A Groundbreaking Experience

With words of welcome, Principal Michele Gunther officiated and assembled the entire student body along with staff to witness the outdoor Lincoln Avenue Groundbreaking ceremony.

Among the invited guests (which included BOE trustee John Verdone), Assistant Superintendent for Business John Belmonte explained the exciting changes that were taking place (i.e., renovation for additional classrooms, a common space as a Learning Center for combined Kindergarten activities, and a library-media center with upgraded technology). He also assured the Lincoln Avenue community that the projects were expected to be completed by September of 2010. Sayville Superintendent Dr. Rosemary Jones talked with the students about how “libraries are the center of change,” after which she initiated the ceremonial book donations with one of her favorite books, Make Way for Ducklings.

Once the students, representing grades One through Four, read their poems, the actual groundbreaking began. Using silver- and gold-painted shovels, Lincoln Avenue students donned hard hats and dug into a dirt pile, officially signifying the beginning of the building addition projects at the elementary school.

The Fifth-grade representatives closed with touching insights about the future of Lincoln Avenue. Despite the chilly weather during the ceremony, emotions of those assembled seemed warmed by the encouraging news regarding Lincoln’s wonderful changes ahead.