In celebration of the 100-year anniversary of Island Trees, the school district held various festivities throughout the last weekend of October, including school building parties, a district-wide celebration and ceremony, and a parade in conjunction with the district's homecoming.

Thousands of current and former employees, alumni, staff, administrators, friends and family members gathered at the middle school on Friday night to view dozens of displays pertaining to the history of the district. Each school had its own display, featuring current and former students and staff, as well as photos and memorabilia of the past. The party was a great success, with over 3,000 guests attending. Many retired staff members and Island Trees graduates enjoyed talking, reminiscing and looking at all the displays. Some even came back the following day to participate in the parade.

"It's unbelievable to think that our school district is now 100 years old," Superintendent of Schools Richard N. Segerdahl said at the celebration Friday evening. "I would like to truly and especially welcome our retired staff members, from all walks of life, who came back to join us tonight."

The superintendent noted some historic facts about Island Trees, dating back to the creation of the school district.

"The Island Trees School District was created in September 1902, after the local residents, many of them who were farmers at the time, decided that they were paying a fee to educate their children without having any representation," he said. "Prior to 1902, the children in this area of Island Trees, which was also known as Central Park, attended the schoolhouse in Plainedge and an Island Trees resident, not the taxpayers, would pay the tuition fee to the Plainedge school to educate their children. In the early 1900s, the local farmers petitioned the State Education Department to form their own school district and requested authorization to tax themselves to support their [own] schoolhouse. Permission was granted to create a common school district (which the superintendent noted could only go up to eighth grade) and the local farmers elected their first trustees and authorized the community members to raise $1,500 [which] was to go to purchase the land, to build a schoolhouse, to hire a teacher and to equip the school for the first year.

"Island Trees residents of today owe a great deal of gratitude to the local farmers who willingly served on the Island Trees School Board over the years. From 1902 to 1949, all the students in the entire school district attended the one-room schoolhouse," Segerdahl explained, noting the depictions of the schoolhouse and the other displays throughout the middle school gymnasiums. The displays featured at the party are currently working their way around the school buildings for children and parents to view.

Segerdahl thanked all the individuals who helped make the anniversary celebrations a success, including secretary/district clerk Dottie Bassimer and members of the anniversary committee, and introduced current and former board of education members.

Board President Kathy Safrey noted that she never anticipated just how amazing the anniversary celebration would turn out to be.

"I have to tell you that after arriving this evening and coming into both rooms, I don't think we could ever anticipate just how wonderful and beautiful this evening could turn out to be until you actually could be here and see it," she said. "I also would like to extend a very special thank you to the anniversary committee [and] I also want to thank Mrs. Bassimer. If you know Mrs. Bassimer, [you know] she puts her heart and soul into everything she undertakes. A special thank you to our current administration, our teachers, our parents, our students; for making Island Trees the wonderful district that it is. This is a community that truly supports education. I'd like to acknowledge the six terrific men that I serve with on the current board of education for their time and commitment to our children as well. Most importantly, I want to say a special thank you to Richard Segerdahl. We are truly blessed that you have served the Island Trees School District for 18 years. Our district has grown and flourished under your leadership. You spearheaded this committee for tonight, you lead every day by your example and this board is truly proud to have you to work with."

Segerdahl introduced the elected officials who attended the event, including Senator Kemp Hannon (whom he thanked for securing a grant for the district to purchase defibrillators), Assemblyman Dave McDonough, Assemblyman Steven Labriola, Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes, Town Clerk Kate Murray, Legislator Dennis Dunne and Michael Moore, who represented County Executive Thomas Suozzi. The superintendent also thanked representatives of BOCES and SCOPE for their assistance in working with Island Trees students. In addition, Segerdahl thanked Levittown - Island Trees Youth Council President Kevin Regan, whom he said has always been a friend to the district and a tremendous help to local youngsters. Segerdahl further introduced other guests, including Levittown Kiwanis Club President Mauro Cassano, his wife Louise, the director and trustee of the Island Trees Public Library.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Karopczyc were also on hand at the celebration. Segerdahl thanked them for attending and noted that the Karopczyc School was named after their son Steven, who was a first lieutenant killed in action in Vietnam in 1967.

Segerdahl concluded by again thanking everybody for attending and he and Safrey then proceeded to raffle off a number of prizes, including one large chocolate one-room schoolhouse. Guests enjoyed refreshments throughout the evening, including two large celebratory birthday cakes in honor of the school district's anniversary. Congratulations to Island Trees for a century of success and many memories.