West Babylon held a golf clinic on July 20 at Bergen Point for students in grades 7-12. This free clinic taught students the basics of golf while having some fun!

The district will be providing students with an opportunity to participate in an optional, no cost, summer school academic support program.

The K-6 student program will focus on English language arts and math as well as social emotional support camp and “Camp Invention,” which focuses on STEAM enrichment activities. These programs will be full or half day, and families will have the option of attending for the full six weeks (July 12-August 20) or for two-week sessions throughout the summer. “Our elementary students will be able to take classes to strengthen their ELA and math skills, participate in social emotional learning classes that include individual and team activities and join Camp Invention STEM enrichment classes,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Yiendhy Farrelly.

The 7-12 program will focus on academic credit recovery as well as course-based academic support. Students who had a difficult school year due to COVID will have the opportunity for credit recovery as part of an academic-based, six-week class and for academic support for three-week sessions in a variety of classes. Both programs will fully support students with IEPs and English language learners in all grade levels.

Additionally, incoming kindergarten students will be offered “Welcome to West Babylon” classes. These two-hour daily classes will run eight days throughout the summer and will give the district’s newest members a chance to meet and play with new classmates as well as strengthen some important academic skills, such as letter and number recognition and following rules and instructions.

All students will have one-on-one Chromebooks and will have access to many online learning components in July and August. All programs will provide social emotional support components, and the district will have mental health experts available to all students throughout the summer.

West Babylon elementary and junior high school library students partnered with the West Babylon Public Library and explored the “Grab and Go” STEM kits throughout June. With a variety of activities from which to choose, junior high school students discovered what causes earthquakes, bones in the skeletal system, the gravitational pull of magnets, and keyboarding made easy. At the elementary level, students participated in library activities such as LEGO challenge, building a marble maze using paper straws and building a structure out of marshmallows and toothpicks.

Six months ago, West Babylon Senior High School seniors and administrators would have said an in-person graduation for the entire Class of 2021 was unlikely. But there they were, all together, sitting on the junior high school field on June 25 to celebrate their success.

Principal Stephen O’Leary handed out diplomas to the 315 graduates during the evening ceremony. He said that while it is hard to look back on the year and not think of the global pandemic and the disruptions it caused as the primary narrative, there was so much good that happened, and that is what the graduates should focus on.

That was a sentiment echoed by valedictorian Sara Kenney. “Please don’t fixate on your disappointments from this year,” she told her fellow graduates. “We all hoped for something different, but don’t let that be the only think your remember from senior year. Please remember the good times, the laughs, your friends, the activities, the fun.”

Salutatorian Caitlin Crowe said the physical separation that the Class of 2021 endured during the global pandemic actually made them more united. They also found new and unique ways to maintain their connections. It’s not surprising, she said, given that her classmates are some of the most driven and talented people she has ever met.

Senior class co-president Kaitlyn Russell noted the many academic, athletic and extracurricular accomplishments of the Class of 2021, which were well earned as a result of their strong work ethics, resilient minds and determined hearts.

“We were able to reach the stars as we had dreamed of doing because of the qualities that each of us possesses,” she said, “and this is what will make the memories we made in high school so memorable. This is why high school may be the best four years of our lives.”

Co-president Jordyn Hickey noted that students have been given so many opportunities in West Babylon to explore their interests and find their passions, and that will serve them well for the future. “You may not know what tomorrow holds, you may have a perfect plan or no plan at all, you may change your mind a million times – but eventually we will follow the path we are meant to take,” she said. “We don’t know what's to come in the next chapter of our lives, but your time right here in this small town has set the foundation for a bright future – no matter what that may be.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Yiendhy Farrelly said students learned many valuable lessons over the past 15 months – that some things are out of their control, but how they handle challenges is within their control. She called on them to always look for ways to better themselves. Additionally, Dr. Farrelly asked all of the graduates to stand and give their parents and family members a round of applause for all the support they have provided over the years.

Board of Education Vice President Cathy Gismervik, in her congratulatory remarks to students, said that their ability to overcome the challenges of the past two years is proof that they can take on anything that comes their way.

The ceremony included a performance of “Like an Eagle” by the band and choir. Mr. O’Leary handed out the diplomas and graduates shook hands with Dr. Farrelly and board of education members. After they officially became graduates, caps flew in the air and there were lots of handshakes, high-fives and hugs.