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.

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.

Volunteers Engage Farmingdale Students on Community Impact Day

A Day of Service, A Lifetime of Impact. On Tuesday, August 6, KPMG LLP celebrated its 3rd Annual Community Impact Day, allowing employees to connect and support the most passionate causes, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. KPMG volunteers dedicated their time to engaging with nearly 200 students enrolled in Farmingdale School District’s Summer Literacy Program.

Volunteers spent the morning collaborating with Farmingdale School District teachers and administration, creating a day centered around how students can maintain mental wellness, stay active, and cultivate a passion for reading. Students at Saltzman East Memorial and Woodward Parkway Elementary Schools were treated to a bookstore where they could 'shop' for new books and school supplies for the upcoming year. Volunteers organized reading circles, ran a mental wellness-themed activity where they created calming jars, hosted a yoga session, and explored programmable robots called Ozobots in the school's Innovation Lab.

As Community Impact Day drew to a close, the smiles on the students' faces were a testament to the event's success. The day fostered a love for reading and introduced students to new and exciting ways to engage with technology and wellness practices. The collaboration between KPMG volunteers and Farmingdale School District proved that we can create meaningful and lasting change when we come together with a shared vision.

KPMG LLP is the U.S. branch of the global KPMG organization, offering audit, tax, and advisory services. Operating in 144 countries with over 236,000 employees, each KPMG firm is legally separate. KPMG is known for its positive work environment, commitment to community service, diversity, and fighting childhood illiteracy.

Congratulations to our Saltzman East Memorial 5th Graders!

Enjoy these highlights from the June 20, 2024 Moving-Up Ceremony. Good luck next year in Howitt Middle School.