This fall, the Sayville students in the Functional Academic Career Development program enjoyed many opportunities to learn and grow—literally!

• Continuing their successful horticultural activities in the High School greenhouse, the FACD students cultivated vegetables, herbs, mums, kale, and started pumpkins from seeds. In the High School courtyard, they laid out a pumpkin patch and edged it with a decorative border of mums and kale.
• For his Eagle Scout project, Boy Scout Liam Redden built four raised flower beds and a worktable for the courtyard to assist the FACD program. “We had a little ceremony with all of the kids and Liam,” Mr. Anzalone said. “It was a fantastic moment!”
• In October, when the pumpkin patch was ready for picking, the elementary PALS classes got first crack at it. They made a special field trip to the High School courtyard to pick pumpkins, and the fun continued. Not only did the PALS students get to tour the High School building, they participated in craft activities. They painted their pumpkins and, using the High School kitchen, assisted the FACD and High School students in baking pumpkin bread.
• With enough pumpkins left for the picking, students and staff from the High School community also browsed and selected from the pumpkin patch.
• Later, both the PALS and FACD students successfully sold the beautiful mums and hearty kale at Lincoln Avenue Elementary school, the Middle School and the High School.
• For the Empty Bowls fundraiser in early November, the FACD students prepared Italian Wedding Soup with some of the ingredients grown in the gardens and greenhouse. Their soup was a great hit at this popular event.

Thanks to the team efforts of the PALS and FACD teachers, all the students are enjoying the many hands-on activities these programs offer.