On Thursday, August 13, Bethpage High School opened its doors and welcomed dozens of students from Carle Place, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Great Neck and East Williston for their annual Extended School Year (ESY) Invitational.
Students arrived dressed in red, white and blue to match the event’s theme celebrating the country’s Semiquincentennial. Grouped by age level – elementary, middle school and high school – students rotated through activities in the gymnasium, the athletic barn and the cafeteria, then came together in the auditorium to finish the day.
In the gym, playful music rang out thanks to a DJ who encouraged students to dance along to favorite tunes such as “YMCA,” “Golden” and “Thriller.” In the athletic barn, students could participate in various sports activities, including volleyball and cornhole. For students who preferred a less active option, crafts were available at tables. In the cafeteria, students ate pizza and chose from a variety of Italian ice flavors from a truck parked in the back, courtesy of Uncle Louie G’s Italian ice truck.
The Extended School Year program provides special education and related services to students with disabilities beyond the standard 180-day school year to prevent severe skill loss or regression during the summer vacation.
The ESY invitational gave students from neighboring districts a chance to socialize and bond and brought ESY staff members together to connect. It was a wonderful day of community-building and fun.
