School may be out for the summer, but before the pencils, pads and books were put away, William E. DeLuca Jr. Elementary School in North Babylon marked its 50th “Golden” Anniversary with an in-school celebration and commemoration attended by administrators, teachers, students, alumni, parents and dignitaries, including Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly who presented the school with a County Proclamation in recognition of an “unwavering commitment” to the students.
The William E. Deluca Jr. Elementary School opened in September 1967 as the Parkside Elementary School and was renamed in honor of then newly-retired North Babylon School District Assistant Superintendent William E. Deluca Jr. in 1979. DeLuca Elementary currently serves a student population of 402 children from Kindergarten thru 5th grade with a diverse citizenry – STRIVE (ABA class), Foundations for Learning (Career), Self-Contained, BOCES and General Education population. Principal Vincent Fantauzzi accepted the Proclamation from Legislator Donnelly on behalf of the school at the ceremony in early June
“DeLuca Elementary School promotes a wonderful philosophy of a building character, fostering creativity, and teaching our youth to be thoughtful and productive citizens, principles that I know we can all agree on,” said Legislator Donnelly. “I thank the entire school community for all that they do and also for inviting me to be a part of this most special celebration.”