games.

The "One School, One Book" program, which was designed to create a shared reading experience within a single elementary school community, has inspired Babylon students to read both in and out of the classroom, while helping them learn the importance of Black History Month.

"In honor of Black History Month and as part of our character education program, all of our classes will be reading Wilma Unlimited, which is a story about diversity and perseverance," said Babylon Grade School Principal Randee Bonagura. "Students will have the opportunity to learn how people overcame obstacles, and how those triumphs can apply to their lives today."

Students Earn Multiple Honors at Suffolk DECA Competition

Over 100 students from Babylon High School participated in the Suffolk County Regional Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) competition on Jan. 4 at Suffolk Community College, and 48 of them went home as prizewinners.

Eight of the students placed in the top three of their respective events, including first-place finishes by Kerry Glenday (Hotel & Lodging Management), Nick Santorelli (General Marketing), Kelly Corcoran (Retail Merchandising), and Jessica Altieri (Decision Making Marketing). Seniors Kate Wilson (Broadcast Advertising) and Taylor Middleton (Apparel & Accessories Marketing) earned second-place finishes, while the team of Greg Dieterich and Bryan Hubert notched third-place in the Travel and Tourism category.

"Our students represented Babylon well with their professional dress and outstanding behavior," said Claire P. Reilly, Babylon High School's Director of Practical Arts. "Mr. Andrew Marulis and I would like to thank all of our participants for a great day at Suffolk DECA."

Science National Honor Society Lends A Helping Hand

Over two dozen members of Babylon High School's Science National Honor Society stopped by the Memorial Grade School on Jan. 25 to offer Heather Hosek's sixth-grade class advice on setting up data tables for an upcoming science project.

The event, which has become an annual tradition in the District, was arranged by Babylon High School science teacher Melissa Callahan and Memorial Grade School science teacher Heather Hosek, who are also co-founders of the Babylon chapter of the Science National Honor Society.

"The sixth-graders have science projects coming up," Hosek said. "The 11th and 12th-grade honor students came down to give them some directions and tips to work with them on setting up data tables. They're using their expertise that they've been learning over the years, and passing it on to help mentor the sixth-graders with their projects."

The participating high school students were pleased with their overall efforts, as they maintained the National Honor Society's goals of active involvement in school activities and community service, while displaying excellence in the areas of leadership, service and character. "It's important to make sure that kids learn about science and get interested in it," said Olivia Smith, a Babylon High School student and Science National Honor Society member. "By showing them that older students enjoy science, it'll make them realize that it's something 'cool' to learn about, and hopefully they'll want to do it, too."

On The Inside We Are All The Same

Mrs. Shannon Saturno and Mrs. Kim Ricchiuti's third-grade students at Babylon Memorial Grade School learned themes of tolerance, racial diversity, and acceptance last week in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

On Jan. 13, the students "broke a few color barriers" by running a scientific experiment involving brown and white eggs. The children were asked to write about what they thought would be inside each color egg, before finally cracking the eggs into a bowl and whisking them together.

The students ultimately observed that the eggs came in all different shades and colors on the outside, but that they were all the same on the inside, just like people. "During the lesson, we tried to emphasize that although we may look different on the outside, we are all the same inside," Mrs. Ricchiuti said. "Therefore, we should all be treated equally."

Earlier in the week, the students read Mem Fox's Whoever You Are, a book that discusses how children all over the world have differences such as race and gender, but that every child shares a common ground.

Creating Art Through Recycling

Mrs. Stork's art classes at Babylon Elementary School are working hard on building an eight-foot-tall mural made of recycled bottle caps, as part of a lesson on the pointillist technique used by artists such as Georges Seurat.

In pointillism, an artist uses strategically repeated, tiny, contrasting dots and color spots to create a work of art, rather than a more traditional impressionist approach. As an example, Mrs. Stork showed the students an image of Seurat's famous pointillist painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, before work started on the mural.

Stork said she wanted to create a pointillist rendering of the Fire Island Lighthouse because of its iconic nature. "When people think of Fire Island and Babylon, they think of the lighthouse," Stork explained. "Almost everyone in the whole entire school knows it. It's an icon of Babylon.” She added, “A lot of people live at the beach right near it. The main things you would associate with the town are either the train station or the lighthouse."

Teaching students the importance of recycling is another key component to the project, according to Mrs. Stork. "It's one thing to take stuff, sort it, and not do anything else with it, but we're taking stuff that you would normally throw away. We then sort it and make something else out of it.”

Babylon Grade School Hosts Food and Coat Drives

Babylon Memorial Grade School students have been very busy this holiday season. The Student Council sponsored a food drive to collect food for the Babylon Food Pantry. Council members Kristen Szuthy and Meghan Flaugher, third graders in P. Murphy’s class, were among the students who donated food. As Kristen pointed out, “It feels good to be able to help people.”


The Kids Discovery Club, with fourth-grade teacher C. Murphy at the helm, ran a coat drive that received an overwhelming student response. “We received mountains of coats to donate to the local shelters,” Principal Randee Bonagura said. “People were very generous. We collected over 150 coats.”

Kaileigh Ringstad was just one of the students who brought in several coats from home. She was happy to see them going to good use instead of being thrown away.

Not to be left out, fifth and sixth graders held a fundraiser in the cafeteria during lunch to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Children and adults donated 25 cents in exchange for coloring a paper ornament.

Babylon Board of Education Recognizes the Best and the Brightest

At the Babylon School District’s monthly Board of Education meeting on December 12, select students in the district were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. Interim Superintendent Dr. Peter Daly said, “Tonight we are going to recognize some of the best and the brightest walking the halls of Babylon High School.”

First to be honored by the Board, however, was Connor McHugh, a third grader at Babylon Memorial Grade School. At the tender age of eight, Connor has already done a world of good for needy children in the district.

When he was in second grade, Connor got the idea to start collecting recycled bottles, a concept he attributed to his uncle. “My uncle collects water bottles and gives them to needy children,” he explained, “so that got me started.”

Connor began by collecting water bottles from classrooms throughout Babylon Elementary School, an effort he has continued at the Grade School. With the money he raised, he bought backpacks and filled them with school supplies, which he also purchased. He used the third-grade supply list to ensure he was buying the correct supplies for needy children in the district. A social worker at the school helped to distribute the backpacks.

Babylon Memorial Principal Randee Bonagura stated, “Connor is very modest. He doesn’t go around bragging about all the wonderful things he does. He’s an inspiration to lots of kids—and grown-ups, too.”

After recognizing Connor, the Board honored four musicians and three athletes from Babylon High School. Dr. Daly said, “What’s amazing is that these students are not only gifted athletes or musicians, they are also wonderful students. The seven of them have a cumulative GPA of 96. All seven are also All-County musicians or athletes, and a few are even All-State.”

He went on to add, “[Tenth grader] Mikaila Hartigan is an All-County gymnast who has qualified for the New York State competition on March 3. Sisters Julianne and Carolyn Koch are All-County and All-State swimmers, and Carolyn just signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for Division 1 Lehigh.”

Sixth Graders Create Quilt for Historic Home

Sixth graders in the Home and Career Skills classes of Jenna Cucci and Lisa Brush created a beautiful quilt with help from teachers Joy Torrey and Cindy Theiss, who came into the classroom to assist with the project. The Christmas quilt was donated to the historic Conklin House and was raffled off at the end of the annual Christmas House Tour on December 2 and 3. Over $200 was raised for ongoing restoration projects at the historic landmark.

We Love Our Babylon Librarian

Congratulations to Babylon Junior-Senior High School’s librarian Jane Herbst, who was nominated for the I Love My Librarian Award in a national contest sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Exceptional public school, college, community college and university librarians were recognized. Nominated by their fellow teachers, ten librarians received a $5,000 award, a plaque and a $500 stipend to attend an awards ceremony in New York City on December 8.

Herbst has been the BHS librarian for 20 years. Prior to her position in Babylon, she worked in the South Huntington School District. “It feels nice to be appreciated,” Herbst said. “I like working with kids and helping them find what they need. It makes me feel like a detective. I am always telling the kids, ‘Give me a clue so I can help you find the book you need.’ I really enjoy my job.”

Congratulations to Jane on receiving this honor! It’s always good to be loved.

Babylon Elementary Hosts Breakfast with Santa

On Saturday, December 3, Santa Claus paid his nineteenth visit to Babylon Elementary School. Over 300 people awaited his arrival in the school cafeteria, singing “Jingle Bells” when he entered.

Before Santa’s arrival, there was plenty of activity for both children and adults. They enjoyed a bagel breakfast, colored pictures, and took photos in front of various holiday backdrops. They also visited the sixth-grade fundraising fair in the lobby, where they purchased raffle tickets in hopes of winning one of many prizes.

After shaking hands with everyone, Santa posed for photos with the children in front of a beautiful Christmas backdrop. Before going on his merry way, he read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” for all in attendance.

Babylon Elementary Second Graders Celebrate Thanksgiving

On November 23, all second graders in the Babylon Elementary School celebrated the holiday with their own Thanksgiving feast. The six classes began the festivities by entertaining the crowd with several songs, singing under the direction of music teacher Colleen Angerami.

After the performance, student Kaitlyn Kelly spoke about her lineage tracing back to the Pilgrims, most notably William Bradford, the leader of the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. Bradford wrote Of Plymouth Plantation, which is purportedly the single most complete authority for the story of the Pilgrims and the early years of the colony they founded.

The activities concluded with parents, grandparents and students alike enjoying the holiday feast. It was a fun morning for all involved.

Star Swimmer at Babylon HS Signs Letter of Intent

Babylon High School senior Carolyn Koch recently signed a National Letter of Intent to swim for Lehigh University next fall.

According to Athletic Director Michael DeJoseph, Koch is an individual swim competitor representing Babylon. “We had eight individuals participate this fall from grades 7 through 12,” he stated, explaining, “An athlete in cross-country, track, swimming or gymnastics whose school does not field a team in that sport may enter the Section XI Individual Championship if he or she meets the standards established by the chairman of that sport.”

DeJoseph added that Carolyn practices at Half Hollow Hills West High School and competes in individual competitor meets. Babylon provides a supervisor, Kerri Whalen, for all individual meets.

At the NYSPHSAA Championships held at Erie Community College in Buffalo on Saturday, November 19, Carolyn placed third in the 100-yard freestyle and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle. And Carolyn is not the only swimmer in her family - her sister, tenth grader Julianne, placed sixth in the 200-yard freestyle.

Congratulations to Carolyn on her well-deserved achievement!

Get Ready for Man of La Mancha

At the Babylon School District’s November 14th Board of Education meeting, the crowd got a taste of Babylon High School’s upcoming show, Man of La Mancha, after listening to song performances by Babylon High School thespians Matt McLean and Tyler Gumpel.
According to Lisa Drance, director of the school’s theater program, Man of La Mancha will be held on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 at 8 pm, and Sunday, December 11 at 2 pm. All shows will be held in Rowe Hall, and tickets may be purchased at the door. Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for students and $2 for senior citizens. There will be a senior citizen dinner at 3:30 pm and show at 5 pm on Thursday, December 8. Admission for the senior citizen dinner and show is free.

Babylon Students Bag Treats for the Troops

Babylon Memorial Grade School students decided to put their Halloween candy to good use. The children brought in their unopened candy, which student council members bagged to send to U.S. troops in Afghanistan along with hand written letters of appreciation and support.

According to teacher Rita Bartenback, who supervised the fifth- and sixth-grade student council members during the activity, the students assembled 300 bags of candy. Mrs. Patricia Murphy worked with the third- and fourth-grade student council members the day before to bag the majority of the candy. The resourceful idea, initiated by fifth grader Catie H, proved to be a fun school project and a great treat for the troops stationed overseas.

Babylon ES Hosts Thanksgiving Food Drive

Babylon, NY – Babylon Elementary School students brought in food for four needy families whose children attend the school. In addition to these donations, the families will receive a coupon for a turkey and a gift card to Stop & Shop.

Although people are in need throughout the year, witnessing the inpouring of these generous donations lifted spirits and brought a sense of community to the students during this special season.

Babylon High School Students Receive Suffolk Zone Award

The Suffolk Zone Chapter of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance grants an award to one male and one female senior from each school district in Suffolk County. Receiving the award for Babylon High School this year are Maggie Griffo and Greg Dieterick.

The award-eligible senior must have a 90 or higher average in PE; maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in his or her junior year; and display outstanding character, making an exceptional effort to be cooperative, honest, poised, self-confident, attentive, industrious and enthusiastic toward class activities while working hard to support the instructional efforts of the class. The senior must also be described as a leader in class activities; demonstrate responsibility for regular class tasks; serve as an officer in a school organization or club, captain a sports team, and/or volunteer for a support group such as the Special Olympics; and live a healthy lifestyle inside school as well as in the community.

The awards will be presented to the seniors on Wednesday, December 7 at 6:45 pm, at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch and Golf Club in Hauppauge.

Recognition Night Congratulates Babylon Board Members, Athletes

The Babylon School District held a Board Recognition Night during its Board of Education meeting on November 14, 2011. The evening started off on a spirited note with a cheer from the high school cheerleaders, after which high school thespians Matt McLean and Tyler Gumpel performed a song from their upcoming play, Man of La Mancha.

Following these stellar performances, the Board of Education received certificates from Western Suffolk BOCES, the PTA and the PTSA. K-6 PTA President Heather Tenety presented the certificates and thanked each Board member for his or her dedicated service to the school district.

The special meeting also recognized the Babylon Panthers Field Hockey team, who was congratulated for becoming 2011 Suffolk County Class “C” Champions. In light of this accomplishment, Superintendent Dr. Peter Daly noted, “The 2011 team did something incredible: they decided to play a game against Bay Shore, raised $803, and donated it all to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure. The next week they won the Class ‘C’ Championship.”

BOE President Dominic P. Bencivenga said, “Teams are going to win, teams are going to lose. But we raise special kids here. They know how to do the right thing, step up to the plate and help people. At the end of the day, that’s more important than wins and losses.” Added Athletic Director Michael DeJoseph, “This team does it all - through community service, in the classroom, and on the field. They are what all athletes should aspire to.”

Babylon Students Distinguished in Academics and Music

Babylon Junior-Senior High School is proud to announce that seniors Matthew McLean and Adam Marrone have been named Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. Both seniors have earned this national recognition based on their superior scores on the 2010 PSAT/NMSQT exam.

Three outstanding student-musicians have been selected to participate in this year's NYSSMA All-State Conference, to be held in Rochester, NY from December 1-4, 2011. These students are:

Sarah Everitt, French Horn, All-State Orchestra
Juliette Incandela, Cello, All-State Orchestra
Kathryn Oman, Soprano, All-State Women's Choir

This distinction marks them as among the top student-musicians in New York State.

In addition, four students have been selected to perform at the NYSCAME/SCMEA All-County Festival this November:

Matthew McLean, Tenor, Mixed Chorus
Kathryn Oman, Soprano, Women's Choir
Juliette Incandela, Cello, Orchestra
Sarah Everitt, French Horn, Band

Congratulations to these talented students!

Babylon Teacher Named Art Educator of the Year

Congratulations to Babylon Elementary School’s art teacher, Patricia Stork, who has been chosen as the 2011 New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) Educator of the Year for Region 10.

Over the years, Ms. Stork has filled many positions ranging from K-12. She joined the Babylon School District in 2009 as an art teacher, after garnering years of experience as a teacher in the Farmingdale and Commack school districts. She now teaches all of the art classes at the Babylon Elementary School as well as Grade 6 art in the winter/spring at the Babylon Grade School. Regarding her hands-on approach to art education, Babylon Elementary School Principal Dana Basile stated, “Pat is truly extraordinary...she not only keeps the students engaged during class, but she also does enrichment art classes in the building and finds Long Island events to put the children's work in. The latest will be The Colors of Long Island exhibit, which is held in Stony Brook each fall.”

Pat has been an active member of NYSATA since 2003. For the past four years she has been involved with the NYSATA portfolio as an adjudicator, a mentor for students, and an instructor for other teachers. Last year she became the co-coordinator of the YAM workshops in the district. She is presently active in helping with professional development for Region 10.

NYSATA is made up of art teachers from all over New York State. There are ten regions, two of which are Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Each spring, the regions nominate teachers. The nominees must then submit their resumes along with reference letters that describe the actions they have taken to advance art education both in and outside of the schools. Winners are announced in the fall and awards are given out at the annual NYSATA conference. This year, the conference will be held in Tarrytown from November 18-20. Of the ten art teachers who represent their region at the conference, one is selected as the NYSATA Educator of the Year.

Babylon High School Holds Homecoming Festivities

Homecoming festivities at Babylon Junior/Senior High School started on Friday night as the students showed their true school spirit at their pep rally. Because of the rain, the rally was held inside the gym, but that did not dampen anyone’s spirits.

As the crowd of students and staff cheered, eleven varsity teams were announced: girls gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, swimming, cross country, field hockey, soccer and cheerleading; and boys cross country, soccer and football. Babylon’s high school band, led by band director Charles Leech, kept everyone entertained with a number of tunes, and the night ended with the announcement of the homecoming court candidates. A good time was had by all, including Principal Al Cirone and Assistant Principal Steve Goldberg, who were on hand to join students and show their school pride.

The weather cleared up on Saturday morning just in time for the homecoming parade. Community residents applauded and cheered as the parade, led by the high school band, marched through the village’s streets. Each grade proudly marched alongside their float, and the members of the homecoming court were full of smiles and waves for the crowd.

The parade ended at the high school football field, where the varsity football team was ready to take on the Port Jefferson Royals. And boy, were they ready! The Panthers shut out the Royals, 40-0, making Homecoming 2011 a day to remember.

Babylon Comes Together for Breast Cancer Coalition Walk

It didn’t matter that it was dark, chilly and drizzling: Babylon High School students, including many Student Council members as well as other Babylon residents, were on the high school track to walk for the cause.

Throughout the walk, Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition (BBCC) volunteers handed out pamphlets providing information about which plastics were the safest to use, and which fruits and vegetables contained the most pesticides. Student Council members sold cupcakes baked by a Babylon Junior/Senior High School graduate. Monies raised will go toward the BBCC’s education and advocacy programs.

According to their website, http://www.babylonbreastcancer.org, the BBCC was founded in 1993 by three friends from Babylon, after two of them were diagnosed with breast cancer. They decided to try to fight the disease by raising awareness and educating women about breast cancer. This volunteer-driven grassroots organization serves the entire Township of Babylon and now helps those with all gynecological cancers in addition to those with breast cancer. The BBCC provides support to help patients and their families in the community at large, offering educational programs to encourage healthier lifestyles that would decrease the still very high instance of these cancers in our community.

Babylon Students Learn Valuable Fire Safety Tips

Babylon Memorial Grade School students learned about the importance of fire prevention as well as some life-saving safety tips when members of the Babylon Fire Department, which included Chief Tony Cardali, First Assistant Chief Paul Twardy, and former Chief Brad Maier, paid a visit to the school. They “deputized” Principal Randee Bonagura as the “honorary chief of the school, the acting chief of the day,” as former Chief Maier stated in welcoming her to the community.

Maier then shared some important words of advice with the students. “Know your address,” he told them. “Know how to get out of your house. Get the lay of the land. How would you get everyone out of the house? Have a central meeting place. Know your phone number.”

He also emphasized the most important safety precautions for families to take at home. “Every time you change your clocks, change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Those are the most important pieces of equipment in your house. Don’t have too many things plugged into one outlet.” He added, “If there’s a fire in your house, leave the house as quickly and safely as you can. Don’t go back in to get your iPods. Toys are replaceable, but you aren’t. You are all one of a kind.”

Kelly Maier, daughter of the former chief and a firefighter herself, presented several awards for a contest in which the students had participated. Mr. Rossi’s fifth-grade class won for best classroom project. In the poster contest, Mrs. Lang’s class won for the third grade and Mrs. Henderson’s for the fourth. The sixth graders had taken part in an essay contest: first place went to Carson Brennan, second to Regina Branca, and third to Amanda Guerra. After the awarding, the students went outside to see how the Jaws of Life worked as the firefighters removed the door from a car with this special tool.

Perhaps the most visually exciting part of the presentation was when Kelly Maier dropped two melons to demonstrate the importance of wearing protective headgear. One melon was equipped with a helmet while the other was not. The melon with the helmet remained unbroken, while the one without smashed to pieces on the ground. The desired effect of the demonstration was achieved as students reacted to the sight of the melon pieces on the ground. “Please wear your helmets when you ride your bike,” former Chief Maier said. “It’s the law in New York State, and we want you to be safe.”

Babylon High School Recognized as Blue Star School

Twenty-eight students in Mr. Andrew Marulis’s Personal Financing class at Babylon High School achieved 90% or better on the 2010-2011 New York State financial literacy exam administered by the Working in Support of Education (WISE) program. Through the WISE Financial Literacy Certification Program (FLCP), a school is designated a Blue Star School if 75% of the students taking the class pass the certification test with an average score of 80%. These Blue Star Schools are publicly recognized at the Annual MoneyPOWER Conference each November.

In addition, if 90% or more of the students pass the test, the teacher becomes a Gold Star Teacher. Congratulations to both Mr. Andrew Marulis and his students.

A Great Day for a Boat Race

Babylon Junior High School seventh-grade students taking Science 7 just completed an interesting experiment: the Mini Boat Regatta Lab. The classes were divided into three groups, with each group having to create a sailboat using only 100 Popsicle sticks and a small bottle of glue.

Working together, the individual teams brainstormed how they would design their boat’s hull. They had four choices: a flat bottom, a vee bottom, a round bottom or a multi-hull model. They also had to agree on a group name and a name for their boat. All of their work leading up to the big race had to be completed within three class periods.

When the projects were finished, Director of Science and seventh-grade teacher Jeff Kenney’s students competed against the students in Mary Beth Schappert’s class in a boat race. Each group’s boat had 30 seconds to float down the homemade water track, constructed by Ms. Schappert’s father. Two groups, one representing each class, competed against each other until all had completed the race.

Awards were given out in five categories: the longest distance traveled, the fastest boat, the best boat design, the best boat name, and the fastest boat to sink. Yes, to sink. Some of the boats sank immediately upon entering the water. Others made it only halfway down the track before sinking. And some boats sailed easily to the finish line. Each winner had five points added to their lab grade.

In the end, three groups’ boats made it to the finish line: two from Mr. Kenney’s class and one from Ms. Schappert’s.

“Tomorrow, the students will analyze what they did right, what they did wrong, and how they could have made their boat better,” stated Mr. Kenney. “They will see how their boat performed compared to the class average. They will also look at the boats that performed the best and observe what it was about that boat’s design that helped it to win.”

All in all, it was a fine day for a race.

Recognized for Years of Service and Dedication

Babylon School District Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Peter R. Daly continued the district’s tradition of honoring those staff members who have served the Babylon School District for 20 or more years.

Twenty years service recognition was given to: Constance O’Shea, Lorraine Festa, Laura Jayne and Richard Punzone. Donna Cabral, Patrick Chatterton, and John Cooke were congratulated for 25 years of dedicated service. Patricia Murphy and Geraldine Proto, not present, were recognized for their 30 years of service, and Theresa Altieri, though not present, had the distinction of being the only staff member to be recognized for 40 years of service. Congratulations to all.

Up, Up and Away!

Babylon Elementary School students had a wonderful surprise when Liberty Balloon Company pilot Carroll Teitsworth and one of his hot-air balloons paid a visit to their school during their first assembly of the new school year.

“Captain Carroll,” as Principal Dana Spincola called him, was making his first trip to the area, and enjoyed teaching the children about hot-air balloons. The Groveland, New York resident is a 36-year veteran pilot. After explaining to the students the history of hot-air balloons and how they work, the children all got to go inside a partially inflated balloon (known as an “envelope”) inside their gymnasium. Much to their amazement, Captain Carroll explained to the students that when the balloon is fully inflated, it’s as tall as a seven-story building. Even partially inflated, it took up most of the gymnasium.

But that wasn’t the end of this enriching experience. Captain Carroll then led the students outside, where they saw the balloon’s basket—the part of the hot-air balloon that people stand in. Captain Carroll turned on the burners, which are normally used to fill the envelope with hot air, sending it airborne. The children were amazed to see the flames shoot in the air and hear the noise the burners made. Captain Carroll shared that the two burners were as powerful as 150 home furnaces.

It was quite an unusual lesson on hot-air balloons and one the students won’t soon forget.

Babylon Students Start a New School Year

On Wednesday, September 7th, on a rainy morning, the Babylon School District opened its doors for the 2011-2012 school year and welcomed its incoming students. The district also welcomed several new principals: Junior/Senior High School Principal Al Cirone and Babylon Memorial Grade School Principal Randee Bonagura.

Seventh Grade Orientation Eases Way for Students

The day finally arrived: On a beautiful sunny morning, 138 seventh graders, some nervous, many smiling, entered Babylon Jr./Sr. High School for their orientation. Some had been there before with older siblings; many were arriving for the first time.

New Principal, Al Cirone, waited in the lobby to greet them as they filed into the auditorium. Once everyone was seated, parents and children, Principal Cirone introduced himself. “Good morning and welcome to the Class of 2017. I’m glad you’re here. I’m your new principal,” he said. Mr. Cirone also introduced several staff members, including 10-year veteran, Assistant Principal Steve Goldberg. Principal Cirone tried to ease the students’ concerns. “Many of you fear making mistakes. You fear you will feel foolish. We are here for you. It is normal to be nervous,” he stated

He gave them some words of advice. “Keep a positive attitude. Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. This is a difficult transition, from the grade school to the junior/senior high school. It’s a transition from childhood to young adulthood. Sixth through eighth grades are very important because you are setting the foundation for your success in high school and beyond.”

He went on to explain that a great deal will be different for them now. “This is the first time you will be learning in six to seven classrooms. You will now have lockers. You will be responsible for getting to class on time and doing your homework,” he stated. But he said, “Our jobs here are to help you with whatever you need. Don’t be afraid to ask. You just need to worry about yourself and stay on target. Our goal is to create a group of empowered 21st-century students. We hope to inspire in you a passion for learning.”

The guidance counseling center director, Tracy Lesnick, told the students, “It’s an exciting morning for everyone. My son is in orientation for high school now. So I understand your anxiety.” She told everyone “Your agendas are your first step in communication.” She reminded them, “We are here to help you out. Remember: community service is not a chore. Start volunteering now.” Lesnick added, “Reading is so important. Get in the habit of reading.” She asked the parents to lead by example and let the children see them reading as well.

Student Council seniors Adam Marrone, Katie Lydakis and Hannah Wyllie were also on hand to explain about some of the fun activities that the school offers, like Spirit Week, Homecoming, BHS Presents and Powder Puff Football.

Adam Marrone said to the seventh graders, “Don’t be scared. With practice you will get to your classes on time, get your lockers open and learn your schedules. Remember: There is no fourth or fifth floor pool. Get involved and have fun.”

Babylon Goes Back to School

On Wednesday, September 7th, on a rainy morning, the Babylon School District opened its doors for the 2011-2012 school year and welcomed its incoming students. The district also welcomed several new principals: Junior/Senior High School Principal Al Cirone and Babylon Memorial Grade School Principal Randee Bonagura.

Seventh Grade Orientation

The day finally arrived: On a beautiful sunny morning, Wednesday, August 31st, 138 seventh graders, some nervous, many smiling, entered Babylon Jr./Sr. High School for their orientation. Some had been there before with older siblings; many were arriving for the first time.

New Principal, Al Cirone, waited in the lobby to greet them as they filed into the auditorium. Once everyone was seated, parents and children, Principal Cirone introduced himself.

“Good morning and welcome to the class of 2017. I’m glad you’re here. I’m the new principal,” he said.

He introduced several staff members including 10-year veteran, Assistant Principal Steve Goldberg.

Principal Cirone tried to ease the students’ fears. “Many of you fear making mistakes. You fear you will feel foolish. We are here for you. It is normal to be nervous.”

He gave them some words of advice. “Keep a positive attitude. Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. This is a difficult transition, from the grade school to the junior/senior high school. It’s a transition from childhood to young adulthood. Sixth through eighth grades are very important because you are setting the foundation for your success in high school and beyond.”

Cirone explained that a lot will be different for them now. “This is the first time you will be learning in six to seven classrooms. You will now have lockers. The responsibility for learning will shift from the teacher to you. You will be responsible for getting to class on time and doing your homework. There are about 850 students in this school.”

But he said, “Our jobs here are to help you with whatever you need. Don’t be afraid to ask. You just need to worry about yourself and stay on target. Our goal is to create a group of empowered 21st-century students. We hope to inspire in you a passion for learning.”

The guidance counseling center director, Tracy Lesnick, told the students, “It’s an exciting morning for everyone. My son is in orientation for high school now. So I understand your anxiety.” She told everyone, “We changed things around and now you should have the same guidance counselor for grades 7 through 12. That will make things easier.”

Lesnick advised them to use their agendas. “Your agendas are your first step in communication.” She reminded them, “We are here to help you out. Remember: Community service is not a chore. Start volunteering now.” Lesnick added, “Reading is so important. Whether it’s Sports Illustrated or a magazine about surfing. Get in the habit of reading.” She asked the parents to lead by example and let the children see them reading as well.

Student Council seniors Adam Marrone, Katie Lydakis and Hannah Wyllie were also on hand to explain about some of the fun activities that the school offers, like Spirit Week, Homecoming, BHS Presents and Powder Puff Football.

Adam Marrone said to the seventh graders, “Don’t be scared. With practice you will get to your classes on time, get your lockers open and learn your schedules. Remember: There is no fourth or fifth floor pool. Get involved and have fun. It’s not as bad as you think.”

Outdoor Learning Center at Babylon Memorial Grade School

Mrs. Cheryl Murphy is a fourth grade teacher at the Babylon Memorial Grade School. But that’s not all she does. About five years ago she started an outdoor garden at the school, which she calls an “outdoor learning center.”

“I wanted to start an outdoor learning center here. A life science center for the students,” she said. “The community has been very vital. Parents have donated top soil and mulch. People donated and laid the brick. Others dug out the flower beds. It’s been a real community effort,” she said.

Her vision is to make it into a soup kitchen garden. “We would grow the food and then donate it to the soup kitchens in the area,” Murphy said.

Girl scouts troops come and get badges by working in the garden. High school students receive community service credit for helping.

Now that the summer is almost over and school is about to begin, Murphy has had students and parents alike, teachers and neighbors, helping to weed the garden.

“So many people have helped. There’s been a lot of sweat equity,” she said.

Babylon Board of Education Recognizes Retiring Superintendent

At a recent meeting of the Babylon School District Board of Education, Board of Education President Dominic P. Bencivenga announced that Dr. Ellen Best-Laimit was attending her last Board meeting as the district’s Superintendent of Schools. To recognize Dr. Best-Laimit for her many years of dedicated service, the Board presented her with a commemorative plaque.

Trustee Thomas Melito, who has worked with Dr. Best-Laimit the longest, noted, “I have worked with Ellen for eleven years. My first impression was that she was intelligent, dedicated and focused. She had a tenacious sense of what works in education. And my first impression still holds true.” Mr. Melito went on to say, “She started her career as a teacher and never lost that perspective. She’s never afraid to make difficult decisions. She holds everyone to high standards…She has always been steadfast in responding to challenges…Her dedication will be missed.”

Upon accepting the plaque, Dr. Best-Laimit stated, “I was very fortunate to spend the last third of my career here in Babylon, the place where I was born. I started my life and ended my career here. I am very blessed.”

Board Vice President Roger A. Katz also presented Dr. Best-Laimit with a small fig tree. To those unfamiliar with the significance of the fig tree, Dr. Best-Laimit noted, “Roger always gives us figs every September. This is very symbolic for me.”

A Time for Reflection and Celebration

It was a time for goodbye as the Babylon High School Class of 2011 processed onto Coach Williams Memorial Field for their final act as students in the Babylon School District.

Led by members of the United States Military Color Guard and the American Celtic Pipe Band, the students smiled proudly in their black and white caps and gowns as family, friends, and invited guests cheered their congratulations. In one last show of solidarity, the Class of 2011 wore special lime green honor cords around their necks in honor of Catherine O’Malley, whose mother, Barbara Moriarty, sent words of well wishes and thanks.

Also saying goodbye during the graduation were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ellen Best-Laimit, High School Principal Robert Visbal, the student-selected speaker -- and unofficial “Voice of Babylon” -- guidance counselor Edward Augustine, and five additional teachers – Mr. Lally, Mrs. McCaig, Mr. Procaccini, Mrs. Schneppe, and Mrs. Zelli.

Presiding over her last graduation, Dr. Best-Laimit offered her wishes for the graduating class. “I wish you the perfect balance of work and play; one cannot be appreciated without the other…I wish you the gift of time for yourself; do what makes you happy and whole…I wish you the love and grace of family and friends…I wish you happiness and success as you move on to write the next chapter of your lives.”

In addition to Dr. Best-Laimit, Mr. Vasbal, and Mr. Augustine, speaking at the commencement were Valedictorian Shannon Weber, Salutatorian Lloyd Ippolito, and Senior Class President Charles Gambino. “As we all go off to the world of college and adulthood, there comes a realization that we will need to take advantage of opportunities by keeping a good attitude in order to form new relationships, while holding onto those that have molded our lives up to this point,” stated Shannon.

Following the presentation of diplomas, the traditional cap toss, and their recession from Coach Williams Memorial Field, the Class of 2011 said goodbye to BHS and hello to a world of opportunities.

Board of Education Appoints New Grade School Principal

Babylon School District’s Board of Education has appointed Dr. Randee Bonagura as the new principal of Babylon Memorial Grade School, effective July 1, 2011. Dr. Bonagura’s appointment comes as a result of the upcoming retirement of current principal Eric Freidman.

"I am very enthusiastic about beginning my position as principal at Babylon Memorial Grade School on July 1st,” stated Dr. Bonagura. “I look forward to working closely with the students, staff and community to continue the important work of helping our children achieve academic success, and promoting the skills and strategies they need to be lifelong learners."

Dr. Bonagura comes to Babylon from the Copiague School District, where she served as an assistant principal. Prior to her work in Copiague, Dr. Bonagura was the Supervisor of Reading and Supportive Math in the Wantagh School District, where her responsibilities included overseeing K-12 supportive reading and elementary math curricula and working to align curricula and assessments with AIS, RtI, and New York State Standards. During her tenure in education, Dr. Bonagura has also worked as a classroom teacher, a balanced literacy coach, and an adjunct professor at Dowling College and Hofstra University.

Dr. Bonagura holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education/sociology from Hofstra University, a master’s degree in school administration and supervision from the College of New Rochelle, and her doctorate in literacy studies from Hofstra University.

Musical Accolades Abound for BHS

Competing against other student musicians from across the region, Babylon High School’s music students reigned triumphant during this year’s Heritage Festival held in Boston, Massachusetts. Four performing ensembles from the high school competed in the annual festival and garnered the following awards:

Chordettes – Silver rating and second place in the Woman’s Choir division
The Babylon Express – Silver rating
Jazz Band – Gold rating and first place in the Jazz Band division
Wind Ensemble – Gold rating and first place in the Concert Band division

Based on their overall performance, Babylon High School’s music department was also presented with the following awards:

Outstanding Band: Awarded to the highest scoring band
Instrumental Sweepstakes Award: Awarded to the school with the highest combined instrumental scores from their top two bands
Adjudicators’ Award: Awarded to performing ensembles with an average score above 92 upon the recommendation of the adjudicators
Festival Sweepstakes Award: To qualify for Festival Sweepstakes, schools must enter one choral group, one instrumental group, and a third musical group of their choice. The school that accumulates the highest number of points towards a perfect score of 300 determines the winner.

In addition, the following students and sections received the Maestro Award, which recognizes students who display extraordinary musical ability and sensitivity:

For Jazz Ensemble
Ethan Lipman – Alto Sax
Chris Finelli – Trumpet
James Navarra – Drums

For Wind Ensemble
The entire flute & clarinet sections
Sarah Everitt – French Horn
James Kim – Trumpet
Chris Finelli – Trumpet