Birchwood Intermediate School took the spotlight at the March 5th Board of Education meeting as we continue South Huntington’s 100th anniversary festivities. At one BOE meeting each month, students from one of our schools will perform and/or make special presentations in honor of our centennial.

The focus of Birchwood’s presentation was “tradition.”  Principal Dimitri Bernadel wanted to connect Birchwood’s past to its present, and recognize the traditions and values that have been passed down “creating a foundation for future success.”  Music teacher Dr. Paul Kosak looked back four decades to find the old Birchwood school song, appropriately called “The Birchwood Song,” which members of the intermediate school’s 5th grade chorus proudly sang for the audience of families and teachers at the James Kaden Administrative Offices building.  After the song presentation, a video made by Birchwood’s tech ambassadors featured current students and their teachers, who either graduated from Birchwood or Walt Whitman, talking about their favorite South Huntington memories.     

Students, along with assistant principal Renee Schumm, then presented board and cabinet members with special certificates that made them honorary Birchwood Boosters.  At  Birchwood each month, a group of students who “exemplify the social values that define the Birchwood community” are named Birchwood Boosters. At those presentations, the Birchwood Booster song is performed, so for this board program, a video of the school’s faculty singing that special song was played for the new group of honorary Boosters.   

To wrap things up, Mr. Bernadel presented Birchwood’s puzzle piece.  It was designed by art teacher Ms. Michelle LoPinto based on the cover of the book The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be that has guided this year’s theme at Birchwood - “Soaring to New Heights.”  The puzzle piece features hot air balloons leisurely reaching for the skies.  Each balloon features a Wildcat paw print and the dates 1924 and 2024 indicating the years of the district’s establishment and 100th anniversary.  “Tonight we celebrate not only the incredible heights we’ve reached in the past century but also the limitless potential to soar even higher in the next,” said Mr. Bernadel.  The back of the puzzle piece is signed by every student and staff member with their initials.  “A powerful reminder,” continued Mr. Bernandel, “that each of us is an essential part of the puzzle that makes Birchwood whole.”   

Each South Huntington school is creating a puzzle piece to eventually fit together in one big form representing all seven of the district’s schools.   

We thank Birchwood’s students and teachers, principal Dimitri Bernadel, and assistant principal Renee Schumm for all the hard work everyone put in getting ready for this performance!  You did such a great job making us all feel so proud of our school district’s rich history and enduring legacy.  

Missed the March 5th BOE meeting? Watch here!

Music teacher Dr. Paul Kosak looked back four decades to find the old Birchwood school song, appropriately called “The Birchwood Song,” which members of the intermediate school’s 5th grade chorus proudly sang for the audience of families and teachers at the James Kaden Administrative Offices building.

Birchwood’s tech ambassadors introduced themselves before presenting a video they made featuring current students and their teachers, who either graduated from Birchwood or Walt Whitman, talking about their favorite South Huntington memories.

Birchwood’s puzzle piece was designed by art teacher Ms. Michelle LoPinto based on the cover of the book The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be that has guided this year’s theme at Birchwood - “Soaring to New Heights.”