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Full STEAM ahead for H.S. courtyard — that’s the program they code to make the sprinkler system work.” The first step in building the Just before the Fourth of July weekend, a dozen middle irrigation system was assembling six tall plantand high school stuer boxes. Once that dents gave up a was done, the stuweek of summer dents worked alongvacation — and side technology picked up shovels teacher Jack instead — to help Drevnyck and scibeautify the Unionence teacher Daniel dale High School Formichelli to plan courtyard during a the layout of the hands-on science, garden, including technology, engithe routing of the neering, art and irrigation system, mathematics, or sensors and rain STEAM, Camp that gutters. had them quite litBraving the bruerally digging into tal summer heat, learning. the students then The program helped install the focuses not on tests, gutters, which are but instead on innodesigned to collect vation. That’s why rainwater for the this year’s camp garden. theme was “Irri- JACK DREVNYCK “Most of them gate, Innovate, Technology teacher, probably aren’t Restore!” Uniondale High going to go home “They’re making and plant,” Drevan irrigation sys- School nyck said. “But now tem to support a vegetable garden,” Arthur Reg- they know the kind of layers, istre, director of the high and what it takes for those school science department, plants to grow.” Deann Barrow, 14, a rising explained. “The technology is inside a shed in the courtyard CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
By STACY DRIKS & ALEXIA CROLL
of the Herald
T
Courtesy Uniondale school district
Mary Bediako, 74, was sworn in on July 2 as president of the Uniondale school board, beginning her third year in the role.
Board of Education welcomes familiar faces for 2025-26 By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
The Uniondale Board of Education met last week to reorganize its leadership, welcoming new members alongside those who were returning. The board also discussed its current summer programs — which it described as highly beneficial. “So here we are — 2025-26 school year, a new school year beginning,” Mary Bediako said. Bediako, 74, was re-elected board president at the July 2 meeting at Uniondale High School’s Little Theater. She thanked her colleagues for “trusting me in this position again — that tells me that you believe in me, and you believe in my leadership.” She added, “I promise you I will do a great job.
“And this is not a small job — a lot of time, commitment, and I don’t know how you do it, especially all of you who are still working,” Bediako said. “For me, fortunately, I’m retired, and I can squeeze in the time. But for you running from work to big meetings and all the things, thank you.” A retired educator with more than 40 years of experience, Bediako began her career as a math teacher and later became Uniondale’s first director of personnel. She also served as assistant superintendent in the Freeport School District for over 20 years. She has lived in Uniondale for four decades, and is now in her third year as board president. Adelina Blanco-Harvey, 51, a familiar face on the school board, served as its president CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
he courtyard is not being used at all, so we’re trying to also make a community . . . where kids can hang out during lunch periods — so this is the first step.